12.05.2025 And there it was: Gone!

 ~o~

  Monday 12th 43F/6C [6.45] Wall to wall sunshine again. Reaching around 15C/59F. An easterly breeze. 

 Up at 6am after another quiet night. 

 No idea what to do with today. Do I want a ride? No point in loading the trailer with waste timber. The local recycling yard doesn't open until Wednesday. The next nearest recycling yard is open every day but is over 12km away.

 I have to repack two pairs of cycling shoes for return. They came with three shoe-boxes rattling loosely about in a huge box. I may have to cut the large box down to house only two. Otherwise they will only take up 1/4 of the volume. There is no rush to do that either.

 7.00 Time for my walk.   

8.00 And back again. I ventured further afield in a loop along a quiet track and back along a lane. About 6km altogether. The countryside is gorgeous at the moment. With raps and shrubs in flower and trees in fresh leaf. 

 An ultra low and wide, supersportscar was going the other way on the main road. I grinned and he gave me a blip of the throttle. I couldn't be sure if it was a Ferrari or some other mark. It was certainly very red. A warbler was foraging on the drive as I left. Later I saw a kestrel.   

 It is fascinating how different people make a house their home. Gardens are cleared of shrubs and trees. To make wide open spaces. A rather mysterious farmhouse has been enclosed by trees since we moved here. Only a glimpse was possible through a gap in the trees. Now they have large excavators removing and stacking all the trees. There were young people standing by a car in the yard. So the owner may have grown old, sold up or passed on. No doubt the arrangement will suffer from more traffic noise but the new sense of space is amazing.

 A much smaller property on the same main road was on the market for years. The new owners have cleared the undergrowth. Laid gravel for parking and made the lawn into a pleasant picnic spot with chairs and a table. The once untidy hedge is now trimmed neatly. A total rethink of the true potential of the property. What seemed like a postage stamp of a garden is fit for a leisurely walk.

 The same situation now applies here. There is masses of space, thanks to over 1200m^2 of grounds. Lots of it has been hidden in dense growth of trees and shrubs for years. Most of them planted by my wife. The rest is due to absent neighbours. Leaving hedges to soar into full grown trees. 

 The estate agent who valued the property strongly suggested a major clearance of the jungle. I found some original photographic prints the other day. From when we first moved in. It was wide open to the boundaries. I could hardy recognize the place!  

 10.00 I decided to stay at home and tidy the remains of the observatory. There is so much of it that I ought to hire a small skip. Or have a jobbing firm take it away. To remove it all using my small trailer would take quite a few trips. Minimum 10km round trips each time. Yet again it comes down to how I value my own time and effort. The timber and plywood in the background can be re-used. I'll probably want some shelter to the west of the carport. To avoid driving rain and snow blowing in.

 12.00 I have opened an App seeking offers to do small jobs. 7 offers in only a few minutes. I have been promised and accepted clearance today. By somebody with lots of jobs completed and high scores for their work record. Their price was slightly below average. They are busy this morning but will contact me later. 

 Now arriving at about 13.00. Two men with a large trailer. Ideal. I offered some free timber to my neighbour but he had no use for it.  

And there it was, gone!

 13.30 They arrived on time and did a perfect job. Great teamwork loading the trailer. Spoke perfect English too. Friendly, great communication. 5 stars all round. It is a relief to be rid of all the junk wood. I can finally get at the gravel too. 

 The wheelbarrow is full of rolls of wallpaper and cardboard boxes. That was stored downstairs in the observatory. It got very wet from the leaking dome over the last few years. That can all go into the recycling bin. The job cost me 2000 kroner [the equivalent of £250] for half an hour's work for two blokes. They have to pay themselves for this and two hours traveling time. Plus unloading the trailer.

 15.00 59F/15C. I have collected a washing up bowl full of fallen screws from the ground. It is hot work crouching in the sunshine. 

 There are still lots [20?] concrete carport anchors buried there. I haven't found a suitable link to use my high lift, farmer's jack yet. My sister recommends a strong chain. I tried finding one when I bought it but nobody sells strong chain. I tried using a one ton ratchet strap and it snapped! I need a rest! I have now ordered a meter of 1.2 tons rated chain online. 

 The remaining mound of self-stabilizing gravel will be spread on the low points of the current parking space. Mostly just in front of the heap. Which is handy. I'll tidy up first of course. Then get another partial lorry load of the same gravel dumped in the middle of the bare space. To expand the level parking area considerably. This will allow vehicles to park and turn well off the formal parking area. 

 It is already eight meters out to the bank. At the rear of the roughly leveled gravel area. Measured from the front of the gravel heap. Which provides lots of room for maneuvering. It has to be firm enough to cope with wet weather. Before I add granite chippings. Pea gravel is lethal on a bike. 

 Dinner was a salmon pasty. With peas, pasta and tinned tomatoes. I washed up while it cooked.

 9.45 I have just been spreading more self stabilizing gravel. Scraping it off the compacted heap with a heavy rake. Though it's very hard to judge the levels. Particularly in the semi-darkness. It looks as if there is a slight valley across the front of the graveled area. I'll have to set up the laser level and blocks to do it properly.

 

  ~o~