JONES - DAWN MOON SUPPORTING VENUS
This blog is intended for such readers as may have an insatiable interest in erecting garden sheds. Any readers who lack such an interest - hard as it is to imagine that any actually exist - will be forgiven for getting on with their lives.
Sunday: As it happens, blow by blow: Slavic & Alexandre arrive at 7.15 to assemble the shed. (See the previous blog). Slavic sorts the smaller sections into groups according to length. There are no instructions, only such tips as we have gained from watching a video.
Much measuring ensues to ensure that the base is square. My role is to stand around looking knowledgeable and to join discussions when sticking points arise - which they do a lot. The workers converse in Ukrainian, which I wish I understood.
From behind the gates a few metres away, the beasts take a keen interest in progress - most of them. The day grows steadily hotter. Intermittent deliveries of cold beers serve to lubricate the works.
The suppliers have given me a hefty discount as much of the timber has been exposed to the elements and is warped. (Those short side pieces [bottom left] are mis-positioned and later have to be prised out and replaced with slightly longer sections.)
There is something symbolic about erecting a door frame. It means that one can go in and out. It separates the exterior world from an interior space.....or something like that.
The planks do not fit readily into the intended notches. Slavic bends them against the warp - generally using a large garden fork - while Alexandre hammers them into position. Many take a great deal of bending and hammering.
The window frame is assembled and inserted. The warp on the left wall is lifting the short planks out of position. The roof later pulls them straight.
The shed progresses but only after frequent stops to correct the design. The biggest error is to mis-lay the base planks at the front and back of the shed instead of on the sides. As I say, no instructions!
The roof planks are hammered into position. Sorry about all the Sunday hammering neighbours. It won't happen again.
The dark planks are those that have been most exposed to the weather. The interior is quite spacious. There is already a queue of items waiting to shift across. (Nancy comments that Ratty will love the extra space.)
The roof is lined with a layer of reflective insulation that I bought separately
before the final asphalt cover is unrolled, trimmed and hammered into place. There's still a fair bit of finishing to do but nothing that requires Alexandre's muscular assistance.
THE ESPLANADE: CABANAS
Monday: After further discussion, Slavic and I returned to Cabanas where he acquired Liz's car for a lower price than that earlier envisaged. He pointed out that he would need to spend a significant sum to bring the vehicle up to the standard required for annual roadworthy inspections.
Tuesday: I had a haircut. The hairdresser assured me that taking selenium supplements would ward off most ills, probably including Covid19. I reserved judgement.
Then I went shopping to spend as much of Leroy Merlin's credit note as I could manage. Several hundred euros went on lights and fittings for the shed and the additional water supply system that we are about to install. The store paid me the difference in cash, a most welcome change from the usual procedure.
WATCHING THE CRABS IN THE STREAM
Wednesday: We joined neighbours Fintan and Pauline on a visit to Liz in Cabanas. At our little snack bar on the esplanade, Jessica - the Brazilian waitress - now welcomes us as regulars. In return we show our appreciation. The backdrop of boats floating idly on the estuary is delightful.
Thursday: was uncomfortably hot. Slavic arrived at 7 to work on the shed. The main job was to stain the wood with a preservative before adding the finishing elements. I chose a green stain to help fade the shed into the background. Jones had her doubts. But she went along with it. It needs a second coat to complete the job.
Neither Slavic nor I could fathom how the fancy door hinges worked, however we positioned them. So I bought some conventional ones at Leroy Merlin the afternoon when we went to fetch the new solar cover for our pool. The car's AC worked overtime against 36 degrees of heat.
The new cover is most welcome. We've been making do, first with the old disintegrating cover (that shed plastic fragments all over the pool) and later with the cumbersome winter cover.
Friday: Slavic is back at 7 to lay concrete steps and a path for a neighbour of ours. He mixes the concrete here and we run it around on the tractor. It takes three loads.
We are glad to be done by midday. It's another scorcher.
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