A week off

We have all been off work and school this week, and as usual we have been busy. I had quite a bit of tidying up to do to the paved area, and I had managed to get a Saturday or two at it, but what I needed was a sustained effort. I started on Monday, and finished this morning.

Lots of the edge flags had been cut, but not placed, and it took quite a bit of preparation to make the area ready for them. The adjacent sand and cement mix had hardened and needed chiseled out to enable new mix to be laid to bed in the edging.

There were kerbs to be laid for the edge at the

front, so we got that done too, and placed the flags in behind them.

Perhaps

the most challenging cutting I had to do was the bit around the manhole. This was tricky because the slabs that had been left out created a space that wasn't really very square, and also cutting slabs to fit inside the manhole cover was extremely delicate. Worth it in the end.

The doorstep at the patio was also finished, just this morning. I had to build the edge and then fill in the centre with concrete, and when that had hardened I laid the paving stones.

The plasterer has also been here, but only for two days, and has most of

the inside rubbed up, and all four corners done now. Lets hope it doesn't rain tonight!

Roof Tiles

After another bit of a break the contractor was back today and got the roof tiled. They intended to do it last Friday, but it was such a miserable day they just gave up and went home.

Today the tiles went on at an incredible rate, and late in the afternoon they had it finished.

As a bonus the plasterer arrived today, and by the end of the day he had three of the exterior walls scratched.

At the beach

This morning instead of my normal Sunday lie-in I decided I would take advantage of the moderate Westerly wind and head to the beach.

I arrived at the beach just after sunrise, and had a reasonable session, although the waves were a little too huge for me. For the first time I was riding a little in my bad direction.

I can't wait until I'm out with some of the more experienced guys again, 'cause I'll be looking for some advice, and also its a little scary being out there on your own. If you lose your board, or get into any sort of trouble, you have no help, so I was being cautious, staying within my depth at all times etc. What I really need to do at this stage is start off out beyond the breaking waves, so I have more uninterrupted water to practice in. The problem with that further out, better water is that it is so much more dangerous.

Out of the water and packed up for just after 9am, driving back across the beach I spotted Alan, who is one of the other regulars. Spoke briefly, and left him to it, apparently he had a good session too. Can't wait until next time!

Roof felt on

Trusses on!

Today the trusses were put on. Yesterday the workmen were back and started the work, but really just got the preparation work completed. Today they came back, and very quickly finished the job.

The brickies were also back and almost finished off the pillars at the road. Just the pillar caps to go on.

The good thing about seeing the trusses on was that I could see the size of the room it gives above the garage - that's the place that all the stuff w

e should throw out, but will keep for years will stay. It will be a good size of a room.