Moved all the stones onto the patio area so I can start building (not exactly sure how) a low wall between the pillars - once I get the cement mixer back from John. I grouped the stones into flattish (left), large (middle) and medium (right).
There are 4 very large stones on the far right. I will use 2 as lintels for a new window over the stairs. I may use the other very large stones to build a bench on the side of the patio. I also have a pile of very small stones that is just off the picture on the right.
I finished the pillar on the left a week or so ago and couldn't work on the middle one last week because of the weather and then work commitments... so today I attacked it and was able to complete the middle one successfully. I may re-lay the top half of the pillar on the left as it was slightly off-line - should have used my level more.
I started on the the second pillar at the other side of the patio a few days after the first one ... this was when it was still a couple of courses of bricks short of being completed.
I finished the first brick pillar about two weeks ago ... quite pleased with the result ...
After I moved the bricks I tidied up the yard so that I now have a lot more room. A smaller pile of half-bricks (in front of the shrub on the left). I will go through the stuff under the plastic sheet on the right as soon as I can, too.
I moved all the bricks from in front of the kitchen today to the patio and graded them. I can use them more easily now for the wall pillars and the BBQ. There are around 90 normal bricks (the big pile), 28 good but smaller bricks (fire bricks, I think - on the right), around 42 full bricks but with old mortar still attached to them (front) and around 40 almost complete bricks in various conditions (left).
This is the new junction box for all the new wiring. It is a lot neater, more compact and easier to reset. Note the Dinky Racing cars on top of the cabinet. Eventually I will build a new cabinet which will also encompass a router for wireless broadband access.
I finally stopped prevaricating about positioning and levels of the proposed back wall/fence and started building one of the planned three pillars at the back of the patio that will form part of the combination back wall/fence. I ran out of mortar before I completed it and, as it had started to rain, I stopped for the day - only for the sun to come back out 30 minutes later. I am still concerned about ensuring the stability of the posts once the whole wall is completed. For example, I will bolt this pillar to the concrete pillar next to it. I will get John Pattinson's advice on how best to ensure the other two are anchored securely.
This is the cabling for the power points in the recess on the other side of the back fireplace
This is the cabling in the back corner which has allowed me to move my laptop into the recess to create more space.
This is the main area by the stairs with the new 4-way light switch - upstairs, back area, front area, and the old hallway light in the front. Another power point cable is on the right.
While I was levelling the patio area outside Steve was continuing with his rewiring of the electricity inside. Here is one of the channels he cut for the new power points downstairs with the cables covered with metal cable covers.
