Tuesday 20 October 2009

Bringing on the wall, Day 35 - Z is banned from the garden

I arrived home from a most interesting lecture on the Parthenon and its marbles - the best preserved of which, of course, are residing in the British Museum and over whose eventual fate I am not partisan (and the lecturer did not express an opinion either). Dave and the Sage were already starting work. "It's too chilly and windy for you," opined the Sage. "I don't mind," I said. "I do," he retorted. Dave agreed with him. So that's that. I've come indoors for lunch (egg and chips) and to make scones (in the oven now) and i'll add the photos when they've done. They're just adding the cappings to the first section right now, which is quite exciting as it will be the first fully completed bit.

I'm feeling better today thank you, largely because of all the sleep I've had. I've been waking many times most nights of late - not in great pain but not being able to find a position that's comfortable for long. So I've bought some long-lasting (12 hour) painkillers - just ibuprofen, which seems to work best, but in a slow-release form. I'm disinclined to take anything at all, but I have found in the past that there seems to be a sort of cumulative effect - that is, if I have occasion to take pills for several days, even if only once a day, then it's much easier as the week goes by. So maybe I could take a 4-hour dose in the morning and a 12-hour dose in the evening and that would keep me going without me having a dismal feeling of being poisoned. Anyway, I do accept that Dave and the Sage are right that I'm probably best indoors at present - I don't feel ill but I've still got a real graveyard cough. I had a pocketful of unwrapped lozenges this morning, so that I wouldn't be taken unawares during the lecture.

Oh - I've been approached to join another committee next spring. It would be as secretary, and would be occasional bursts of a lot of work. I'm considering it. I don't feel obliged, but I might be interested. However, I do remember that, three years ago, it was said that there was someone else interested in future, so I'll remind the chairman of that first.

Photos to follow. I'll take the scones out of the oven and then (wrapped up warm) I'll take the camera out to get some pictures of Men At Work.

Here are the current ones - you've got live-action blogging here, darlings (now 3.08pm, BST)



Just put one of the church in because it looks rather pleasant with the autumnal trees around. And you see that the wall has a resident snail, even before it's finished. Evidently, there is a housing shortage around here.

There are a few videos to come, but they take ages to upload so I'll publish this in the meantime.

Here's the first -
and the second -
and the last one.

Dave is wearing a snug hat to keep his ears warm. The Sage phoned him to say it was chilly up on the scaffolding and to bring a hat.

A few more photos to come.
There was enough mortar to put on one of the hats but not the others, so the Sage laid a few bricks himself.


The finished part of the wall


And the builder

It had been intended that a piece of tile should just out either side of the capping, but then the men realised that water would run into the mortar, as some of the tiles curved down (this isn't a matter of 'should have put them in the other way up', they curved all over the place) so decided to run the mortar down the line of the slope and bring it to the edge instead.
After all was done, the Sage said "goodbye" to Dave. "Don't I get a cup of tea?" asked Dave, disappointedly. "I was promised a scone."

38 comments:

lom said...

keep warm z

Z said...

I'm looking forward to lighting the fire. The Sage hasn't swept the chimney yet, but I'm sure he'll do it in the next few days. It'll be lovely.

Sarah said...

Scones..hmmm could just eat one. My you are always so busy!
My excuse today is that I have been to the Osteopath for a little cranial manipulation, it always makes me feel a little spacey....

Ms Scarlet said...

I was looking for pics of scones!
Dave looks cute in his hat and the wind hasn't got to me yet.
Sx

Dave said...

Dave was wearing his hat today because his ears don't like cold wind.

Z said...

Yes, I was going to mention the hat but I can't republish yet as a video is still uploading.

Hope you feel light-headed, in a good way, Sarah.

And I hope you feel light-hearted, SB.

Roses said...

Oooo...I say, nice wall.

I wish you hadn't mentioned scones. I love warm, home-made scones: smothered in butter, drowning in jam and completely hidden by clotted cream.

Mmmmmm.....

Roses said...

PS. I hope you're feeling a bit better now.

(sorry, got distracted by thoughts of scones)

Z said...

Oh dear - next time I'll take pictures of the scones. All other pics up now though, at last. Sorry, got a bit carried away.

I'm supposed to be going out to the Gardening Club tonight, but I think I'll give it a miss. Pity I won't be snuggled in front of the fire, but I'll go get a rug and cuddle the dog instead.

Dave said...

PS There wasn't just enough mortar for one hat (or capstone) - I actually put up 5 today. Just 2 more to do.

How do we know said...

u are masons now!!! expert ones at that!! :-)

Z said...

Oh, okay Dave - obviously I didn't pay enough attention. Remember, if I'm not told, I don't notice!

We're goooooood, HDWK. Any idea what time you might be landing on Sunday?

DILLIGAF said...

This is all well and good, but has he built a brick built BBQ yet?

Priorities!!!!

Sod all this gas oven in the garden crap! Build a brick BBQ. It's a man thing....;-)

Dave said...

I have built a BBQ at a previous house, yes. I'm not really a BBQ person, though.

Marion said...

The wall looks so good. That is a lovely church. Is it very old?

Z said...

It's originally a Saxon church, although what remains of that part I don't know. However, yes, it's hundreds of years old. It's quite unusual around here in having a spire built on top of the tower. The oldest part of the church is the middle section.

Blue Witch said...

Looking great.

Is Dave available for Witchy commissions? Just in case I have the need... I don't have current plans, but one never knows... good trades are hard to come by these days.

Z said...

Thank goodness we don't have a gas barbecue, I'd lose all credibility with you 4D.

I'll leave Dave to answer your question, BW. He's certainly the sort of person who, whatever his hand is turned to, will do it well.

Off out for the day now. See you tonight.

Dave said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dave said...

BW: to whatever I turn my hand, I will do my best. I don't really do plumbing or electrics though.

At the moment I'm making a Roman blind for my study.*



*No, I'm not poking out an Italian's eyes.

Sir Bruin said...

Not cheese scones, by any chance? I like cheese scones.

Looking at the first picture, I find my thoughts turning to Michael Bentine's Potty Time.

Dandelion said...

It looks wonderful! My favourites are the last 3 pics. Very aesthetically satisfying.

Dave said...

Yes Dandy, it's nice to see one section completely finished. Now we know what it was we set out to do, 5 months ago (or in Z and the Sage's case, 5 or so years ao).

savannah said...

thank you for stopping by, sugar! i hope to become a regular visitor now! xoxox stay warm! ;~D

Mr Farty said...

I can't believe I clicked on a video of a bricklayer and then watched it. Now I'm worn out.

Z said...

No, they were served with jam, Sir B. I like cheese scones best too, which I often make when I've made soup. And oh yes! Splendid!

Dave, don't you know by now that you don't need to cap your own jokes? Someone will always do it for you.

I love coming down the drive and coming upon the wall. It makes me happy every time.

Mr F, first I shock you with the Face of Z, then I offer 3 films of bricklaying. I can only apologise.

Welcome, Savannah, and thanks!

Dandelion said...

It's probably a bit late, but aren't you supposed to use string when you build a wall?

Ivy said...

Congratulations on the first complete section. It looks good. Nice to see the video`s of Dave at work too.

Z said...

Yes Dand, but we used spirit levels.

Thanks, Ivy. Three of them were probably a bit excessive, but Dave is easy on the eye after all.

Christopher said...

I don't think you've given enough appreciation to that snail. He/she (I have problems with the appropriate pronoun as they're hermaphrodite, and 'it' really only applies to inanimate objects; any suggestions?) would only climb up there, c.75 times his/her own height, if he/she felt the structure was essentially sound. What you have is Dame Nature's own proud accolade. I don't suppose you found many snails among your scones?

Z said...

I find it best to address a snail by name, Christopher, as it circumvents any awkwardness. I seem to remember that Saki suggested Esmé in a similar quandary (it was unknown rather than dual sexuality on that occasion), though Chris might do too.

I think I'll have to compile a list of suitable snail names.

Christopher said...

I'm sure you remember that Esmé was a (an?) hyena who apparently thrived (throve?) on a diet of gipsy children, and I don't expect that in your part of the world there would be many such hyenas queueing up to test your wall. However, I would be more than proud, honoured, even, to share a name with your resident snail.

Z said...

I do remember - I can't recall the name of the lady who claimed Esmé as her pet when the animal was run over. Was her companion Constance Strope, or was that another Saki character?

Anyway. The snail will be named Chris forthwith. Would you like a cow named for you next year too? I think Christopher would be a fine name for a cow.

Christopher said...

Constance Broddle, but I've just been to look it up.

Privileged to know that your snail is to be called Chris (but can you be sure it will always be the same one, or is this to be the generic name for your snails?) but I'm not to certain about the cow - all right, reluctant assent, but only on condition that she doesn't find out; I'm sure you've got problems enough without having a complexée cow as a neighbour.

Z said...

I think she was described as having a complexion like a beetroot that had received bad news? My once word-perfect knowledge of Saki is letting me down (I had a sardonic childhood; I studied Addams Family cartoons and HH Munro) and I'm confusing her with the man called Septimus *rhymes with Strope*. Thank you for checking, I'd not have rested.

We had a cow called Foster and another named Templeton - they are very easy-going, but you might prefer our next cockerel to be your namesake instead? I think wall-dwelling snails will have to be Chris, unless I start painting their shells to identify them.

Christopher said...

Well, how very interesting, Z. I'd thought I was the only Saki aficionado left on earth - a thought maybe promoted by living in France, where this plant doesn't appear to flower - but what joy to find I'm not alone after all! A life-long love of Saki was born when I was about 12, when we had one or two short stories read to us at school, and such was Saki's economical and deft use of language that they quickly became memorable, sometimes in their entirety. At one time I could just about have recited 'Sredni Vashtar' by heart, and chunks of 'The Unrest Cure' too. 'The Soul of Laploshka' was a favourite, too.

But when I had my own schools and sought to captivate the children, as I'd been captivated, with stories like 'Gabriel-Ernest', there were complaints from parents.

Sorry, this is a bit out of date now.

Septimus Brope?

Z said...

It was "I've just been to look it up", rather than having Googled, that gave me the clue. I'm so glad my instinct was correct. Evidently, I need to re-read completely, as details of names are slipping. Brope, indeed.

I love the thought of complaints that you were telling the children improper stories.

We used to have a dog called Bassington. And another called Clovis.

luckyzmom said...

Really a stunning accomplishment.