It's been one of those days. Wet, damp, windy and not just one, but 2 own goals to boot! Unusually we've been using the front door at home for the last couple of weeks due to ongoing Project Patio works. The never ending rains turned the area that was the back path into a swamp (we normally go out the back) so it's been the front door or get wet and muddy. Now, normally if "The Emma's" in I go out the back and leave the door unlocked. Granted we might get burgled, but we've got nothing worth stealing and anyone that want's to steal "The Emma's" welcome too, so I don't see it as a problem. However, going out the front it seems a bit risky leaving the door open, so when I went out running at half 7 this morning, leaving "The Emma" in bed, I thought I'd better lock her in. I'm not lugging a bunch of rattily keys round with me though, so I popped my front door key off the ring, locked the door and slipped it into my phone holder. 10 miles later and I'm back home ready for tea and toast and a full days pottering and you know what's coming now don't you? Yep, no front door key! Bugger! Guessing that it had gone down the gap between my phone holder and sleeve and not actually into the pocket, I assumed that it must have fallen out fairly early on, so retraced my steps to the end of the road. Twice! To no avail. Being the middle of January and only wearing shorts and a T shirt I was getting cold now too. Only one option then, knock on the door to wake "The Emma" up and face the wrath! Luckily she was awake anyway and soon came to my rescue. It's a good job she was in though and not at work or I'd still be stood on the door step. A wander down to Screwfix provided a new lock and set of keys and after a short struggle with a rounded off screw, we've now got a new, extra secure, front door lock. Whilst "The Emma's" been mocking me all day for losing my key, I did point out that whilst I lost it at least I've got the ability to put right my mistake, replacing the lock within an hour of loosing the key and without the massive cost of having to get a lock smith out. Every cloud has a silver lining as they say. Still it would have been easier to not loose the key in the first place! Having sorted out my first balls up and waited for it to stop raining I moved onto project patio for a couple of hours of bricklaying. We're nearly there now, with the last path boundary wall going in, ready for paving and an escape route back to the back door in the near future. I'd put the last wall foundations in earlier in the week having spent a good few hours figuring out how to finish off the last bit. Getting the path to arrive at the back gate at the right height, whilst maintaining a steady slope to run the water off but keeping things level in the other directions had taken a bit of figuring out, but I was happy with my plans. A couple of hours with the trowel this afternoon saw what should hopefully be the last bricks for this bit laid and I stood back to admire my handiwork. And then it hit me. Bugger, I've balls'd this up! Previously, there was always a small step just as you got through the back gate, positioned too close to the gate for comfort and too low to not be a trip hazard. I'd looked at that and thought if I move it in a bit, it will A) Give a bit more space as you come through the gate and B) Be a proper step. In doing so though I've caused another problem. Now there's not enough room to get the rubbish bins out around the gate! I've had a think about it and there's only 2 options; 1) Demolish the walls, re-dig the levels further back, new foundations and new wall (again) or 2) Rehang the gate to open the other way, leaving loads of space to get the bins out but a left hand opening gate. I guess I'm going to be switching the gate around as I can't face going 10 steps back, but it's always going to annoy me and it's another own goal! In more positive news, I've finished off a couple of other little bit's and bob's that I've been working on during the rainy days and between other jobs this week.
I'm happy with how all of these have turned out, plus it's kept me busy and used up a few more offcuts. It's always satisfying to see something you've made finished off and looking good!
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Paul PerrattOld enough to know better, young enough to still feel invincible, stupid enough to keep on trying the same thing again and again. Cyclist, Gardener, Runner, Hiker, Cook, Woodworker, Engineer, Jack of all trades and master of none, Anti social old git and all round miserable bugger. Archives
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