Finally the weather let up a bit so I could have a go at some roof work. Even in the drizzle, I rekon I've done pretty well although I am now contemplating raising the chimney pot a bit higher. Dependant on other work commitments, I may well get all the timber work finished by the weekend, then I can start on the tiling. I also managed to sort a couple of paving slabs to cap off the two pillars at the front. Just a little bit of mild adjutment required then they'll be cemented into place.
I've finally got to the end of the stonework, lugging big lumps of stone around has been incredibly hardwork but the finished product looks good. Now to start work on the roof timbers. Whilst our dinner is busy slow cooking in the oven, I have cut and placed the wall plate ready to start mounting the main roof timbers. As with most things I have to have a clear image in my head before I can start and, luckily for me, the whole roof is now clearly logged and ready to go. I think I shall be off to get some timber on Wednesday morning and then I should get the main roof structure done next weekend, subject to a bit of dry weather.
There just seems to be no end to the onslaught of jobs. Having mowed the lawn last week I found myself doing it again today. The mower however had other ideas so, although the front is finished, tomorrows job is to fix the mower, again. I've made some more progress with the pizza oven. The chimney is now complete and fixed in place and I have about a foot of stone wall left to build before I can start work on the roof. That should really put my tiling skills to the test. I've also been doing some work for our friends Chrissy and Dave, lots of tree felling and clearing, topped off with one of my best hedging jobs to date. I have a few more weeks working with them and then Dave is going to come and help me with his digger clearing the huge muddy mess in front of the stable and possibly taking some more of the lumps out of the drive. I've also had one of my many trips onto the roof today having lost a couple of slates. As always I've gone up to replace two and ended up refixing 20 where the retaining clips have just rusted away.
The last week has seen the thermometer hit 21 degrees. For you old fasioned peeps, haven't got a clue what that is in old money but very warm for a spring day. My first week of hedging for friends has gone really well, felling a monster tree in the process. Hopefully next week will also be a good one as it looks like we're in for sunshine for the duration. Pizza oven progress has been slow due to my absence from chez moi, I have however managed to get another course of stonework done and had the first burn in the oven, no cracks so far so fingers crossed. All things green are moving forwards, the spring onions have sprung, beetroot is just popping out of the soil and I've overhauled half of the mill ring, topping it up with more strawberry plants. My theory is that with enough plants, we may see a strawberry this year before Peter scoffs the lot.
Recent readers may have thought that I had been totally consumed by my pizza oven but that is not actually the case. I've tried to get in but the door isn't big enough. With the prospect of rain today I decided it was time to get my first proper French wine into bottles. Brewed from last years grape harvest we amazingly got 13 bottle of rose wine from our sole vine. There would have been another 3 bottles however one of my makeshift demijons must have been contaminated leaving me with a substance less drinkable than vinegar. I've also focused a fair amount of attention on my babies. No, not the kids, my numerous seeds that have now taken over part of the kitchen and a small amount of the green house. Already sprouting we have tomatoes, chillis, peppers, aubergines, coriander, cucumber, spring onions and courgettes. I also planted out plenty of flower pots to brighten the house this summer. Unfortunately they're all flowering in the green house already but the smell is sumptuous and hits you as soon as you open the door. If I'm lucky some will still be in flower next time we have guests here to appreciate them.
As the sunshine has been holding up well, I've managed the next stage on the oven. Tin foil, insulation, chicken wire and then more cement, stream clay and sand mixed together. Possibly my hardest rendering job to date as it was like one giant, moving slosh of cement trying to slide off every time it moved. Hopefully it will hang in place long enough to set and then tomorrow a second layer of chicken wire and render will be applied to make it all more solid.
I finally braved cutting the most awkward of bricks so that I could make some progress with the igloo. By some miracle, I have used every brick that I bought barring one broken one. A small sign that my little erection was meant to be. Also, as if my magic, I dug up 8 bricks in the chickens pen that I have used to start building the chimney stack. However desperate I may be to start the first fire, I must remain patient and allow everything to thouroughly dry.