7th February 2025 - Chicken Coop removal

Thought for the day :"I am a professional sleep walker. I am living the dream"

Dry 

2025 : Wet 19 : Dry 18

Taking down the Chicken Coop from Charlie and Spot

Charlie wanted to get rid of his chicken coop so it was an opportunity to get the John Deere out and charge the battery up, pump the tyres and head down with my trusty screwdriver and hammer to see what can be done 

Wasn't on the list but never mind - a lot of good wood and some nice structures when we finally get the main pieced back here - though we need a trailer for that and his trailer needs to be emptied when he is ready.

A good days work

Cheers 

6th February 2025 - Picket Fencing and Painting

Thought for the day :"Purple is my favourite colour. I love it more than red and blue combined."

Dry 

2025 : Wet 19 : Dry 17

Did the patio herb garden yesterday - time to paint the front gate 

Hmm - wasn't on the list - will have to add it 

And also mended the picket fencing around the wild flower section 

Mended but will still need painting

THE LIST 

1 : paint gargoyle block white

2 : paint fence top terrace 

3 : paint fence middle terrace

4 : paint fence lower terrace 

5 : fix picket fence at bee terrace

6 : paint picket fence 

7 : cut hedge bush at top terrace 

8 : trim box hedges top terrace 

9 : step middle terrace replace

10: chicken wire 4th Step

11: chicken wire 6th step 

12: repair 7th step

13: chicken wire 9th step

14: repair 10th step

15: collect slates from raspberry 

16: collect logs from raspberry 

17: trim willow off bottom glade

18: trim rhododendron glade

19: prune dog rose

20: fill gabions more

21: dismantle treehouse 

22: chicken wire troll bridge

23: check fountain pump 

24: find fairy light post for patio

25: rescue trailer and rebuild 

26: trim laurel along river side

27: clean mermaid

28: collect logs under magnolia 

29: trim box trees under magnolia 

30: repair wizards seat

31: shelf for wizard on tree

32: cut laurel back behind chickens

33: repair 2 3 5 7 8 10 steps

34:  new wall on raised bed 2

35: map out ground for platforms

36: trim box hedges 1

37: trim box hedge 2

38: trim box hedge 3

39: middle path repair step 2

40: Repair walls of block 2

41: Repair patio herb bed fencing

42: Paint patio herb bed fencing

43: Paint front gate 

44: Paint Idris Churn

45: Paint tyres under Idris

Cheers 

5th February 2025 - Chimney Sweeps and herb garden fencing

Thought for the day :"Studies show that people with higher IQ's are often lazy, or something like that, I didn't read the whole article"

Dry 

2025 : Wet 19 : Dry 16

Chimney sweep came today to clear out main fire and refix the rope seal in the kitchen. It was in real need of a good sweeping.  Living room fire was not too bad. 

Both working better for having a better draw.

Susie away so home alone .

Patio picket fencing repaired and repainted

The list

1 : paint gargoyle block white

2 : paint fence top terrace 

3 : paint fence middle terrace

4 : paint fence lower terrace 

5 : fix picket fence at bee terrace

6 : paint picket fence 

7 : cut hedge bush at top terrace 

8 : trim box hedges top terrace 

9 : step middle terrace replace

10: chicken wire 4th Step

11: chicken wire 6th step 

12: repair 7th step

13: chicken wire 9th step

14: repair 10th step

15: collect slates from raspberry 

16: collect logs from raspberry 

17: trim willow off bottom glade

18: trim rhododendron glade

19: prune dog rose

20: fill gabions more

21: dismantle treehouse 

22: chicken wire troll bridge

23: check fountain pump 

24: find fairy light post for patio

25: rescue trailer and rebuild 

26: trim laurel along river side

27: clean mermaid

28: collect logs under magnolia 

29: trim box trees under magnolia 

30: repair wizards seat

31: shelf for wizard on tree

32: cut laurel back behind chickens

33: repair 2 3 5 7 8 10 steps

34:  new wall on raised bed 2

35: map out ground for platforms

36: trim box hedges 1

37: trim box hedge 2

38: trim box hedge 3

39: middle path repair step 2

40: Repair walls of block 2

41: Repair patio herb bed fencing

42: Paint patio herb bed fencing 

Cheers !

4th February 2025 - Nothing to see

Thought for the day :"I was worried about the moon getting too full, but it is just a phase."

Wet - very 

2025 : Wet 20 : Dry 15

Nancy off to hospital today for her op, and Susie is heading down to look after her and the family so Home alone for a couple of days .

Was a good start  on the garden but too wet for anything except sitting inside and keeping warm 

Move along

Nothing to see

Cheers 

 

3rd February 2025 - Picket Fencing on the patio

Thought for the day :"Dark Matter holds the Universe together - it is called Coffee"

Dry

2025 : Wet 19 : Dry 15

January is clearly a month for sticking the head under the blankets and pretending it will go away.

February gives a little bit more of an incentive to get something done

Decided to start with things that I can see from my chair in the kitchen - namely the picket fencing around Susie's herb garden on the patio...  It was on the list 

Repair and repaint - that will take a couple of days 

Cheers 

2nd February 2025 - Vectra Dies and making a list

Thought for the day :"Today I discovered what you call someone with a nose but no body... Nobody knows."

Wet 

2025 : Wet 19 : Dry 14

Happy Imbolc

Tom came up and took the Vectra today - tested it and found that the timing chain had gone and valves were damaged - sad to see it go but got £215 for weigh in.

Started looking at works that need to be done - picket fences are all broken at the moment and generally a lot of care and attention needed

Decided to make a short list ..

Decided to stop at 42

1 : paint gargoyle block white

2 : paint fence top terrace 

3 : paint fence middle terrace

4 : paint fence lower terrace 

5 : fix picket fence at bee terrace

6 : paint picket fence 

7 : cut hedge bush at top terrace 

8 : trim box hedges top terrace 

9 : step middle terrace replace

10: chicken wire 4th Step

11: chicken wire 6th step 

12: repair 7th step

13: chicken wire 9th step

14: repair 10th step

15: collect slates from raspberry 

16: collect logs from raspberry 

17: trim willow off bottom glade

18: trim rhododendron glade

19: prune dog rose

20: fill gabions more

21: dismantle treehouse 

22: chicken wire troll bridge

23: check fountain pump 

24: find fairy light post for patio

25: rescue trailer and rebuild 

26: trim laurel along river side

27: clean mermaid

28: collect logs under magnolia 

29: trim box trees under magnolia 

30: repair wizards seat

31: shelf for wizard on tree

32: cut laurel back behind chickens

33: repair 2 3 5 7 8 10 steps

34:  new wall on raised bed 2

35: map out ground for platforms

36: trim box hedges 1

37: trim box hedge 2

38: trim box hedge 3

39: middle path repair step 2

40: Repair walls of block 2

41: Repair patio herb bed fencing

42: Paint patio herb bed fencing

That'll do for a start 

Just looking at the list makes me tired

Cheers 

1st February 2025 - Fabio Gone and Back again

Thought for the day :"I was told that after a vasectomy I wouldn't have any kids. Imagine my surprise when I got home and they were still there"

Dry 

2025 : Wet 18 : Dry 14

Got a bit worried as we found a large hole in the roof of the peacock enclosure and though Zsa Zsa was happily walking about the enclosure there was no sine of Fabio.

To be honest we feared the worst, that he would make his way into the wild and disappear into the trees, but as we were sitting in the kitchen, I thought I heard a peacock screech on the radio and thought that was strange - but looked out and Fabio was stalking up the lawn!!  

Let him make his way back to the paddock and calmly he walked back into the enclosure.

Needless to say I have mended the netting but it makes you wonder if they may be able to free range..

Cheers