9th April 2011

Well, what can I say about today.  Due to unforeseen circumstances my young apprentice skived off today - so no BBQ (where did I put that P45?).

Despite that little setback I have been cracking along under my own steam and its been that hot I think I have produced loads of it too.

To start the day I finished off the noggings for the floor joists in the kitchen area of the plan so all that is now as solid as a rock.  As for the framework, I finished off the entire length going up the right hand site of the plan.  Once that was in position I was fiddling about with it for ages to make sure it was plumb and square.  As that was now plumb I made the frame for the wall that goes to the left in the bedroom above the lounge  which has helped hold everything solid as does the other frame I have made on the other side and put in which will hold the front door.

I was going to nip over and measure up for the windows I still need to get but now I have sat down I cant get up but I have to say, things are flying along now.

8th April 2011

What a scorcher today has been!!  Well today I have been up to allsorts.  First of all I noticed that one of the frames wasnt sitting quite square and plumb so I removed all the ceiling joists and replaced them with new and not it is completely bob-on.

I had put up a temporary wall between where the kitchen and lounge is going to be and as that doesnt need to be there now, I have also removed that.  The floor joists in the kitchen area have been finished off (just a couple of noggings to go in).

When I starting this morning I was going at it like a bat out of hell but by 3pm with the heat I was getting to a snails pace.

Those hassling me for pics - I will put some up soon!

Its got to be BBQ weather tomorrow....

5th April 2011

What a rough 24 hours I have had.  The stud frame I put up the other day is screwed into the existing frame at one end but it open the other end - the only thing keeping that end up is a brace going across the 4m opening.  Last night it was blowing an absolute gale and I could hardly sleep listening out just in case anything came down in the winds - now I know what the farmer feels like getting up every 2 hours to check when its lambing time!

Today it has been a miserable day but at least the wind has died down.  According to the weather forecasters we are meant to be getting a taste of summer during the second half of this week - yippee!!

4th April 2011

A fairly quiet day today.  I got over there early and set everything up.  I moved a load of stock timber out of the way (thats the worse bit about working in such a narrow plot - your always moving something out of the way) and just as I chopped my first bit of timber the heavens opened.

2nd April 2011

What a couple of days we have had, it has been miserable for the last couple of days - even had a thunder storm at 3am this morning but it brightened up not long after sunrise.

Today I completed the frame that contains the long window (2.4m long) to the lounge (on the right of the plan).  I did have to ring my apprentice to wonder where she was because there would have been no way I could have lifted that whole frame into position on my own.

I also have the frame on the opposite side (with the French doors) 90% completed and erected.

I am officially goosed!!!