January 2007
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The New Year has seen work recommence though with no help from the weather.
This picture dates from just after the Xmas break with the lounge floor dug out to a foot below finished floor level.
The steel mesh awaits a 6 inch raft of concrete.....
....which comes in a big lorry. About 8 tons in all.
We have finally handed over half of the top floor. I did a walk round 3 days ago with the builders and made sure we could isolate the power circuits and so on.
It occurred to me that since all the studding walls were coming out, they might as well be put to good use.
Yokogeri kekomi is the japanese term for a side thrust kick. Done properly it is very powerful kick, though it seems to be used rarely in competition. It is one of the classic ways that people show off by breaking boards, tiles and so on.
So why not?
Provided you miss the 3 x 2 timbers (ouch) getting though a plasterboard wall is easy enough.
I did the one on the right (not sure if the builders were impressed!). After karate that night, the 1st kyu daughter and I did the others. They alternate and I think you can see that she aimed at the wall and I aimed through it. The final kick skinned my heel so I've been limping a bit :-)
Anyway.....
Outside things have come to a halt while we wait for the serious steelwork to arrive. Monday with luck!!
As you can see, the lintels are in. There will be a big beam running from the ones over the conservatory entrance (first picture) to the garage end (second shot). Then two go at right angles across that one. There is also a long one to go the length of the hallway (supporting the gallery I guess).
We still don't know for sure that the crane will be able to get in.
Once this is done the first floor can go in and the walls can grow and then we get a roof :-)
In the meantime the wind doth blow
...and the guys have taken advantage of the access to the upstairs and we have another staircase!!...
It seemed the most secure way of getting access!!
As you see, it comes out in our old bedroom
....and that's where we are today.
Been very slow to upload more.....but a lot has been going on click here to see February's pictures