Building a new house

Back at the plot today to do some chainsawing. Our car went in for service at Ruthin, so I followed Liz with the Land Rover and trailer and we headed to the plot to start to clear the pile of logs that has been building up since the eucalyptus and the cherries were felled to create the new entrance. The plan was for a morning's work (which with the chainsaw and the loading is enough), followed by lunch at home and an afternoon with Maddy and Grace and Toby in Penymynydd, before returning to Ruthin to collect the car. I used my rickety (need to make a new one) log holder, which when loaded means that a lot of wood-burner sized logs are produced from just 5 long chainsaw cuts. We ended up with a good number of logs which, after a little further drying in our former pigsty, should produce some seasonal warmth and good cheer. An unexpected bonus was the departure from the house opposite the plot of the Denbigh Hunt - 30 or so riders aiming to chase a scent around some of the va...

A few months ago when we met our neighbours-to-be who live opposite the plot, they gently pointed out that they were a little worried that our large lime tree had grown laterally to the point where its branches were brushing against their chimney. We promised to get something done, but warned them that, as the tree is protected by a tree preservation order, it would take some time. In the event, the process has been smooth but slow. In early August, we asked Proarb, one of the larger arboricultural firms in the area, to come and examine the tree, make their recommendations, and quote for the advised work. Their surveyor, Rob, came out to the site and suggested that a minor crown reduction to provide 3m of free space would suffice. He reckoned that the tree is 150 years old and that it will live for another 200. He counselled against any further work on the basis that every cut provides a possible route into the tree for infection. A couple of days later we had their written quotation...

So, two days on the bounce, for the first time in a long time. Michael asked yesterday whether I might be able to put some boards on the temporary fence which is in place across the entrance-to-be. I went back this morning and used the boards left over from the big fencing job to cover the higher part, providing some cover from their viewpoint of the piles of stone. Nothing can be done about the lower part of the entrance, which is subject to the 900mm sightline ruling. Just a couple of hours' work.

Yet again it's been a while since I've been to the plot. Children and grandchildren have been visiting in some numbers but now they are home preparing for school and pre-school. As I'd thought, a couple of mixes produced enough mortar to secure the last few stones and to do the flaunching (lovely word) of the back of the wall to try to ensure that rainwater runs off it rather than into it. I had a few buckets of sand left over, but very little cement, so I was pleased at the estimate I'd made of how much in the way of materials I would need for the job. I did a bit of tidying up and brought back the mixer and the generator. It's almost time to close the plot up until we sell, but I will go back later in the week to put some featherboards on the temporary fence so that next door don't have to look at my piles of stone as they drive in and out.

Today Groundsolve were engaged to do ground investigations, excavating three 3m-deep holes to test ground conditions for building, and to establish whether a soakaway for rainwater is feasible on the site. They had contracted to have a bowser full of water supplied from Caerwys (sensible) and a JCB from Bala (not sensible). The bowser arrived on time at 8.30, but the first JCB broke down on the way and its replacement didn't arrive, and the job therefore didn't start, until 1.45. Fortunately the tractor+bowser driver had a lot of stories to tell me about Caerwys and its inhabitants, and I learnt more about Rosario's (of Groundsolve) background growing up in Sicily and gaining his advanced geology qualifications in northern Italy. Also, very kindly, we had coffee and pastries provided during the morning by Adrian and his wife (and tea by Bridget this afternoon). The advantages of having a local architect and getting on well with the vendor. (Adrian also turned up on site t...

We enjoyed Helene and Colin visiting over the weekend, bringing plans for their building application for Belstone which has to go before the National Park authorities. Colin is, of course, full of ideas and information, most specifically about renewables and clever materials, so we had a lot to talk about. We will definitely get a quotation from South West Heat Pumps for the ground source heat pump, etc, and may be able to benefit from a new type of roof panel they are developing which combines solar and PV. If we are the first in Wales to use it, we may get it at cost. We all went over to the site on Saturday and they were complimentary about our choice. Liz and I went again yesterday to meet Rob from Proarb to discuss desirable minor works on the lime tree. He thinks it's about 150 years old and expects it to live for at least as long again. He doesn't recommend reducing its height as that would produce cuts which might lead to infection. We agreed that it would be a good...

So, the usual routine - over to Gellifor about 9, get the kit out, mix the mortar, move the stones into position, fix the stones. Only complicated today by a) having to come round the corner and b) having to find new stones from the big pile as I was working on the part of the wall which hadn't previously had capping stones. I did two mixes of mortar and got to within half a dozen stones of finishing (not counting the fact that the back of the wall needs to be tidied up) but I decided I had had enough about 3 and headed for Denbigh to buy some henfood. Glad to say that before I left both Michael and Bridget (separately) expressed their delight with the job.