Monday 15 June 2009

Bringing on the wall, Day 11 -Dave's back

Oh I say. There's a thunderstorm, rather close - the latest clap of thunder made Tilly jump off the sofa and she's normally quite unbothered by loud noises - and it's raining torrentially (just as the forecast said, unusually), and the Sage is out on the Common in an open trailer. He's a Common Reeve, you see, and it's the evening for the official Annual Inspection. He'd said to expect him back around 8 o'clock, but I think he'll be rather earlier than that. Wet.

It really is tipping down, and if the lightning comes any closer, I'll turn off the computer.

Anyway, there was little sign of this earlier when we embarked on our 11th half-day of construction (I hope the mortar is well set by now as there's little point in my rushing out to cover it up now). Dave decided to work on the pillar one-third along the next stretch of wall, as he had been pondering on it all weekend. So as to keep an unbroken line of whole bricks along the face of the footings, the brickie had not tied the supporting pillar in, but had offset its bricks for some strength. We didn't think there was much use in doing this for its whole height, but some care was required in the design for appearance, strength and least brick-cutting possible.

A request has been made for a picture of Dave's rear view. So here it is.
I'd love to think that, one day, I'll show a bit of the garden that isn't scruffy. Yes, the summerhouse needs re-felting.

Anyway, this afternoon, when it was warm and sunny, I went in to visit Al. He had taken all the fruit off the shelves and was painting the wall behind. He had some lovely local vegetables and I bought some and then went and picked more, and some fruit, from the garden. Tonight, we have new potatoes, peas, tomatoes, carrots, broad bean tops, asparagus and globe artichokes, as well as Lowestoft herrings and gooseberries. Actually, I think this is a bit much and I may keep the tomatoes and carrots until tomorrow.

I've brought the speech down to 1400 words and I can do that, at measured speed, in 10 minutes which is all right. We only allow half an hour for the AGM and that includes time for visitors to come in at the end - we actually aim at 20 minutes. I shall ask the incoming chairman if she'd like to give the vote of thanks at the end - in any case, my duties will end at 12.15 at the latest. And then the committee is taking me out for lunch!

20 comments:

Dave said...

Your garden isn't scruffy, it's lived-in.

I rather feel I've blocked the view of what now looks like a rather substantial pillar. The front face (of the pillar, not me) looks rather better than the back.

Z said...

Well, it's both! And there will be plenty of shots of the pillar in later posts - besides, I won't be able to get a particularly good picture of its front face until we've used up the bricks in front of it.

Nothing wrong with your front or rear view, dear heart.

Z said...

Oh! I forgot the asparagus. I'll have to alter the post.

Anonymous said...

The weather where you are must suck majorly... this wall seems like it has taken you forever!

LyleD4D said...

The storm was right over us, and has resulted in floods round the area (although fortunately not with us, or around us)

Remarkably heavy, including the deposit of about half an inch to an inch of hail...

Z said...

Not really, Alyson - we only work for a couple of hours or so at a time. We're taking it easy and just doing it for fun. We would like to finish by the autumn, but are quite prepared to have to wait for next year! Fortunately, all three of us are okay with that.

Blimey Lyle, we've had half an inch of rain but no hail - you live about 20 miles at most away I suppose - remarkable.

The Sage had taken a waterproof coat, but came home with wet trousers!

LyleD4D said...

Yeah, it was just the centre of it that was seriously vile, I guess - and that went right over us.

Watton was worst hit (about four miles from us) with floods etc just from the sheer amount of water that came down in an hour.

We had so much hail, it was still hanging around two hours later - impressive stuff

Dandelion said...

Is that like a Shire Reeve? I thought they went out with the Domesday Book and the Marcher Lords.

Z said...

Yagnub still has Town Reeves, and Feoffees, which I think makes it unique now. The Common is privately owned and the public are allowed on as a privilege, not a right. It's managed by elected reeves from amongst the owners and the Sage is one of them.

lom said...

We should have had rain but it never arrived, it just went dark. Shame I will have to go and water today

Anonymous said...

What a lovely wall.

We've had a lot of storms and rain - but then it's winter here so to be expected really.

Christopher said...

Rain! You couldn't send us some, could you?

Z said...

Shall we club together and send Christopher some rain?

Dave said...

It's cheaper to send him a box of dehydrated rain.

Dave said...

Nice lunch?

Z said...

Cheaper? But it's for Christopher - surely money is no object.

Splendid, thank you. I have had a little nap this afternoon.

Dave said...

Agreed, but I suspect non-dehydrated rain will seep out of the box.

Z said...

Not if we use plenty of sealing wax.

heybartender said...

Good god, I could afford to send Christopher some rain. I think I am much closer to your weather since I've moved, Z. Seems like it has rained nearly every day. It does make for lovely gardens, though.
Kudos to you on that Slobberbone listening, BTW. I'm finally catching up on my reading.

Z said...

I listen to your music every day, Julie. Anything I don't like at first listen, I keep going until I do. It's the only way to grow.