BBQ Inspiration Part 4

Well i've heard the rumours for some time, but today I got photo evidence of the Peter Jones shedberque.

It's as impressive as I imagined of course. The sweatbox zone.

LAWNMOWERMAN

Our Nick came round today and besides doing several hours of quality uncleing and push-starting our broken-down car, he had time to show me Google's 3D modeling software, Sketchup and made a wireframe of the back yard. Here's some views, i'm going to have to draw the BBQ on with pencil when I show the builder because i'm not really sure how I want it.

Those things like washing machines on the left are wheelie bins. I can't help thinking it looks a bit like one of those 'How the Mesopotamians lived' renderings.

Early pre-history dwelling. No, honestly it'll be lovely when it's finished.

MEGAYARD

Well 12 months or so have whizzed by, I think I was going to do a post about putting up our swing chair (I took some photo so I might do it retrospectively) but i've pretty much had my hands full with Kodie who's now 14 months old. In the summer I got chatting to one of our neighbours on the road who's a builder (and master of stunning stonemasonry) about converting our old back-lavvy to a covered back yard. He's up for it so I need to make him some decent plans. I've got an idea about the size I want, but i'd like it to have a bit of character, so i'm going to figure out some sort of model with the power of COMPUTORS.



That mess where the bikes and a load of junk are now used to be the lavatory 100 years ago. I want to drop it down to ground level and dig the back wall out a yard or two or three.

Ground level view, that doorfame used to be the old entrance to our lavvy I presume. Next doors still exists but ours has had the roof and wall removed. I had a chat with Anne and Mike next door and we have a plan to put our wheelie bins down the shared 'entrance path' between our houses when I get the wall moved back (3 wheelie bins width further)

This is next-door-but-one's back yard. Sort of exactly what I want, the place looks huge but cosy and really natural. Plus I have loads of lovely toddler memories of a currogated plastic lean-to at my mum and dad's house. I was originally going to copy this exactly

On my birthday last year, Zoe bought me this 1978 Barbequeing book, and this particular photo really caught my imagination. Back door and brick-built BBQ. It made me think it'd be good if the back wall of our yard looked something like this. Boozy salads.



This is sort of the vibe i'm after (and can't admit to copying Jamie Olivers fantasy lifestyle), i'd really like to sort out a central wooden table with a fire, probably same height as the table top that we can cook food on and keep warm with.

Next up is a stack of outdoor BBQ's that i'm using as a 'mood board' - I'd like it to look a bit less Miami and a bit more Peak District than most of these though:



This one's the closest I think, it'd be nice to have a sort of open fire in a grate inside a chimney, but crossed with a barbeque. I wonder if it's possible to do both.

Quite nice and 'trad' BBQ but I still think i'd like to do for the open fire / Flintsones version. The tiled top might be an idea...

This one has a pretty nice stone front under the counter, wouldn't mind copying this idea.



That oven-y thing on the right is spot-on!

Nice stone oven

This one's a bit more minimal, but I like the way it looks like it'd warm you up rather than cooking food.

Full on pizza oven by the looks of it. Unfortunately not really got the budget to dig out that much earth and sink a great big oven into the hillside.

Testing out the swing chair

Yesterday I built the world's wonkiest and hardest to join swing chair (bloody eBay) and went to bed with throbbing fingers, a bit of sun and a boingy 8 month old makes all the difference though. Time to put the canopy on and test the swing out properly.

There's the canopy on, very posh.

Grass is growing nicely too.

Dad + Lad

IT WORKS

Swinging Birthday

It's been pretty quiet on the blogging / gardening front in the last 8 months since we were joined by the Kodeman, who keeps us both pretty busy, but I decided to treat myself to a swing chair off eBay for my birthday.

Pretty hot day, there's all the bits, this should be an easy couple of hours fun right?

It's going over there on the brick patio thing Nick made.

Some leftover bits, possibly going to get used to make mini brick BBQ at some point in the far off future.

Well there's one bit made.

Every instruction seems to be contained in 'Step 1' on these instructions.

Lean it against the wall so I feel like i'm getting somewhere. None of these holes seem to be lining up with each other.

Mum and Koder

Two sides screwed together, very sore hands, felt like drilling my own holes.

Ta-dah! Just need to get the canopy on now.

This ain't true, take it back to Wickes and get a straight one.

Pa-pa-dah!

View from the seat after about 7 hours of hand-pain. Think Kodie had gone to bed and i'd missed tea.

All worth it though. I'll put the cover on tomorrowszzzz...

Kestrel Cottage

At what stage do people abandon good old fashioned 'No 77' and decide they're going to make their friends write something twee like 'Kestrel Cottage' on Christmas cards? Is it when you see one of these chaps out of the window?

Phew! That's It!

The weather's a bit hotter which makes the final 20 or so barrow-loads up the hill a pretty sweaty job. Still, mustn't grumble (just sneak off to help with some painting)



That's all the topsoil dumped and raked, turf's ready and waiting. Now for the fun bit.



One down...



...and quicker than you can say Jim Robinson!



Give it a drink.



TA-DAHHHHHHHHH!!!! Huge Thanks to everyone who has worked on MegaGarden over the last 2 years. Once we get the swing chair in place next spring, you're all invited to the party of the year!