Lets get on with the Garden whilst we wait..............
Whatever happened with the timing of the house sale, the garden for Carn Myghal would need to be done at some point. Whilst we were hoping to sell sooner rather than later, wanting to 'crack on' with the build, in some ways it was good to carry out the work at the very back of the plot, whilst we had access for equipment and movement of materials. We had decided that we would keep the bottom terrace at the lowest height possible, i.e. the level of the back fence. We would then build a retaining wall to the level whereupon the upper patio and shrub garden would be fairly flat, with both steps and a ramp down to the bottom. The wall would have posts set into it, onto which I intended to make bespoke trellis for climbing plants, so that it would make the patio more private, and almost hide the lower garden. A shed, raised vegetable beds, and perhaps later on , a greenhouse, would make this lower part the 'business end' of the garden.
It was time for some bulky earth moving again, so I called Colin Bilkey, and he came to see what needed doing. He suggested hiring a small swing shovel, which would be much more suited to the confined space. He organised a machine and had it delivered, and suggested a friend of his to drive it called Rob.....whilst he carried materials away with his tractor and tipper trailer.
As well as clearing the area to the approximate site level we needed, Rob also cut a trench for the diverted sewer pipe, we retained good topsoil, but the remainder went to Callywith quarry in Colin's trailer. He had exposed the pipe from the 'datum' manhole in the lawn, down to where it exited the site. Four properties, from Magpie Meadow across to Tevissick, share a 4" main that traverses East to West just over the boundary fence, the junction for this pipe is in a manhole in the neighbours garden below, and it has had a history of blocking. In my view the junction was poorly built, and it wasn't helped by the pipe running into it quite steeply. The new pipe run would give a gentler delivery of 'solids' to the connection. I began the new pipework by installing a manhole as near to the fence as possible servicing both old and new pipework, and would disconnect the old route when the new system was complete.
The new piping was installed upwards from the bottom, with manholes positioned for the new house requirements, as well as changes of direction and the sewer from Arlington. The connection was made on 4th June, and we called BBS, who we had taken on for Building Control. They checked and approved the drain, which constituted our material start to the build and we would not now be limited to three years for the main build. With the old piping removed, it was time to start work on the retaining wall across the width of the site.
The waste pipe crossed the foundation line, so I had to dig below it and step the foundation underneath it. The whole thing was encased in concrete prior to laying block, to ensure that there was no possibility of any settlement pressure on it.
By 23rd July, the blockwork was complete as far as possible, it would be continued up the ramp and the steps at a later date.
When I had cut sections of the turf before excavating by hand, I stacked them up and used them as a temporary wall to retain the good earth, which generally was only to a depth of around 6". Now that the block wall was done I back-filled, putting the turf in upside down to rot the grass, and topped off with the good topsoil. Next was to make a base for the shed, when we sell Arlington, a secure place will be needed for all my tools and materials, and it would be good to get that done in advance. The intention was to buy a 28mm log shed rather than panels, as it would be more robust and secure. We found the ideal 'Manhattan' workshop online (imported from Lithuania), which arrived in kit form, and we assembled it ourselves. This cost was no more than many panel sheds on offer locally.
Next, it was time to set out the raised beds and siting for the greenhouse, as well as cables, water supply and surface water drains. The plan was to build block surrounds, and concrete the areas outside the beds.
Before I could build the 'surround' that would eventually support the greenhouse in the bottom right corner, towards where all surface water would run , I had to provide drainage. I dug out a large soakaway pit, into which I would back-fill broken blocks and large stones that had been dug up. In the picture below and to the left you will notice the pit, with a stack of concrete block pavers to the side. The following morning this stack had collapsed into the pit, as the weight had settled on the edge, and I had to lift them all out again.
Before building the retaining wall, I had built in a duct for a water pipe, which will eventually be supplied from an underground rainwater tank, and an armoured cable to supply lights and power in the shed (and extension to greenhouse just in case). I could now lay MDPE pipe to supply taps in the wall and inside the greenhouse base.
Meanwhile, one by one, I was continuing to build the flight of steps up to the patio, casting them one every other day, allowing the previous step to harden. I could not complete the concreting around the beds before significant work on the fence, which I didn't want to do at that point, so turned attention to the ramp wall.
Again digging by hand, this section was truly exhausting. Each tree stump had to dug around to cut the roots, and then pulled free using the Paj. Even so it was amazing how small a root would still stop it pulling out. Each stump went to Lanivet dump in the trailer, the guys there helpfully put them in the green skip using their on site digger.
For the second time since cutting down the trees, the stack of logs was in the way and had to be moved elsewhere. It would not be the last time.
It was now November, and days were closing in and the weather not as kind. I ordered tanalised timber from Mole Valley Farmers to construct the raised beds, and more fencing posts and rails.
In the last weeks of the year, I started to renew the fence at the back of the plot. It was all in poor condition anyway, but as the new garden level was higher than before, I wanted to incorporate a small retaining wall.
Although we had received a few potential clients for the sale of Arlington, we could not see anything happening soon. It was now December, in market terms a quiet period, we would start the new year optimistic that 2011 would bring an improving market. I wasn't kicking my heels though, there was still a great deal that could be done in preparation for the build.
