Day 3 - Final Result!

The Grand Decking Project - Lunch on Day 3

Handrail - done! Pointing - done! Handrail for steps - nearly done!

The Grand Decking Project - Close of Day 2

Great success! Got the steps done and the decking, just the handrail and gate to go now. An afternoon spent with another power tool - the pressure washer. Whilst not as powerful as the angle grinder, no less satisfying - especially when you can use it to accidentally soak your father. Oops. God got revenge on Dad's behalf though by sending down a particularly heavy shower of rain just as I had mixed my cement mortar, meaning I had to spend the next half an hour painfully stirring it so it didn't set.

The Grand Decking Project - Lunch on Day 2

So, here we are at lunch on Day 2. Day 1 was a grand success, getting all the basic structure up. We have been using the stone cutter to cut tiles for the steps, and laying the first few bits of decking. The stone cutter was a most excellent power tool and made me feel very macho, especially as I am now sporting a beard, albeit one with a fair few tints of ginger and (a recent development!) grey. In fact, I swear I discovered my first grey hair the same day we found out Em was pregnant. I know I am getting old now since my blog features my DIY exploits and I waffle about my grey hairs. Still, I have chosen Absolute Radio over Radio 2 for our builders' radio station of choice, so not too middle aged yet...

Actually - I say DIY, it should really be DISE as Dad it doing all the hard work in my opinion. Still, DIY and barbecues really seems to be the well-protected domain of all Dads. Perhaps, when Em has the baby in December, Dad and I will have to have a "DIY-off" to see which Dad has the true mastery of skills. I know who would win at the moment so I'd best get practising (cut to six months time, me with saw in hand: "your powers are weak old man, now I am the master". Dad: "Mike, I have something to tell you ... I am your father." Me: "Noooooo!!!")

Anyway, I managed to convince Dad to finally take a photo of me instead so it gives the impression that I am actually doing some of the work too (namely the bits that have gone wrong!)

The Grand Decking Project - Tea on Day 1

Well, coffee to be more precise. The rain started and stopped right on and after lunch, perfect timing. More progress has been made since and relations between the two builders are still as steadfast as the structure itself!

At the moment the vertical posts are sticking up quite far as we haven't yet cut them down to size. The neighbours are going to have a fit when they see it that high - at present it sticks up about 2 metres above their fence. It looks like we are actually extending the kitchen - I did consider moving the dishwasher and cooker out there and throwing a tarpaulin over the posts as a makeshift extension. May get a little cold in the winter though. The other option is to put a maching gun and barbed wire up there and build a little watchtower with searchlights. All will be revealed...

The Grand Decking Project - Day 1

Lunch on Day 1 - Rain Stopped Play

(or "work" says Dad)

So, here we are - the day has finally arrived for the grand decking project to begin. I thought I'd put up a few photies so you can check our progress (or lack of). No doubt the photos will evolve over the next couple of days to show two increasingly angry and frustrated men, threatening each other with ever more deadly tools. Perhaps the final photo will be a chalk outline of a body?

But I jest. Dad has come down to help - I say help, but actually most of the morning has been me taking pictures while he does all of the work! Ha! Anyway, best get back to it as the rain has stopped!

Tales from Peru

Well, here we are in Bolivia having spent a week or so in Peru. The highlight of course has to be Machu Picchu, shown in this photo, which was taken from the "Hut of the Caretaker of the Funerary Rock". Quite why a rock needs a caretaker is beyond me, especially when the rock weighs about 3 tonnes. Perhaps they needed to create a post to keep some jobsworth busy:

"Oh mighty ruler Kamasawa, please tell me what is my role?"
"Ombogo, you have served me well, and I shall award you the role of high priest"
"And what of I might Kamasawa?"
"Loyal Umbuli, you shall join my palace of the Royal Guards with Isashi and Ombozok. Pray, go stand over there with them...no, not there...yes, that´s it"
"Boss, lookout! Here comes Bognot!"
"Bugger! What role can I give him?? Remember last time when I made him guardian of the Sun Temple and he let those Mexicans brigands in? In took us ages to clean up after that. Shhh, here he comes..."
"Oh mighty Kamasawa, please honour me with the knowledge of my post"
"Ah, Bognot, didn´t see you there. You can, er, you can be the .... Caretaker of the Funerary Rock. Yes, that´s it"
"Say what?"
"The Caretaker of the Funerary Rock. You know - Funerary, like funerals and stuff I guess. A most important role."
"That rock all the way over there? Miles away from everyone else?"
"Yes, that´s the one"
"Fair enough. Oh mighty Kamasawa, i shall guard the Funfairy Rock with my life"
"Good. Run along then Bognot"

Fan mail

Cool, I have fan mail from some Brazilian dude! Only trouble is, I can't track him down now. Not that this is what you do when you have fans. I suppose I should remain cool and aloof. Besides, I can't find him, or her so I guess I've got no choice. Where is the mysterious "Projetores"? What does this name mean? It must symbolise something. It sounds like the Portuguese for "bull fighting project" perhaps, or something cool like that. Ah well, I suppose I do have one bigger fan anyway:

Sorry, couldn't resist.