Thursday's Child of Lee

We are now the owners of a yacht! a Westerly Corsair, it's looking a bit sad at present, as it has had a fire and the inside is in need of a total refit.
It's a little like going down into a coal mine when you go below.

I am bringing it back home, a trip of 817 km on the back of road transporter, it should take about 12 hours.
We will set it up behind the Cedar hedge, luckily we have plenty of space, plus a spare sea container that I can turn into a workshop while we work on our new project. ( I told Mrs DIY it would come in handy one day...)

The launch date has been set for May 2011 (watch this space!)
Note: Thursday's Child - has far to go...

While I Was Away

Before I left for Auckland to look at boats. We had 4.5 cub M of lime chip delivered for the side outside courtyard.
Mrs DIY stayed at home, as someone had to look after the dog.
While I was enjoying myself in Auckland looking at yachts, Mrs DIY moved and spread the huge pile of chip by herself!
What a great effort.
The next step is to build the pergola and install the stone (concrete) table ready for next summer's long lunches. (i hope)

Easter

Easter is now past, great weather, lots of work done in garden, with Mrs DIY in her usual style, did not stop gardening all weekend, with only a light break reserved for walking the dog.
We had the daughter and partner with us for the holiday really good to see them again, a little easier now they are not on the other side of the world, (we are going to be grandparents again in about 3 weeks!)

It has been a busy few weeks with my sister making a flying visit from Perth, one of the jobs we had to do was to scatter the ashes of our much loved aunt in the sea along were she used take her walks on the beach.

Makes you think of your own mortality, so it's now full steam ahead to get another yacht while we both are fit and can still both handle a sail boat.

None of us is getting any younger!

Deck

At last, the blog is getting some attention, I have been otherwise occupied with doing other stuff including, my colouring-in and building a deck.
Now we (I mean the dog) won't bring dirt into the house from 'his' alternative entrance into the house!

Xmas Projects

One of the big projects that we planed for Xmas was to transform the pile of bricks that we purchased at the next door auction last year.

As you can see it's a glamorous job requiring strength, a good eye for a straight line and the ability to be consistent in the building process, none of which for this little task I have.

The end result is a little rustic but I will put that down to the various sized bricks that I had to work with to create the curved wall, now called 'Ilene'
(note) By popular demand I have included the other side of the wall...
The lone brick in the foreground will be a 'tree'.

As Promised

The picture of the new front door, still a bit to do to complete the construction but it works...

Front Door

The work goes on, the front door project is now almost complete, we have fitted the door and now it's in place.
You will have to wait for a picture of the 'masterpiece' as I havn't had time to take a picture, so as soon as it stops raining...

It was a bit of a mission, as the door is 1400 x 2200 and very heavy, with only a tolerance of 2mm all around.

Mrs DIY came up with the cunning plan of how we could move it with small rollers (cutdown steel waterpipe)and a big piece of carpet.

The fitting went well as soon as we got it in position the door dropped ito it's pivot points - perfect, the door doesn't have hinges but pivots on 2 stainless steel bearings, top and bottom, I must say the design works beautifully (mine!).

The next stage is to complete the entry porch, this should be this done this weekend.

Bad Bad Week

Lets start with the tractor mower, the head gasket blew in a cloud of blue smoke and oil, then Mrs DIY's Citroen C4 had punchure, that was bad enough to require a new tyre, (not a stock item) so until they get a replacement we are driving on a 'spare'.
Then the hot water jug turned it's toes up so we are reduced to using a kettle on the cook-top, following on, my computer's hard drive took a dive and had to be replaced with the result all the software needed to be reloaded - cannot find the Microsoft activation key so needed to purchase a new version (bum!*/! and other stuff!).
Then to cap it all off on Saturday had a call from my mother to tell me a very dear friend of the family had died...

The Artist...

I've started painting again, it's all very difficult, the initial efforts looking very beginners guide to colouring in. (1st effort attached)

If you don't know what it is, it's water flowing over some rocks in the river, I like trying to create the illusion of looking into water

Still I must persevere? as this is one of the reasons that we built the gallery (garage), at this point in time I feel that the cars would be better off having somewhere to live!

Mini Then and Mini Now

From Mini to Mini, my car ownership has done a complete circle, and 4 mini's later plus 40 years!
I am now the owner of the latest version of the Mini, it's still a fun car to drive, just a bit bigger, and the driver a little grayer!
The dog (Oscar) has adjusted to the change of now having to get in through the back hatch back.
This transition was the most difficult as the dog felt that it wasn't very dignified to be seen jumping into the boot, like other dogs.

Dont you 'luv' the cardy!