Wednesday 11 June 2014

Task List

I've had today off, though Liz has been working: that made it an ideal day to get a number of little jobs done, and I've had a pleasingly productive day.

It's the time of year when I start trying to get the window frames painted. Last week, two of the last wooden windows on the back of the house were replaced with uPVC, which (in addition to looking rather good, especially for uPVC) means I have two fewer frames to worry about. Of course, the time-consuming Georgian-barred windows on the front are no fewer, and it's those which have always taken the time.

However, before embarking on this year's painting, I decided to install some eye bolts on the front wall, in order to tie down the ladder while using it. I've had enough of bouncing on an unsteady ladder, and don't enjoy working on one at the best of time. The window at the end of the study has always needed a rather extended ladder, as the ground drops off in that direction, and the path has stepped down towards the level of the garage. It's always, therefore, been the worst climb.

To combat this, I've installed two M12 shield anchor bolts (18mm holes, which aren't for the faint of heart, or drill), one on either side of the window, at about 180cm height. Using a ratchet strap passed around each stile and angled down through the bolt, the ladder can now be tightly held in place. The result is revelatory: I felt much more secure, and less conscious of the drop...

That window, and two dining room ones, are now done: I'm only planning to chip away at the painting, with the aim of getting about half done over the next couple of months.

Next, I strimmed the half of the orchard I didn't manage to do eleven days ago. I'm hoping I'll only have to do this regularly for another 12-15 months, and that we can think about a couple of sheep by then.

I've painted some of the remaining legume/sweet pea supports, which means their bituminous feet (the underground bit) are done, and as many of their above-ground elements as I could get to (given that the tarry feet were drying).

I shan't dwell on unblocking the kitchen drain.

The work on the garage has been going on since the end of last week; sorting the foundations took a little while, but the builder started the actual walls yesterday, and has finished them today. The uneven-ness of the walls has complicated things slightly, and none of the windows are going to be quite the same height. The joiner will be along on Monday to measure up, and hopefully the building work will otherwise be done tomorrow. Next up will be the replacement of the dining room window with a set of patio doors.

After lunch, I took the time to do a wander of the garden with camera in hand. It's been a while, but here's where things are up to.



Bees foraging in the wallflower in the front garden (© Ian 2014)


The dining room windows, for now, until the patio doors go in (© Ian 2014)


The sweet pea supports (© Ian 2014)


One of the sweet peas is flowering; several more are on the verge of doing so (© Ian 2014)


The heuchera bed; not sure whether the quince has set fruit (© Ian 2014)


One of the astrantias in the copse bed (© Ian 2014)


The long border in front of the dining room (© Ian 2014)


The mess of the pond aside, the bed next to the septic tank has filled out well, and needs pruning (© Ian 2014)


The aquilegia here has gone slightly mad this year (© Ian 2014)


Astrantia flower (© Ian 2014)


Mostly-planted vegetable garden (© Ian 2014)


Red Duke of York potato (© Ian 2014)


Green roof wild flowers, with foraging bees (© Ian 2014)


Green roof on wood store (© Ian 2014)


Day lily which we didn't know was there (© Ian 2014)


Weed-membraned knot garden (© Ian 2014)


Inside the garage before work on the wall/windows (© Ian 2014)


New garage front (© Ian 2014)


Stone cills & jambs being supported while curing (© Ian 2014)


Window apertures ready for windows (© Ian 2014)

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