Garden

December 30, 2016December 30, 2016

2016 – That was the year that was

The year began with us living on a building site – although the main structure was up at the start of the year, there was still much to be done:

I would say it was the start of the Easter holidays that the build was finished – although there was still much to do. If 2015 was characterised by the build, 2016 will be remembered for re-structuring the garden. I built the deck:

I removed the side panel, took out a lot of bushes and built a shed:

I tackled the front hedge (in several goes!)

… and took down the old summerhouse:

Sophie took, and passed (and excelled) in her GCSEs

I did, and passed, my referee’s course, and “caught the bug”

Sam continued to grow. And grow. And grow.

We “did” the sitting room – I laid the floor, Becky painted & styled everything:

Taking down the stone fireplace ... — Taking down the stone fireplace …

I swam a lot, I ran a lot and I took up spinning. All this led to me being the fittest I’ve been for years, and also the leanest I’ve been for years:

And Christmas came around – fun family time, gathering of the clans before Christmas, just the four of us on the big day itself:

The Peabody Massive, December '16 — The Peabody Massive, December ’16

Despite all the turmoil in the wider world (Brexit, Trump, seemingly endless celebrate deaths) 2016 was a good year in Peabody Towers, who knows what 2017 will bring?

November 6, 2016

Early November

Sitting room is ready, just awaiting sofas

One year on! A year ago building (well, demolition) began

Pics of the week 6/11/16

Last week the clocks went back and the second half of term began, always a significant milepost in any year, marking the shift into the dark, dreary days of late autumn and winter.

But its been a busy week, hence a gallery of the week rather than just one pic. Sophie’s 17th birthday, so the L Plates are out and she’s learning to drive.

My refereeing certificate and badge from the FA arrived through the post, confirming my appointment as a fully qualified level 7 ref. I am rather proud of this achievement. (Ref-ed today: Somerton Utd U13s v Stoke Wolves. The wolves ran out as 5-2 victors)

The tree in the back garden has turned the most vibrant shade of flame red – really rather striking. To be fair, the weather has been pretty good (read: dry) although in the last few days it has turned cold – and not just a little chilly, proper, sub 10 degrees, with wind to go with it, cold.

And so as the weather turns and the nights lengthen, it’ll mean more time spent indoors, so its a good job the sitting room is finished, to await the arrival of the sofas on Friday.

And it was this week last year that it all began – the builders arrived and knocked the garage down. It was exciting, and I’m pleased we did it, but I’m glad its finished!

July 18, 2016

Graveling the garden

Saturday 16 July 2016

I graveled the patch of garden at the foot of the deck/new build. It took a bit of a hammering during the build and we decided that, for both aesthetic and maintenance reasons, we would gravel over the small patch of lawn. Its a part of the garden that we’ve found we use a lot, although it is mainly a thoroughfare between deck and seating area where the old summer house was.

First up, I sprayed the area with weedkiller to kill of what lawn had survived, and then laid down weed suppressant fabric:

I bought I “bulk bag” (aprox 800Kg) of gravel from Bradfords – with delivery came to circa £65.

It arrived at about 8.45 am and then came the task of barrowing it all from the front to the back. Reckon it took about two hours to move it all and spread it out (including time for a tea break!)

and I am pleased with the results. Looks good!

June 12, 2016

Swarm!

Pic of the week 12/6/16

Monday evening, circa 6.30pm. A beautiful summer’s evening and we were all sat out in the new space created by the removal of the summer house, kicking back and chillin’; enjoying each others company, listenting to the sounds of summer: bees buzzing, swallows swooping, bees buzzing, BEES BUZZING ….!

I looked up, and not a foot above my head was a swarm of bees! A calm (swift!) retreat to asses the situation!

Google revealed the names and numbers of some local bee keepers, one of whom kindly came over from Wookey, snipped the branch that the bees were clustered on, popped them in a wicker basket, covered them with a sheet and took them away to replenish his hives.

All rather exciting and informative.

June 5, 2016June 5, 2016

Summerhouse demolition

With the new shed built, the time came to demolish the summerhouse.

Started on Saturday morning, done by Sunday afternoon (although still at least a couple more trips to the tip to dispose of what’s left.)

June 5, 2016

New shed

The new shed arrived at about 2pm on Thursday 2nd June. Before the day was done it was built!

June 5, 2016

Half term

Pick of the week 5/6/16

What a manly half term:

I built a new shed:

I knocked down the summerhouse, fixed the car when it wouldn’t start, ran 6k twice, swam 2K twice, a mile once and totaled 288 lengths of the pool, chopped down the tops of two hefty trees in the hedge … and all of this in one week.

I’ve got 4 weeks back at school now, before the long eight week summer holiday – not sure how I’ll survive it, I’ll be a physical wreck come September!

The rain stayed away most of the time and sun shone on occasion, a great, fulfilling and productive week.

May 15, 2016

Shed Base

Pic of the week 15/5/16

So last week was removing the hedge, this week was laying the shed base.

I used the bag of sharp sand left by the builders in the front garden and mixed it in the ratio 8 parts sand to 1 part (white) cement – again left by the builders. This gave me a dry mix which I then spread on the area and added cheap paving slabs from B&Q on the top, tapping them down to get the level.

Gathered up some of the spare sand/cement mix and added some more cement which I brushed into the joints as pointing, Still have some of this mix in a bucket, should I need to add more pointing.

It’s all (pointing & base layer) not “gone off” – I’m presuming that the natural moisture in the grounds percolates through and causes it to set, although I don’t expect it to go rock hard. The area wont be subject to lots of traffic – just needs to provide a solid level base for the shed to go up (hopefully in half term) Plan is to get an 8×5 foot “pent” shed. Watch this space – I’m sure that that is a blog post waiting to happen!

(p.s. look at them Lilly-white legs! Don’t think they’ve ever been this white, certainly not in mid-May. Although its been warm & sunny for the last week, it has been a cool/cold spring and my legs only emerged a week ago. But the buns are looking firm and round!)

May 8, 2016

Shed Hedge

Pic of the week 8/5/16

The sun has finally shone (shorts worn for the first time this year on Friday 6th May) and we decided to tackle the hedge along the fence, in preparation for the (new) shed to go there, allowing the removal of the summer house that sits in the prime sunshine spot.

There was quite a bit of hedge to get rid of – this pic doesn’t really do it justice, but it was big, overgrown and very, very prickly.

Chopped back, awaiting disposal.

Starting to look a lot tidier

… and the finished space. Didn’t have quite enough membrane so the corner will wait whilst I order some more. The it will be filled with sand (finally getting rid of the dumpy bag left by the builders at the front of the house) mixed with a bit of cement and topped with paving slabs, ready for a new shed (still to be ordered.)

April 24, 2016

24 April 16 A garden update and a few pics for the record.

After a very mild winter before Christmas, it has been a cold Spring, but things are beginning to show signs of life.

Mowed the lawn for the first time last week (17th April).

The brown tree is beginning to bud and the first leaves are starting to form.

The big shasta daisies are greening up and putting on growth spurt.

Signs of life – hopefully will be able to compare some pics in a months time and the garden will be far further on (& I shall be sitting in it enjoying the sunshine …!)