As Nature Intended

26 July 2009

After working tirelessly for approximately 1 forthnight, its time to take a long break. We took a step back, pause and review.

In the 8am light

This is how the front elevation looks like after the timber staining. It has now started to look slightly consistent, amidst the diffrences.

Alfresco?

The back yard isn't looking too bad either. After the chaos and equipment is cleared, the frames and portal looked to be nestled befittingly into place.

From the dining

Indeed, there is a potential for an outdoor dining area, minus the view. Are planning to install more outdoor lighting, wall / portal mounted spotlights and maybe a glass / paper lantern or two. If I had my way, there would probably be a birdcage, an oval outdoor swing (with cushions), a linen hammock and a parasol. ok maybe not a parasol.

Grounded

This is how D anchors the frame to the ground. One of our good mate, C.M. rocked up the other day and did all the hard work that I hated to do. Hence all the remaining wretched hole digging and concrete-mixing is completed in a few hours.

Zoo views

The one thing that I appreciate more than anything else in my quiet neighbourhood is the lack of homo sapiens and the abundance of animals. We have colourful parrots and equally charming budgerigars darting about the trees. During weekends, we have a placid cow with her curious calf next door chewing the fresh grass whilst staring at our growling dog with an expression I can only describe as benevolence. In the fields, there were always magpies dotting the lawns with their chic black & white tux.

1 poser marsupial

Then there were the roos. Really big ones, sometimes in a herd. Or do you call it a mob? They often graze around the opposite fields, sometimes hopping over the fences as effortlessly as only roos could. The dog doesn't like them either. Cows, horses & roos are his public enemy.

For us we don't mind the animals, they keep to their own most of the time. In saying that however, there is one particular visitor that we have yet to decide whether is annoying or amusing. In the mornings (on weekends), we have a narcissistic guy, Charcoal, perching himself on the window sill and breaks into a lurid cawing, crying his throat out. After that, he would knock the shit out of himself on our windows.

Charcoal's lookalike

Imagine waking up to a series of rude knocks on lazy Sunday mornings and finding a puny little crow strutting around the window sills. Should we be throwing a fit or stiffling a wry smile?

*Disclaimer:- Charcoal is presumably a male due to his lack of manners.

Rear Additions Part III

22 July 2009

Previously, we have placed a base frame for the deck at the rear yard of our house. Now we are in the process of securing it to the ground. I stand and testify that this is the most unpleasant part of the job.

More hole digging

I would say this stretch of construction was not at all fun and definately ardous in comparison. Not that it made any difference to D. I was slow, inefficient, tired and in pain. Manual labour has begin to take its toll.

Besides the portal frames that acted as the main support, the base frame will be secured into the ground by a dozen other secondary posts. Holes were dug beneath the appropriate junctions, at approximately 500mm deep (actually they vary, depending on the mood I was in) and the 100 x 100 cypress pine posts were fitted into the holes. Anyway, D dug most of the holes, so there should not be too much discrepancies...

The digging was disheartening because it has just rained, resulting in us having to work in muddy conditions. Mud stuck to the boots, pants, fingers & possibly hair? Now, if you think that the rain actually softens the ground, think again. The soil here is hard beyond believe - it has a sort of clay-ish, silty texture that refuses to budge, even though our site is possibly only a Class 'M'.

oops ... hit some pipes

The worst thing is that the proposed deck area coincides with the placement of our underground stormwater pipes. D has unknowingly busted about 4 or 5 pipes while he was digging. And those pipes are pretty fragile. One determined shove, and you got a leak. Luckily he knew how to fix it up with a bit of the ultra-poisonous plumber's glue and a few loose sections of the PVC pipe.

One whole night was spent entirely digging the holes and positioning the posts.

Another busted pipe - notice the proximity between the post & pipe

The next day, something more enjoyable for me: -

Pryda timber connectors

To further strengthen the joists to the bearers, D has bought some Pryda brackets, used mainly for roof trusses. He used the Pryda Unitie, - "the simplest metal tie for joining timber crossings at right angles". All I have to do was to hammer it in between junctions.

One of the many crossings

We thought we were being inconsiderate, conducting hammering at nights, until we hear, very faintly, something that sounded vaguely like a demolition truck in the near distance. Sounds like, we were not the only ones, burning the 'midnight' oil.

The next morning ...

Another day's job awaits ... to be continued ... stay tuned ...