11.04.2025 Demolition: So near... whoops!

 ~o~

  Friday 11th 44F/6.7C. Overcast and expected to remain so for most of the day. Quite a strong NW wind too.

 Up at 7.15 after a restless night. 

 Expecting a parcel but have no idea of delivery time. Which suggests I remain at home and continue work on the observatory demolition. Rather than running away.

 9.50 Tired and breathless! I have the building tipping but it won't move far enough to fall. There are still unmovable Torx screws holding the legs to the anchors. I'll just have to saw through the 4x4" legs as low as I can go. I was hoping to save these for recycling into a carport. I was also trying to keep my distance from the building in its current state.

 The central pier confuses the picture because its legs are naturally splayed. Though it is quite free of the building. 

 The heavily leaning posts at the front [image right] show just how far the building has actually moved. Or has it? It looks like the posts have tilted but little else. While the rear legs are still almost upright. I can't reach any more of the plywood cladding screws between the shed and the observatory. That is probably what is holding it all up. Stressed skin effect and the anchor screws at the base. 

 10.00 I'll have morning coffee while I recover. I have been dangling from the ratchet straps to apply tension! The further strap is anchored to the car's tow hook. And no, the Morris won't pull the building over either. The idea is to be able to saw through the observatory floor once it is nearer the ground. Thereby avoiding working at height on an increasingly unstable building. 

 One of the Danish dealers has kindly rung me. To confirm that the Cemo factory makes the large GRP containers strictly to order. Trying for different sizes did not speed up the middle of May delivery time. I had hoped they might have some other sizes and colours in stock. Now I have to decide if I want a larger, indoor pond in the greenhouse while I still have the chance. 

 11.15 Brief glimpses of sunshine. Still resting. I have decided to stay with my original order of a 1500 liter container pond in grey. Delivery probably towards the end of May. The larger 2200 tank would be preferable in theory. The greater the volume and surface area the better for the fish.

 However it increases the complication and risk. Well beyond the potential or theoretical fish keeping advantages. The larger container would also take up more room. As well as being deeper. I carefully considered the green option. Then decided it would appear too stark, perhaps even industrial, in the subdued greenhouse setting.  

 I had better get back out there. I'll put some tension on the building with the car. While I cut through the bases of the recalcitrant supporting posts. This should ensure it doesn't fall backwards on me while I am still close. There is little in the way of an escape route. Though the nearby trees would stop it going too far.

 11.50 Success. Of a kind. The Morris finally provided the necessary traction to pull the building over. One upright has lodged on the workshop gutter. Nothing I try will cause the building to move to the left. Away from the shed. Probably the result of letting it fall onto the heap. I'll have to work out what is stopping it from falling. Then remove each prop in turn. Hopefully without wasting the 4x4 timbers. Or killing myself!

 Rear view, wide angle. One of the foundation, anchor blocks has pulled right out of the ground. [At left] I tried sawing through that post but couldn't sever it completely. I am getting surprisingly breathless at the effort involved. So I will have to be more careful. 

 It all looks a horrible mess! I had trays full of jars with nails, bolts and screws. These were taken down from the observatory cross-braces. Which I had used as shelves. My huge equatorial mounting is in there somewhere. I'd brought that down and just left it on the ground inside the observatory. I shall never use it again and I doubt anybody would want to buy it.

 12.30 No rolls for dinner and I can't go out. Or I'll miss the post. I'll try the frozen sliced whole grain. 

 15.45 My parcel arrived just after lunch. Which was the usual but on toasted bread. Later I drove into the village to buy more rolls.

 I had to light the stove. The room temperature had dropped to 63F/17C.

 Dinner was a fry up of chicken, mushrooms, an egg and chips.

 

  ~o~