5.06.2025 Carport progress.

 ~o~

  Thursday 5th 51F/10.6C. [6.30] Overcast. A grey morning followed by 30 hours of rain.

 Up at 5.30 after a night of drifting. The trick seems to be not to worry about being awake. I was planning how I would make a new entrance door. The last one I made from recycled floorboards, many years ago, is now riddled with woodworm.

  6.45 I am expecting a parcel. Which means I have locked myself into being at home all day. Instead of being sensible and collecting the parcel from the pickup point in the village. Delivery times are from 8-16.00. So I should go for an early walk.

 7.15 And back again. Just a walk down the road. Followed by the now familiar loop around the neighbours' shared drives. A lapwing was standing about on the front field again. It treated me to a quick loop and its plaintive cry. Landing afterwards, at such a speed into a vertical descent. That I had to admire its remarkable flying skills and suspension. 

 Meanwhile a blackbird lay dead on the road. They have a silly habit of diving low in front of fast moving vehicles. Often when there is no need to cross the road. Add this to their losses to several nasty diseases. Meanwhile, my security camera offers precise timing of my comings and goings. 

 9.00 Sunshine, but the wind is picking up again. I'd better check if carrying the carport roofing. Is likely to put me in the next county. Or the sea. 

 12.20 Back indoors for a rest and lunch. With the weather still dry [so far] I proceeded with the carport roof. This required a bridge to work from. Since it is not safe to walk on the twin-wall, polycarbonate sheeting. The central screws were impossible to reach from the sides. 

 I am struggling with the geometry of the roof. One can safely assume the roof sheeting is square and the sides parallel. The metalwork certainly isn't. I have loosened all the fixing bolts [again] in order to tilt the roof spars upright. Six spars and 15 holes to drill in each. [90] 

 I am using a rechargeable screwdriver to set all the fixing screws. A manual screwdriver couldn't supply sufficient torque.

 2.10 It has started raining as promised. Just as I finished applying the roofing sheets. Every spar was a problem. Leaning one way or another. I was using spacers to push them apart appropriately. I haven't peeled the protective film yet. The red labels show which side is up [towards the sun] To block UVs from damaging a sheltering car's paintwork.

 16.45 The rain was short lived. Still no parcel. It is lucky I was able to amuse myself with the carport. Now it needs to be lifted by 2.10m to fit the legs. 

17.45 Still no parcel. I discovered a 10mm spark plug socket fitted the bolts on the carport. The much greater length, than a standard socket, allowed me to re-tighten the spar bolts. After the roofing sheets were blocking the way. So it is all safely tightened up again.

 19.30  Parcel still not delivered. Still showing as out for delivery on track and trace. Dinner was a simple salad.

 

  ~o~