Having given the first section of the lower patio a few days to dry, it was time to move on to the next section.
Once the frame is all pegged out it’s time to run up and down the side of the house with the cement until it’s filled.
So that's now 2 sections complete on 1 more to go then the cement mixer can be moved down then only the gravel needs shifting and that can be done in short periods over a few days.
Finally we have made a start and poured the the first part of the lower patio. We have to mix slightly smaller mixes due to a small problem with the motor, and it’s hard work going up and down to the cement mixer but once we get the next couple of bits done we can bring the material down and the mixer, and mix at the bottom which will help to speed things up.
Just dug up a couple of the boniarto plants, and have a couple of nice ones to eat and the plants get stuck into water where they will produce roots ready to be planted for next years crop.
Then the potatoes were lifted ready to be used to seed the next crop of spuds, the beds then will be raked and prepared to take the winter bulk crops like cabbages, beetroots and onions.
Finally after 4 years we have got the number on the house.
There it is we have just to paint the numbers and there it is.
Looks good doesn’t it.
And here is the chimney all blocked up with just a small gap at the top.
The funny thing is sometimes the work seems to go on and on but every now and then things take a sudden jump.
The steps are now up to a point and we have started to put the top on the cupboard at the back of the steps.
And the painting of the east side of the house has moved on too, with both the walls and the window frames painted.
And we have made a start on the chimney, as we won’t be using this anymore with a real fire just as the vent exit for the extractor in the kitchen, it doesn’t need such a big opening, which lets in water when it rains. So with some cut bits of racillionies we are blocking it off except for a small gap at the top.
With all the work now done and the back of the house, the sill is now been fitted to the other window. We can put the pagoda back up for a while.
Today was another one of those days when we go round and work on half a dozen jobs at once.
A few more blocks go on to the steps, we are almost at the point of putting on the top of the cupboard to hold the watering valves.
And a little bit of concrete to make the base of a manhole to take the cables to various places on the lower patio.
Then using the rest of the cement just set in the top of the walls. And in the top of the photos you can see the rows of spuds that we have been putting in over the last few mornings, after we paid for someone to bring there machine in a rotivate the terrace as we haven’t fixed our machine yet.
Oblique shot showing the rows of spuds which should be ready about Christmas time.
Cleared out a levelled the corner by the font of the house ready to concrete the lower patio.
The window sill under the other window has had a few offcuts of tile and cement put in to bring it up to the right level for the tiles, then the paint touched up, once the tiles are on you won’t even notice.
We aren't the only ones working, our new German neighbours are having a lot of building work done to their house too.
And Tabby keeps an eye open for what Meep is up to while she lies in the shade.
With the windows in and the walls painted, just a few finishing touches needed, a good example is the window sills on the outside. These are made with special tiles that you can buy which have a curved edge specifically designed to kick the water off. The are also the perfect colour as they match the paint of the woodwork and contrast against the yellow of the house just right.
Now it may take a moment or two to spot what has changed between this photo and the previous ones. Yes it’s the drains that run from the outflows on the roof down and under the patio. So now when you have to go outside and it’s raining, you don’t get a face full of water if the wind is in the wrong direction. Also because these drains take the water well away from the house, the rooms under the house shouldn’t get as wet as they have in the past.
