
Michael and Graham are back on site doing those essential groundworks which are required around the external. The old garage was completely removed – the last skip of broken concrete was nearly too heavy for the skip lorry to lift! With that gone I had my last chance to get large deliveries to the back garden. Choosing a window in the weather which was dry enough for the lorries to get in I had 40 tons of top soil delivered to the back garden. Michael then skillfully graded it over the chalk – just 100mm of topsoil which is all we have around here on the chalk downlands.

Graham is busy building the retaining walls to the basement light well. It is difficult to design it so that it still leaves a view and yet is practical. Eventually it will have large “steps” with gravel and pot plants.

With the machine on site it was also important to get the rainwater harvesting unit all connected up. The 8 down pipes from the roof all eventually flow into the tank which feeds the WCs and the washing machine.

Work still continues in the house with Kyril and his tilers trying to finish the floors and tile the bathrooms. Meanwhile I am kept busy every day just finishing the plumbing and carpentry – Only 3 weeks until Angie moves in!
