Half term

summerhouse montage (722x720)Pick of the week 5/6/16

What a manly half term:

I built a new shed:

new shedI 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.

Revision!

Sophie revisionPic of the week 29/5/16

It’s been a big week that has seen Sophie’s GCSEs start in earnest, with two English exams, maths and a geography exam.

She’s worked hard – as her room testifies! – so I’m sure she’ll do well. She’s been taking it comfortably in her stride, a brief respite for half term now and then back for two more weeks.  She finishes term even earlier than me this year!

He’s getting big!

Me and Sam (768x1024)Pic of the week 22/5/16

This pic was taken on Tuesday 17th May and shows Sam nearly as tall as me!

He’s getting big, … and strong.  I now have to use all my wiles and cunning to defeat him in a wrestling or pushing match, but defeat him I do!

Shed Base

shed base (1024x1024)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!)

Shed Hedge

shed hedge montage (1024x1024)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.

Hedge beforeThere 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.

shed hedge chopped down (1024x1024)Chopped back, awaiting disposal.

shed hedge nearly finishedStarting to look a lot tidier

shed hedge final (1024x1024)… 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.)

Becky & Me

Me and BeckyPic of the week 1/5/16

Taken on the evening of Friday 29th April 2016 before Becky & I went to the Prefects Dinner.

Kitchen!

kitchenPic of the week 24/4/16

I think that we can now safely say that the build is “done” (although there is still a lot of decorating to do in the old build) and I think this picture encapsulates the kitchen.

If anything, the pic doesn’t do the vastness of the space justice, but it is a great space – I love it. Worth the disruption and empty bank account!

Run and room

Room and runPick of the week 17/4/16

This rather arty shot neatly summarizes the last week – (at last) we have moved upstairs into our new bedroom, and very nice it is too. And yesterday I ran for the first time in two months, (at last) my knee injury seems to have healed up.

In the background, I am donning my running gear – my florescent jacket matching the yellow of the duvet cover. Co-ordinated, or what!

The Deck that Jeff built

DeckPick of the week 10/4/16

Deck boards arrived on Friday, the sun shone, and I got building. Made good progress but didn’t finish, and, annoyingly, it was stop start through the April showers on Saturday. However, it’s built, it looks good and I’m pleased with it.

Some more photos:

IMG_0879IMG_0880IMG_0881IMG_0883And here is a before shot:

Pre-deck… and a preliminary stages pic:

Deck 1

Birthday!

Me on my birthday (1024x1024)Pic of the week 3/4/16

Was my birthday on Monday – 47 years young! This is a pic of me opening my gifts.

Think I’m doing well for my years. I’m going to record my weight as 13st 2lb (compared to 15st 0 last year), swimming regularly: typically 1km at least 3 times a week, with (recently) the odd mile thrown in. Running still on hold due to the knee not quite fully heeling as I’d like. Hair is becoming increasingly “flecked with grey” and (much to Sam’s delight) now starting to noticeably recede at the front, but all told, I think I’m in pretty good nick (others will, I’m sure, disagree!)