Dave and the Sage decided that all the tiles would be laid and then putting on the triangular caps will be the last job of all. I'm still plugging away at the pillar, which I find very tricky - making sure all the bricks are exactly level and not overhanging one side or the other, and finishing off the mortar is awkward too, as it drops off as you try to smooth it round the corner. Still, I think I'm starting to get the knack a bit better.
So, here's today's Record of Achievement *ahem* -
This is the section that Dave did
This is what I was working on, from each side. Yes, the kitchen garden is looking very untidy and end-of-yearish. The nearest bed had squashes in, they've been harvested but haven't been cleared yet. You can see that some of the Jerusalem artichokes are quite droopy with the dry weather, but some of them are in flower, which is the sign of a long autumn. Where they're planted used to be the end of the kitchen garden, so you can see by how much it's been enlarged.
The Sage and Dave putting the finishing touch to an end pillar.
In other news, as they say, I seem to be getting a chest infection. I've been really tired all day - I've had two long sleeps on the sofa and I've got a painful cough from deep in my lungs. It's come on quite suddenly, I was fine yesterday and haven't had any sign of a cold. I went to get my hair cut today and drove in, not wanting to breath in all the cold air first thing in the morning on my bike. I don't think I'm getting flu because I don't have a temperature and I haven't stopped eating. Or drinking. Mind you, a bit of a disaster when I discovered that I'd used (well, I should have known but I'd forgotten) that I'd used all the white wine in the risotto last night. I thought I'd got a bottle of vodka in the freezer but it was gin and I hadn't anything I could drink with gin. Fortunately, I knew there was a can of beer in the dining room. The Sage offered to get it, as I was cooking dinner at the time. He came back clutching a can .. of Dave's Pepsi Max. Really, how unworldly can a chap be? - can't tell the difference between Carlsberg and Pepsi. Not that either of them are exactly epicurean drinks and I doubt my husband has ever drunk either of them, but all the same.
17 comments:
Although we may try putting on the triangular caps tomorrow. Possibly.
If you're not well, I give you permission just to watch from indoors. As long as you send out a warming mug of tea at halftime.
Can I just ask, why have we got pillars? They look nice and everything, but I can't quite see how they do what I would want them to do. I don't think I understand walls.
Is it the camera angle - or my eyesight? or is that wall where the bucket is standing a bit wiggly in the middle (when I click on and enlarge the picture) ?
They're to give added strength, Dand. It would be quite a long stretch of that height with a single brick wall without pillars. We considered having the ones along the long part not raised, but decided in the end it would look better to have the visual breaks, so that all the sections are about the same length.
The wall is quite wiggly, Ivy. Some of it because the hand-made bricks aren't entirely even, some of it because Dave and I are amateurs. We think it goes quite nicely with the 450-year-old house, and don't mind. We're also hoping that once I've got plants against both sides of the wall, it won't show up too much!
You've got us bang to rights...
Oh, it may partly be my wiggly camera-work - I just snap and post and it's often on the huh.
Chilly? Chilly???? You need to ride a bicycle over't Pennines in't middle of winter. Then yer'll know chilly....;-)
I've turned into a soft southerner yer know...depressing really
Hope you feel better really soon Z.
Dandelion-I vote we all gather at Z and the Sage's home once the wall is done. Photos probably are not as good(despite Z's excellent camera work) as in person viewing.
It all sounds like a well spent reason or two. I cant they the photos as this mobile phone cant quite handle it but well done the three me you. Speaking 3 last monday I underwent kidney transplant surgery. They have left my two damaged kidneys in situ and placed the new to me one slightly lower down. Initial indicators are positive.. Ad.
I`m glad it`s not my eye-sight Z. It looks quite artistic like that.
I meant season not reason. apols. Ad
well they can stop the hunt for Red October - is that a submarine you have hiding in the vegetable patch?!
Hope the chesticles improve - now I'm nearing my 'date' I have been told in no uncertain terms that any kind of chest infection will put my op on hold - I feel I should be wearing a mask!
You want cold, 4D? Try going to school in Lowestoft, right by the sea with an East wind blowing up your gym slip. No nice tights in them days, you know, bare legs right up all the way.
And my dad went to school in Scotland and wore the kilt. Mind you, history didn't record whether he wore underpants. Surely he did. Surely.
I dosed myself up last night and slept soundly and feel much better this morning. Thanks for the offer, Dave. You got shortchanged yesterday, tea at the end with no biccies, let alone cake.
Hope you keep infection-free, Ziggi.
Really glad you're doing well, Ad - thanks very much for calling round to tell me. Keeping your own kidneys should be better long-term, I should think - shows they're not doing more harm than good, and they could recover in the long run, so sparing the new one from being overloaded. Best wishes, darling.
And everyone is invited to see the wall.
How do you store your Butternut Squashes? I've had a bumper crop this year, they are still out there, but not sure the best way of keeping them.....in the cool I expect, away from rats??!
PS hope you feel better soon
Dry, cool, away from rats - though Al claims a lot of mine for the shop. so I don't have that many to store. If they get frosted they will thaw into a horrid mess.
Thanks.
Anon 1.31, that's a great idea. I second that emotion.
Ad, pleased to hear the update. Sending good thoughts for your recovery x
Better get them in then!
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