chris dixons blog
Archive for July, 2005
Jul 30th
At new wine. Glad we are not camping as it’s all a bit rainy. The radio station looks cool and seems to work. We will broadcast for real tomorrow. Looks like this will be fun. We have two radio cars for outside broadcasts and all the pro grear (including walkie talkies!) I will try and get some pics of the studio to show you.
Jul 27th
Diary of Home Improvement: Day 27
As you can see the builders are hard at work (if by work you mean eating). I decided to take pity on them in the rain and provide bacon, sausage and egg buns from the local shop. I think it was well recieved.
Also today I loaded all my worldly stuff into a van for transportation to Harrogate where a team of ten of us is running New Wine radio (87.9 FM). Hopefully we will have enough kit, although judging by the ammount of stuff in the van, there should be no problem.
Jul 25th
Diary of Home Improvement: Day 26
Mr M greeted me this morning with the words “get that website updated, becuase you won’t believe the progress this week” and as you can see from the evidence he is’nt that wrong. Quite a lot of blockwork went in toady, and also the good news that Emma can have her velux window, as the roof can be of normal type.
Jul 19th
Diary of Home Improvement: Day 19
Well there you have it, the floor is down. I think that it needs some time to dry, but it’s looking like a job of quality.
Jul 18th
Well, here is a picture of my pipe laying skills. I think you will agree that some electrical tape and some lengths of plastic pipe did just the trick!
As you can also see, I just left them sticking out above the floor. Hopefully this will all be ok! We will see tomorrow if Mr M is cross or happy with me.
Jul 18th
Diary of home improvement: Day 18
Never turn builders away, is’nt that the golden rule, however I did just that today! Well, I was concerned about how water would get to the new kitchen and so they are coming back tomorrow to lay the floor, after I have put some pipes in. I will show you later how I get on!
Jul 15th
Diary of Home Improvement: Day 15
Consumption of hob nobs has leveled out at a nice steady level. Mr G and Mr M have been the main driving force behind construction thus far and have been doing a fine job. I have also learned a lot about how to build stuff, for example did you know that your house really just rests on some plastic, on top of the DPC (check me out!) level. As you can see from the latest pics, things are going up well. I am a little worried about how water and stuff will get in when the floor goes down, but after Mr M talked to me I feel better.
As you can see from this picture the wall is taking shape and the damp proof plastic stuff is going in.
And as you can see here, some pipes are in place which provide air under the floor and also the wall is going up at the other end… going well methinks.
Jul 10th
Diary of Home Improvement: Day 10
The builders are still not full time on the job, however good progress is being made. Today we see the first blocks going in. A single skin block wall for the garrage, and double thinkness for the utility, kitchen and new back room. It all seems to take shape quite quickley. Next is to finish all the blockwork up to the level shown in the photo, then it’s another inspection from Mr (or Mrs) building inspector, before the walls will shoot up. On the plans we have a non-traditional roof with noggings (whatever they are), but hopefully we can just do a normal one.
You will be pleased to know that the hob-nob consumption level is up a little with todays work.
Jul 5th
Diary of Home Improvement: Day 5
Progress was made today. The building inspector passed the trenches as good enough to plonk buildings on top of, so it was down to the business of putting concrete down the holes. No ready mix here, as apparently it’s more expensive and can cause problems. Instead, those excellent builders mix their own. They seem to be getting on quite fast, as all the trenches seem full.
The most bizare feature of the day was the drainpipe which comes away from the wall, down a series of pipes and ends up in the garden. Tis a strange site to behold, but as you can see from teh picture there must be other drain plans.
We also bought a packet of hob nobs for the builders, but none were used toady. I will have to encourage them more tomorrow. Here is a picture of the new concrete:
Jul 3rd
Diary of home improvement: Day 3
The builders have done good. Well, if your measure of goodness is lots of trenches and a full skip. I am concerned that the skip lorrey might not be able to pick it all up.
The back of the kitchen was knocked down in record quick time, by a four man team! We can just see boards from inside, but is ok (after removal of lots of dust!) Here is what the end of the house looks like now.
The next job is for the building inspector to come and inspect the trenches and ensure that they are deep enough. Then the concrete can go it. Here are the trenches.
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