Concrete mixing can be fun
Adding the rear ramp
17 November 2005
The way things were
Having decided to try and start the new drainage system in the heat of a hot September, Peter and Sandra decided to wait on icy cold November before trying to dig through the taiga of Avondance.
It could even be argued that mere frozen ground would be easier to dig through than the flint and brick ridden landscape that we were working on.
JJ giving it full welly - hah! translate that into French!
The gathering of the clan began on the Thursday and over the next three days a fun and fraught time was had by all as we smashed, dug and shovelled our way to victory and a Corail d'Hastings coloured rear ramp.
Once again we were sustained by curry and the discovery that you can by M and M Biscuits, a delicacy that JJ was at times loathe to share.
The first thing that had to come down was the remainder of the dividing wall between the two gardens, this was accomplished by Richard with the aid of his digger and brute force with his sledgehammer.
It was decided to finish the slope into the courtyard in two stages which made levelling the concrete much simpler.
Being perhaps a bit dense on it, I had never realised that you colour concrete by simply adding coloured powder to the mix, but I soon got the hang of this and as JJ and I prepared the concrete I jealously guarded the secret of the formula.
Sandra wanted the coating finished off with coloured pebbles and was almost prepared to place each by hand - Richard suggested that by the handfull was quicker and just as efficient.
See also