This was, except for the addition of one more brick, how it was left after this morning's work. The darker bricks have been on the ground and are more weathered; they'll all go like that in a year or so. 
I was only able to work until 11 o'clock because I was expecting visitors.
We chalked on the paths, rode bicycles and watched the workers, and then decided to trim the hedge by the drive.
We also inspected the globe artichokes, the first of which are almost ready to eat.
After lunch and when Dave had left, Pugsley asked to use the rest of the mortar, which he calls "mint" for some unfathomable reason. Pugsley
and Squiffany 
made brick sandwiches 
while the Sage laid one final brick. 
This is all part of the plan. I mean to put the whole family to bricklaying before long.
14 comments:
You do realise that ornamental brick is upside down, don't you?
I was thinking the ornamental brick needed to be turned 180 degrees. Z-you are like the Tom Sawyer of Bungay aren't you..encouraging others to help with the bricklaying. Smart woman.
Do you think so? I'll as the Sage and Dave if they've tried it other ways round. It would be very tricky to lay as it's 3 1/2 bricks deep. and also you'd be balancing it on the narrow bit until you'd added the surrounding bricks.
I did wonder if it should be turned 90º to the right, but I assumed the Sage had looked at the photos of it in situ - anyway, it's your wall, and I'm just doing what I'm told.
If you both like it that way, then that's all that matters, isn't it?
I'd assumed it's square, but having just measured it on the screen, it's wider (the way it's laid at present) than high - so if turned 90º it would probably be exactly one brick wide (so no need to shorten bricks around it) and slightly taller - so no need to insert extra slips of brick.
Well, I think it looks fine until it's actually in the wall, when the gap looks awkward. I haven't spoken to the Sage about it yet as I was out early and now he is, but I'll have a chat with him later.
The Sage hasn't got a photo, but he's seen a film of the Hall and he thinks that the bricks are placed as this one, but he sees what Dave means. I agree that it would be better 90º turned.
It was raining earlier, though it's fine now, so Dave's planning to come over this afternoon. Unfortunately, that means I can't take part as I'll have the children from 3 pm, but Dave and the Sage can sort it out.
Oh no! I was just teasing! Didn't mean to put the cat among the pigeons...
Going back to my previous worries about the effects of cement on hands... should those children really be playing with it without gloves on?
See eg:
http://www.osha.gov/dsg/guidance/cement-guidance.html
My children ate cement when we were having some building work done. Never did them any harm (did have some interesting nappies though).
Dandy: too late. I think you'll have to send us chocolate cake to make up for the damage caused.
Being fluent in babytalk, I think you'll find "mint" is short for "cement".
It's not something we'll make a habit of them doing - the mortar was pretty dry by then and most of the time they were using trowels - they were only doing it for a few minutes and washed immediately afterwards. Don't worry, if they do any real bricklaying I'll have them wear rubber gloves.
I know a lot of builders and none of them, even the one in his 80s, has any skin problems except on the face caused by sun damage.
Rog, of course you're right. I didn't know he knew it was cement. You are clever.
And Dand, I think you're right - well, half right anyway - so I'm grateful. And Dave says he's dieting, and is not supposed to eat cake.
Z-it is because you have delicate ladylike hands. I used some Quikrete cement to make ornamental pavers and had the same effect to the hands.
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