After breakfast we swapped contact details, with the new neighbours, said our goodbyes and took our beer-breath and free venison mince off home (via the charity shop, the second-hand book store and Tescos of course). In the afternoon, Ant loaded Raymond up with the contents of the shed on our front patio, before taking the shed down ready to move, whilst I packed yet more boxes in the flat. (I tried to help with the shed - but ended up leaping about like a lunatic every time I saw a spider so wasn't much help at all). This moving malarky is exhausting.
We awoke Sunday morning to the most horrendous weather - thankfully by the time we actually got up it had slowed to a miserable wet mist. Simon and Keith turned up first thing and together they all transported the shed to Rais and re-erected it in the woods on the northern boundary - looks fantastic in it's new home. Since we now have a lockable "Cabin-in-the-woods", we can let the beer-brewing commence!
Flee and Tracey arrived in the afternoon and the roof was finished off with rolls of bark screening. This is the view from the top of the steps looking down - it took 4.5 bark rolls 4 metres long by 1.2 metres wide. Flee and Keith attached them to the corrugated roof with some thick wire - the stuff we pulled out from the wood over the winter that had been used to secure the chicken wire pheasant runs. I knew we'd find a use for it eventually.
The 4 metre lengths don't quite reach to the back of the kitchen area which is perfect as it's the area where we need the light to be let in for cooking etc. I am hoping too that the plants will eventually grow up and across the roof to disguise it and allow it to blend into the surroundings. I love it.
A tea and biscuits break before tackling the parking area up the top. We put some food in the Dutch oven to warm up by the fire whilst we worked and six of us set off armed with spades, strimmers, pick axe, and chainsaw - it didn't take too long at all. Gave the Holly overhang a haircut, strimmed the brambles and rhodies back and dug out a few rotten tree stumps and bits of old wire etc., leveled it all off as best we could and before we knew it, we were left with just a single stubborn, fallen (but still living) tree with red roots (no idea). Ant and Raymond pulled the thing sideways to split it at the base and then Flee went on a mission to dig the remains free. Eventually the thing was hand-axed out and the hole filled in. By 5pm we had a fairly level and circular route to drive around. We tested it with the two Landys and then Tracey's car and decided we could probably get 15 cars in at a push - although we'd possibly have to pull a few of them out if it rains - but all in all a cracking days work.
Dutch Oven dinner was served; Cheese, Leek and Onion Jackets with home made curry fish-fingers to start, followed by Muntjac meatballs in a garlic and veg tomato sauce and tiger rolls to mop with. Only thing Ant and I forgot were bowls to eat it from! oops. We decamped from the newly finished kitchen and glugged wine and cider til half one, whilst watching the almost full moon sneaky peeking through the clouds above the clearing. Stunning.
Monday
Slept a good 6 hours on the new A-frame bed, but was way too hot and was woken at 8am by Kenneth the second, (or "Ken-two" as Keith has now taken to calling him), flew past the tarps squawking at top volume. I got up and got the fire going again and the kettle on. Then promptly burnt six of my fingers onto the base of the storm kettle as I tried to turn it into the wind - totally not thinking - idiot. With no running cold tap, I ran to the stream and held them under for a good while (well until I got backache leaning over the bridge anyway). They are still pretty uncomfortable now, but I think I managed to cool them sufficiently to stop any major blistering.
Once everyone was up and about, Tracey cleaned, heated and then filled the large Hackman pan we got from a car boot sale with sausages and bacon and all was well again.
After our heroic efforts yesterday, we had already completed the weekends tasks and so sat back in the Sun for a lazy day of whittling, tea-drinking and contemplating the summer - it was bliss. Before we knew it, it was 4pm and time to pack up again ready for home and the chaos of packing, box-shifting and mundane reality. Still.... new bedroom to be built next weekend - very excited.
Dutch Oven dinner was served; Cheese, Leek and Onion Jackets with home made curry fish-fingers to start, followed by Muntjac meatballs in a garlic and veg tomato sauce and tiger rolls to mop with. Only thing Ant and I forgot were bowls to eat it from! oops. We decamped from the newly finished kitchen and glugged wine and cider til half one, whilst watching the almost full moon sneaky peeking through the clouds above the clearing. Stunning.
Monday
Slept a good 6 hours on the new A-frame bed, but was way too hot and was woken at 8am by Kenneth the second, (or "Ken-two" as Keith has now taken to calling him), flew past the tarps squawking at top volume. I got up and got the fire going again and the kettle on. Then promptly burnt six of my fingers onto the base of the storm kettle as I tried to turn it into the wind - totally not thinking - idiot. With no running cold tap, I ran to the stream and held them under for a good while (well until I got backache leaning over the bridge anyway). They are still pretty uncomfortable now, but I think I managed to cool them sufficiently to stop any major blistering.Once everyone was up and about, Tracey cleaned, heated and then filled the large Hackman pan we got from a car boot sale with sausages and bacon and all was well again.
After our heroic efforts yesterday, we had already completed the weekends tasks and so sat back in the Sun for a lazy day of whittling, tea-drinking and contemplating the summer - it was bliss. Before we knew it, it was 4pm and time to pack up again ready for home and the chaos of packing, box-shifting and mundane reality. Still.... new bedroom to be built next weekend - very excited.
