Mixer Misery

29 September 2014

All our plans were in place.  We had asked Paris to work for a few hours a day to help us get things moving, we would run the mixer non-stop, plastering the interior bale walls in the music room and studio, then move on to prepping the next bale wall - the east face.  These happy plans ground to an unexpected halt on Saturday evening, when Robert Tatos, the owner of the mortar mixer, turned up without warning and said he needed it for a week.

What a blow!  Incredibly bad timing.  So we had an emergency re-think and shelved the plastering plans.  Dave will continue with limewashing the external bale walls - 2 to 3 more coats all round and it should be properly weatherproofed.  Meanwhile, Paris and I will paint the window and door frames in the kitchen, to weatherproof those too.  Then we'll have to start building the framework for the bales on the east.  Maybe it's for the best, prioritising the outside walls, but we were hoping for a cosy music/sitting room finished for winter.

Paris will start on Wednesday, so we have a couple of days to put in more ground work.

First, collect the scaffolding from Amanda who borrowed it. Clever Punto!

 Then put a coat of limewash in the easy to reach section of the kitchen wall

I was doing the laundry (again!) but suddenly had this idea for a raised bed to be ready to plant out in spring.  It is a way of using up some old roofing boards cluttering the music room, and also disposes of the bike box (lining the bottom) and the rotten bale that had to be pulled out of the wall while building - it makes good mulch.  I can throw compost in here for a few months and dig it all in for spring planting.

Gearing Up

25-26 September 2014

Finally all the jollies had come to an end and we were able to start thinking about getting the building work restarted.  Dave was planning to service all the machinery while I did the piles of washing, but first we put my new bike together.

 Fabulous!

 This is the box it came in, not an easy package to cart around an airport!

 Dave getting stuck into the big generator, having already serviced the mixer and the small generator.

 Our confused pear tree is in flower and fruit at the same time

 Friday, I cleared up our work space / back yard, then Dave tackled the undergrowth

Off to Corfu

22 - 24 September 2014

Jonathan returned to the UK on Sunday, but Rob, Tanya and family, who had come out for Regatta, were still around, so we went out for a day's fishing on Monday (but didn't catch anything).  Fuelled by a few beers, we took the sudden decision to join them in Corfu on Tuesday night (mainly because there was a rare Liverpool - Middlesbrough football match on the telly).

We stayed with the lovely Nina at Takis' in Kontokali, watched the match (which was phenomenal, going to an unheard-of 14-13 on penalties) and had a lovely day pottering our way to the ferry and then back home via the Springs of Acheron on the mainland.

Regatta 2014

14 - 21 September 2014

Back in Greece, with Jonathan and an enormous box full of mountain bike, we joined Dave in 'Tropi' (minus the bike) and set off for a week of yacht racing.

 The first evening was very jolly, with traditional costume Greek dancing and the lads from the shanty choir giving an impromptu performance.

I don't seem to have taken any photos while actually sailing - too intense and focused, perhaps.   So the next images I have are from Jonathan's five star hotel to which he retired on day 3 after concussing himself on the boom.  Dave and I with Naomi and Pete who crewed with us for the Regatta joined him for a swim on Friday.  We did rather well in the regatta, coming joint 2nd in our class, but due to an input error that affected our handicap, this wasn't recognised on the night and we missed out on our moment of glory at the prize-giving.  

Much-needed relaxation for our over-taxed skipper!

Whistlestop UK

7 - 14 September 2014

My Mum was moving house on the 9th, so I left for the UK on Sunday 7th and stayed a week to help.

 The old place all emptied out ...

 courtesy of the removal team

 and set up in the new house by the evening, with Jonathan, the new landlord!

 Dad and Nick came to inspect the premises.

 Then on the last Saturday, we had a day out to a lovely garden near Salisbury, with Jonathan who had come to collect me for the airport on Sunday.

Saying goodbye on the doorstep, sniffle x

Grout

30 Aug 2014

Finished grouting the tiles around the kitchen.  Able to move the cooker into position and use the sink with impunity!  Lovely to have a functional kitchen at last.