March 12th
Been constructing the "ladder" this weekend - with the help of volunteers Beccy, Anna and Alfie. Made a bit of a bodge of it really. but improving with each length. What you need is a bit of flat concrete with a wall to push against - otherwise every time you whack a six inch nail in the whole thing moves.The fun thing was whittling the hazel rods which sit in the ladder (to hold the first line of bales in place). Beccy and Anna did a neat job while they chatted about life back in New Zealand. The smell of fresh wood chips and the musical clink of these little poles was enchanting.
rods and a kiwi hand
March 3rd
Beccy (who I met at Rachel's build in St Dogmaels) came over with Giles and we finished off putting in the floor joists. Rather an anal business, trying to get the joists all level so the floorboards will go on neat and easy without lots of creaking. Creaky floors and music studios don't go well together so much jiggling around. I've plastic wrapped the joists because they will be exposed until the roof is on and I don't want to them to get water damaged.
Feb 28th
Out in the rain and snow this week putting in floor joists. We're on the move again. I have to wrap each joist in plastic after fitting it to prevent the moisture getting to it. Will order some exterior ply next week to make a temporary floor to work on when we start putting up the bales. I'm hoping the floor will then become the roof when thats ready to go up. I've also got a quote for scaffolding round the entire build once we're up to waist level with the bales. I figure it'll be worth the £300 that it will cost.
January 22nd
The window thing. I really wanted wood windows - not those plastic cheapo things, but they're hard to come by unless you go to an off the peg manufacturer. I rang a sash window maker and asked for a rough quote for two front windows (4' X 4'8" ish) - which came in at around £1400. Seemed like a lot for a building thats meant to come in under £10,000. So I went on the Trade-it Website and found aguy in Portishead selling a job lot of 12 unused windows - all wood framed - that he's had sat around his garage for a couple of years. Went over this morning and purchase 4 (2 big and 2 small) for £125. Now thats more like it. They need the glass putting in, but the sizes are good and I think they'll even look rather nice. Just what I wanted.
2005
January 20th
Back in action at last, my leg completely healed, and raring to go. Been on a weekend clay plastering course at Rachel Whitehead's beautiful house in St Dogmaels, West Wales (see pic on Pindrop Club News page) to get me back in the mood. Wet, cold, muddy, windy, rainy and had a ball - the house is exquisite. I left convinced that I want to plaster the inside walls with clay even if it is rather labour intensive. Its such a warm, human and tactile surface.
Back home home I've started digging out the foundations for the veranda, cleaning up the site and wondering about things like doors and windows. So much to do, but if I go a small step at a time I know I will eventually arrive. Rachel put a snail in my hand last weekend as hunched over my cup of steaming tea, not realising what a potent image she was planting in my fast lane psyche. If ever you build your own place, think snail !
I had a go at making my own needles yesterday - not very successful. Got a length of 8mm mild steel from the local blacksmith ("whats it for?" he asked and I was too lame to try and explain my straw bale eccentricities) and heated the end up with a gas torch. It heated up fine, glowing bright red, but without an anville, to bash it flat on, its very difficult to get any real purchase. If there's any give at all in the surface you're banging against, the "give" absorbs all the power of your impact. I don't think I'm going to go as far as buying an anvil but will instead get them made up.This means levelling with the Blacksmith ! If you're reading this and what some needles made up, let me know - I may be able to supply you with soe.