Bricks and (no) mortar

Things have continued to progress on the site, but mainly with the ground works, the drainage and the retaining wall near the canal.  All the house retaining structures are now complete and ready to be faced with bricks.  It was a condition of planning that the bricks and mortar we use should be approved by the local planning officer.  A few weeks ago, the bricks were approved and the first batch have now arrived on site.  Four test panels have been constructed for the planning officer to review.

Sample 1 (before the mortar was tidied)

Sample 2

Samples 3 & 4

The planning and conservation officers visited the site today and decided that none of the proposed mortars were appropriate for the canalside location.  This is a setback, but hopefully not too large a problem.  The officers have gone away to study the palette of available mortars to allow them to suggest a colour.  They are aware that this is holding up the build, so we hope that they will come up with their preference in the next day or two, although they are likely to request another sample panel before they give it the go ahead.

View from the towpath showing the new retaining wall and steps between the upper and lower terraces

Our other building project is the boat.  This seems to be making better progress.  It is slightly more boat-shaped!  These pictures were taken a week ago, and we should have some more in the next couple of days.

The sharp end

Beside its more mature sibling

Much more bow-shaped!

The French & Frogs

We got back from holiday and one of us was another year older, and qualifies for a senior rail pass!  The actual building had not changed a huge amount but a significant amount of work has been undertaken in preparation for the SIPS, with yet more groundworks obvious.

A few weeks ago, some of the rather old hedge separating the lane from the plot was removed to allow access for heavy machinery.  However, it now seems that a significant amount of the remaining hedge has had to be removed in order to provide sufficient space for scaffolding to be erected.  This is unfortunate, but it was an old and somewhat tatty hedge, and we will replace it with another hedge once the scaffolding is no longer required.  This meant that our 'French' digger had to return for another stint.

Timelapse video of the day the hedge came down (but don't blink!)

The other problem we have is now we have excavated our plot, the tree in the adjacent lock garden has been deemed unsafe and will have to come down.  Apparently it is Christmas tree that someone planted many years ago.  The owners of the lock garden (the Canal & River Trust) are aware that the tree needs to be removed, and we will have to replace it with another tree at some point.

A tidy site, electric, soil and flue pipes standing ready

Room for the scaffolding and also it appears, a home for frogs!

From the towpath, with some of the steps to the terrace in place

The 'Christmas Tree' on the right will have to go

Since Neil and Karen left with their boat after Fairport, the mooring at the bottom of the garden has seemed a little empty.  This empty space will be filled by our own narrow boat which we hope to have before too long.  We have just received some pictures of the 'birth' of  'Charlie Mo' which we will hopefully have at the bottom of the garden before Christmas.

The bottom of the boat has been cut out

Starting work on the sides