Page 5
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There was a large container here, with a lovely tall grass that had gone rampant. Martyn had to get his sledge hammer to it, before it would shift. The picture on the previous page, shows what improvement Martyn has made to this little corner. B.P.S. ran out of the paving Martyn was using, which left him one short of completing the raised area. He shifted his attention to making a short panel to finish off the fence, and cutting the fence post to the correct height for the cappings. It then started to rain, so they decided to call it a day, hoping the paving will be here tomorrow, to finish the job. |
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Paving not arrived, Martyn had heated words with depot manager, who agreed to go over with van driver himself, and collect them from their depot at Bidford-on-Avon, and deliver them here. Martyn and the lads continued with odd jobs, like fitting the post caps, the final piece of gravel board, making good the mortar washed out by last nights rain, and laying the wall blocks along the side of the summer house, to replace the original rounded edging . |
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Martyn decided to follow the contours of the original edging, instead of continuing the wall in a straight line, then paving to fill the gap. I have lost the proposed 'plant shelf', but the end result is, I think, far nicer, and doesn't encroach into the paved area, giving more room around the pond. The paving slabs finally arrived at 12:30, any longer and the bedding mix already prepared, would have been wasted. They managed to pave the bulk of the remaining area, and laid the supporting wall, but were unable to finish the lower area around the gate. |
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Martyn said they will return tomorrow, to finish that off, the sections of paving to fit around the pond pipes, and the area near the fence, and other minor finishing off touches. He said he has hit another supply problem with B.P.S., he needs two more wall blocks, and, you guessed, they are out of them. He hopes to pick them up tomorrow. If he can't get them, I'll pop out to Focus Do-It-All, I am sure I have seen Bradstone Walling in there. |
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Even though it isn't quite finished, the overall effect is just what we had planned for, and Martyn deserves all the praise I heap upon him. We couldn't have hoped for a better craftsman. He is a very nice person, who listens, discusses situations with you, and takes all your suggestions on board. I have no hesitation in recommending him to anyone. |
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We are now in the end game. Martyn picked up his wall blocks, and finished the supporting wall around the gate area. He then proceeded to complete the paving. He couldn't pave right upto the edge of the outside path, as the gate post's concrete base, as with the old fence posts, is almost at soil level, not giving the depth for paving. He decided to pave upto the post, and put in a concrete joint.
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