More Power!!!

Today more of the conduit went into the kitchen to take the power for the wall sockets, under cupboard lights and ventilator fan.

With the infilling complete, we could then finish the concreting of the lower patio. This was a marathon session finishing off, both the sections along the edge, and the section at the bottom of the steps.

This completes the major section of the lower patio, enabling access to the front of the house without breaking ankles on the rough surface. Once we can get the new steps built, access to these lower rooms will be much easier.

Patching up

Following on from all the work of chipping out the spaces for all the power boxes now comes the task of putting everything back in.

First the power feeds for the fridge and the worktops

Then just a little cement in the back of the holes on the end wall, the holes ended up a little to deep due to the rocks and other rubbish that is used to make the holes.

And the light switch by the back door just needed a little plaster.

Back down on the lower patio, with a little help from Sheila and family we have got the ramp level filled and ready to take the final segment of the patio area.

April Fool

April Fool, well not really as they don’t have that over here, they have something similar on Dec 27th, But that another story.

Sadly all we got up to today was pouring more concrete. Just another section complete on the lower patio.

Slightly weird shape to this one at it tapers in at the end to fit the wall.

That's now most of it complete, just the edges and a bit at the far end by the steps to complete.

Also planted out some of the veg for the summer that we brought at the weekend, First up courgettes and cucumbers.

Then Peppers.

And finish off with tomatoes and lettuce.

Bit’s and Pieces

A while ago we put some concrete in on the upper gardens to build a wall to stop the soil from disappearing over the edge. Today we installed more blocks to go with ones we had fitted a few days ago.

The remainder of the cement was used to neaten up the edging of the lower patio, before we lay the next slab.

The view from the roof shows where the next slab has to go in.

All in all it’s just another slab on the floor….

Another day and time to pour another slab of concrete. Not to difficult this time just move the frame and pour, Seem to have got this down to a fine art now.

The view from the steps end.

And looking back the other way.

A slab on the wild side

Having got a complete slab of concrete on one side of the lower patio, it time to start on the other side. So we moved the frame into position and then shifted several barrow loads of gravel down from the top. After a rest for several hours and lunch it was time to star the concrete pour, the second in 24 hours! It took a while longer for this one as it is a large area and quite thick, and it slopes up to meet the ramp at the end. But once done gives a nice feeling.

A slab on the side

That's it we’ve done it now.

Yep we have a complete concrete slab at the front of the house, Ok I spoke to soon, it’s not complete, complete but one side is now finished.

OK it doesn’t go completely to the steps, but there are a few things that need doing before we can get that far.

This is the next bit at the bottom of the ramp.

Making base

Now before we can lay the next section there’s just one more thing to do. We need a little more soil just to bring the level up just a few inches.

With that and the manhole done we can pour the next section of the lower patio.

Where are we getting the soil? We are digging out a section on the next level down which will be the foundation for a wall that will go in, in the future to make the path down better.

In the garden things are doing we have harvested the Broccoli and will get a few more bits of them soon, the Cauliflowers are coming soon and we shall eat them starting this week. the first lot of Onions are maturing nicely, along with the Beetroot.

A second crop of Onions has gone in.

And we are trying and experiment this year Garlic… not that we expect a vampire apocalypse soon.

The first crop of potatoes has come out and in there place are the Beans, Peas, and later Maize.

And the second crop of potatoes is just beginning to pop up. One big problem this year is that we have had a very dry winter, almost no rainfall, so we have had to water the crops manually.

Down the man hole

Before we can put the next section of the lower patio we have to do a couple of jobs, the first on is just a quick manhole to connect a few conduit runs together, unfortunately as the manhole cover was smaller than any of the ones we had used before we had to build a new former first and then cement it in.

and dig a channel through to inside the house. What are these conduits for, we aren't sure at present, but they go to various points in the garden for possible power feeds for pumps and watering control that may happen in the future and it’s better they go in now before the concrete is laid.

Twist and pour

Now we have finished a few tasks which needed the cement mixer at the top of the garden we could shift it and the gravel down to the bottom and continue with the lower patio. With the machine down at the lower level it meant that we could just turn the machine over an pour out the cement into the prepared area.

So that's about a 6th of the main area of the lower patio.

Spreading around cement

We have a few places where we need a couple of buckets of cement.

The first was just a little bit to finish off the wall on the lower patio.

Then a few loads behind the walls on the top level so that we can then put on some blocks on as the soil layer is a little bit higher than the top of the wall.

Then just to use up the remainder of the cement a little bit of the decorative garden wall.

Tip top

A few weeks ago we built a small wall on the lower patio. we needed to pour some concrete behind this wall to finish it off.

So with that now done we can start work on the rest of the lower patio.

Cornering

Having got the first part of the lower patio done we decided it would be nice just to put a small wall in at the end by the ram just to neaten things up.

So a few blocks later here it is, also at the same time we have straightened the edge of the ramp just to give it a better edge.

Just needs a fill with concrete behind to top off.

Also we have dug over the veg plots ready to take  brassicas (Cabbage, Cauliflower, broccoli)  and then beetroots and turnips in the second bed.

Rinse and Repeat

Time to repeat the steps and do the third section of the Lower Patio.

Now this needs a few weeks to set before we bring down the cement mixer.

Another stab at the slab

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.

Making a start

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.

Quick Step

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.