Start of July and we see Virgil the plasterer arrive

After the turmoil in Dover with Gwen ‘s passing it was good to get back to Innellan and work to take my mind off the past events. Although Judith was still left looking at four walls in the flat.

Virgil the plasterer turned up and immediately started on the two bedrooms. Excellent lad, really professional finish, and its amazing to see him on his stilts doing the ceiling. So graceful.

Whilst he was busy inside, Jordan and l started transporting the ballast from the front, along the scaffolding to the balcony in preparation for the 100mm of reinforced concreting.

We had given up trying to get ready mix and a pump and decided to make it in batches our selves.

Prepared the forms and set in the reinforced steel, Then it was full steam ahead, knocking up the mix and transporting it down to each section. Tamping it in and levelling with the new bull float, or Big blue as they call them down here. Had tried to get a helicopter, unsuccessfully from the hire centre.

The first pour wasn't brilliant because the ballast had very little sand in the mix,so it was quite grainy. We adjusted the mix and added extra sand which then resolved the problem for future pours. The only downside, was that we had to run a pure mix on top to try and remedy the graininess.

Took five days to complete the 16m x 3.5m section. But quite rewarding, but hard work. And as per usual, we had many rain showers to speckle to wet concrete. Managed to resolve the problem by putting 50mm sheets of insulation on the top, propped up on runners of timber. worked a treat.

Also concreted the porch to bring it up to virtually the final finished level.Not sure if we are going to slate tile it or put slabs on to raise it up even further.

Virgil making a good job of the insides of the windows.

  

Took Judith out for a day prior to going to the hospital. Stopped at Sainsbury in Braehead, and parkedin the Blue Badge bay, as they didnt have any other invalid bays. Came out to a £50 fine. Imediatley contacted the private company to explain that we needed the space to get Judith out of the car. But they couldn't give a dash. We didn't have  badge so we had to pay up.
Not happy. But l was in the wrong.

Nearly finished. Soon be in a position to add the balustrades, although we still have lots to do on the groundwork. But we can now dissemble the scaffolding at the front and side and hire a digger to excavate the solumn under the front of the house.
Should have been done before we put in the steel and topped it with the block and beam. Advised it was better to be left till later.







The finished balcony, although it will need treating.




Also managed to fit the mirrored wardrobe doors in the guest bedroom. Only fitted one side as the other is going to be used for the computer. Also had to adjust the opening height, due to the extra headers that the joiners fitted.
They got carried away. Wish they had.



Hired a micro digger which was very unstable, but the only thing that would fit under the steel. Once we had moved most of the spoil to the edges we then hire a mini digger to do the rest. Was excellent value for money considering. But it still took us a good seven days to level it and dig out the base for the gabions. Although we also laid 10 ton of type one and compressed it down.
As per usual the rain didn't do us any favours.