Beastie

30 April 2018

A large beetle showed up on our doorstep, not one we've seen before.  I discouraged it from coming in the house.  It was about an inch long.

On the treadmill!

29 & 30 April 2018

With three ceiling spaces to do and only two days to do them in - if we are to meet our self-imposed deadline of the end of April - we decided to try industrialising our process, and doing all three together.  This is possible in the studio, as we have a flat cleared floor, so the ladder can be easily moved around.

So we measured all three spaces, trying hard not to get them muddled up, and cut (and marked) all the batons

 While we waited for the paint on the batons to dry, we made the remaining three back boards, and stuffed the cavities with old pillow filling

 End of Sunday, all the batons are fitted

 

 Monday, while six drilled and sanded panels are spread out round the downstairs and outside while the paint dries, I staple up the insulation.

And hurrah!  The boards go in pretty easily (we're getting better at this) and the job (barring a few bits of trim where the ceiling meets the wall) is done.

Time to catch a bit of sunshine, so we cycled down to the quay for a glass of wine to celebrate finishing to deadline.

Next, a month in the boatyard, then in June, we start on the big job: insulating the living room ceiling.

Studio Ceiling

27-30 April 2018

As of Friday 27th, we set ourselves the target to finish the mezzanine ceiling insulation by the end of April, as we intend to spend May in the boatyard, getting the boat ready to launch.

 So, four days, starting with clearing out the space, and covering the bookshelves.

 Then we remembered we had to put in back boards to finish off the internal wall.  This is necessary for a smooth finish - and to have something to measure to.

 And, the last little opening to the bales in the wall - I've wanted to fix this for ages, and never got round to it.  It needs stuffing with fresh straw and a skirting board.  

There we are - done!

End of day two - the first panel is fitted.  Three spaces to go, but only two days to target.

Central Mezzanine ceiling done

23 - 25 April 2018

Plodding on with the ceiling boards, we finished the six rafter spaces over the upstairs landing and stairwell on Weds 25th.  Thursday is our volunteering and shopping in Lefkas day, with lunch at Z bar, home for a quick sleep, then back at 4.30 for choir practice, so it was good to finish on Weds.

On Friday we'll start in the studio, with four panel spaces to complete before the end of the month.  This is our own self-imposed deadline, as we are committing May to the boat, which has been sitting neglected in the boatyard since October.  May is a bit hot for the yard, but it needs to be done, and then we can launch and perhaps have a few days away at sea at the end of the month.

 A panel in progress - batons fitted, wiring managed.  Awaiting insulation and then panelling.

Four completed panels from the left, one (pale green) stuffed with insulation, and one still to go (only just visible behind the bannisters).

Finished!  Weds 25th.

Ukuleles!

20 April 2018

During our visit to the UK, Dave was missing his guitar, but it is impractical to take one with us, and the flight charges are excessive, so we realised we needed ukuleles - not just for travelling, but for fun.  I decided to get one too, and maybe have an instrument I can strum and sing to.  Maybe #!

When Rosa came to give our singing lessons the following Tuesday she was very impressed, and said we'd inspired her to get a better ukulele herself, and why didn't we have a Uke-group after singing on Tuesdays?  Can't wait!

The Worms arrive

16 April 2018

We left this a long time, but we were under the weather with sniffles after coming back from the UK, and actually, I just forgot that we had bought a worm composting bin with compost and worms.  This was another development following on from the Z bar Bio/Eco weekend - we met a couple who are trying to introduce 'vermicomposting' to restaurants and tavernas on a commercial scale.  I hope it works out.

We bought a bin.  We wanted one that would be easy to move (out of the heat/ into the warmth depending on the time of year) and easy to harvest.  We bought ours at the same time as some friends: Sue and Barry, and as the worms were due to arrive while we were away, S&B agreed to look after ours until we were back.

We made contact, and went round to help Barry load our bin on to his trailer, and he followed us home, but as he drove into the field, the bottom of our bin popped open and deposited all our compost and worms on the floor of the trailer.  Easy enough to shovel everything back in, but the fresh food scraps are supposed to be a layer on top, not mixed in, so it might confuse our worms.  But I expect they'll get used to it.

Over the stairs

13-18 April 2018

The next ceiling panel is over the deep part of the stairs.  This one has worried me for ages, so I bought some scaffolding planks in the last woodyard order, to be ready.  Dave cut some lengths to straddle the stairwell, luckily our cantilevered mezzanine balcony means there is a strong central bannister to the stairs.  Then we put the ladder out into space, and did the next two panels.

Five days seems a long time, but between Friday and Wednesday we take Saturday afternoon and all Sunday off, and on Tuesdays we have music school in the afternoon, and we tend to do domestic chores in the morning, so in effect, it is only two and a half days project work, and this section was all about moving slowly and carefully, and always watching to see where we were putting our feet.

 The ladder balanced over the stair well

 Dave 'walking the plank'

Finished - the two scariest (for now) panels

A little gardening

11 April 2018

We took a day off interior work to do some quick garden repair work and get some of our seedlings into the ground.

 Strimming the two un-manured beds.  The plan was to get the mature compost into these two and have them usable this year.  It's not going to happen, there's no time.  So just a quick haircut, instead.

 At the Z bar eco-bio weekend last month we collected some heritage seed from the local seed-saving initiative, and these plants survived - two squash and two maize.  If they flourish, we can keep the seed and grow more next year.  

 The wavy-leaved monkey orchid is back - surviving in the teeth of our work in the garden each year.

 We planted out all the moringas that we had in pots.  The weather is warming up, hopefully they will cope

I put some nasturtium seeds in here, and some perennial onions nearby, perhaps they'll come up. 

The Mezzanine ceiling begins

9 - 11 April 2018

Now the main job of the year continues.  We have the whole of the underneath of the roof and the mezzanine to frame out, install insulation and panel.  We completed the bedroom as our test site and experimental area in the winter, and established our preferred techniques and finishes.  Then the project was put on hold for the electrics and plumbing and visiting, but now we continue.

We picked an easy starting place, cleared the area, and began.

Two days later, we had this result.  The boards at the back, completing the top of the wall, had to be made, and as the gap between rafters went through into the music room, it was most efficient to make them double-sided - a tricky little job that Dave achieved expertly.

Then we fitted batons all round the space between rafters, these had to be cut into acute angles where the cross-bracing attaches: measure, check, trim, drill, sand, paint twice.  The insulation is fitted. Then the panels can be painted and fitted.  All of it working off ladders and steps, and working round any electrics.

The result is very nice, if tediously slow to achieve.  There's so much more to do.  Still, one step at a time ...

Bigger Water Hotter

6 April 2018

Back from the UK, sleep up to date, volunteering day out of the way ... it was time to continue the job Dave had started before we left: installing the new bigger solar water heater.  While we were away the lime mortared base blocks had had a chance to set, so we decided to try to move first the panel, and then the tank into position. 

With only the two of us here to do the heavy lifting, I didn't think it would be possible.  But taking it slowly, and using ropes to get a grip, we managed to person-handle the enormous panel into position.  Then we did it all again with the (empty) tank - which, even so, was rather heavy and we only just managed to lift it to shoulder height and get it on the rack.  Dave then screwed everything together, to make it safe.

Meanwhile, after the heavy-lifting trauma, I sidled off to the workbench and made a small but very useful spice rack for the kitchen, by way of therapy.

 The panel, nearly in position, at the point where we didn't believe it would fit the frame

 I got a bit distracted by finding the bee orchids were in bloom

 Some time later, the panel secured and the tank lifted (phew)

My spice rack tidying up a scruffy corner of the kitchen

Recycling Visit

5 April 2018

By Thursday of our first week back, we were sufficiently recovered to go into Lefkas for our usual two hour volunteering at the recycling warehouse.  While we were away, it appeared that arrangements had been made for a visit to the next step in the journey of our recyclables, the warehouse in Vonitsa.  It is only about 15 kilometres from Lefkas town, so everyone piled into our car and we drove to Vonitsa.  In the event it was mildly disappointing, as the location is just a collection facility where our bales of cardboard are opened up and re-baled to twice the size before being transported onwards, apparently to Volos, where they are processed.  The main impression we gained from this visit was that we are maybe being a bit too precious in our sorting, and could improve our efficiency by being a little less concerned about packaging tape left on boxes, and such like.

Naomi, Lucy and Dave inspecting cardboard bales

Back home

3 April 2018

Third of April, and we're home, but we travelled through the night, rather than staying another night in a hotel, so by Tuesday lunchtime we're home but exhausted.  Rowan and Paris had been housesitting for us, and had successfully kept the chickens, cats and moringa trees in pots alive.  After a brief handover cup of tea, we went to sleep for a couple of days.