House Numbers
We've got new numbers for the house:
One on the side wall:
And one at the bottom of the front steps:
These can be quite expensive to buy, rather than do that I thought I'd make some. So off the local Trago to purchase some numbers. . . .
Playroom toy storage
The problem:
Toys everywhere!! 
I've looked around at storage solutions in the shops and nothing seems to be quite right. Too small, wrong shape, wrong size and mostly far too expensive. So Jo has ordered one of these:
I got this pic a couple of years back online somewhere and can't remember - if anyone recognises it please let me know.
Function
The unit needs to be large enough to store all the kids toys. Under the base we'll need some large pull out 'bins' in which to throw stuff that's lying around. The top section needs shelves and drawers to organise books, drawing stuff etc neatly. It also needs to fit into 2 spaces - the current playroom and also the new one which will be in the house extension once that's finished.
Sawdust drop box – part 2
Got another hour in the shed last night to finish this off.
Top and bottom attached, more silicone, sticky stuff.
Drilling holes in the upper baffle:
Front siliconed and ready to go on:
A solid box:
Sawdust drop box
I'm shortly going to begin the construction of a large unit to store all the kids toys in. This is going to be made from moisture resistant MDF. If you've ever cut this stuff you know what a mess it makes. It gives of a very fine dust so as well as breathing protection I need a better solution to collecting all that dust. I don't have room for a proper dust extraction system but a vacuum does a reasonable job of collecting dust from my hand power tools. In order to make the vac last longer and not require bag changes so often I'm knocking up a quick drop box that goes just before the vac to collect most of the shavings.
So here's a pile of materials, some ply, wheels and hardboard:
Cutting pieces to size with circular saw and homemade guide rail:
Boards cut to size:
New front door
A purchase from our local salvage yard.
Needs a lot of work to get it in good condition. First all paint needs to be stripped by hand (don't wont to risk the joints by dippping). Then some sanding before scarfing in lots of new bits. Then it will be onto paint. I'm going to spray the door, as it is going to take lots of coats, probably in this order: primer (sanding/filling), primer (sanding), undercoat, undercoat, 3 top coats. I'm going to try and get a really good finish with a high shine on it which is going to take lots of coats and sanding.
We struck hardware gold in Trago Mills last weekend and bought all the fittings for the door at great prices. I'll post more pics as this one progresses.
Veg intentions
It's the good life - or maybe not. No chickens and pigs in this garden -at least not yet. We do however intend to grow some fruit and veg. In order to do that you need somewhere to grow them. Having done some background reading it seems that using raised beds is a bit more straightforward than having a plot. So beds it is, which calls for some more wood construction - always welcome 
First job is to drive some stakes into the ground, get them level and then screw some boards to the sides. All the wood is pressure treated.
Once that's done on all four sides it's time for more digging 
to fill each bed with earth:
Next is to lay some membrane around all the edges and to cover with woodchips:
I've covered a couple of the beds with more membrane as we won't get the chance to plant this year and want to keep the weeds out. Here's also some more views back to the shed:
Compost
The plan is to have vegetable beds by the shed. Therefore we'll also need somewhere for all the garden waste/cuttings etc to go. Fortunately :0 I left a space for this behind/next to the shed.
Apologies for quality of the pics but you get the idea. Made from some old roof beams, wire mesh and left over log lap cladding;
Finished Shed
Now that it's finally stopped raining I've managed to get outside and finish the shed.
I had to stain all of this log lap - I don't recommend it, a very tedious job
With roof finished, log lap nailed on and sealant applied the shed is finished:
Retained by the wet weather
It's been raining - a lot!! So not much progress on the shed. It's been sitting like this for much of the last couple of weeks:
I have managed to do a small bit of work on the opposite side of the same level as the shed. Whilst I've levelled out the majority of the space there is still a step between our garden and next door. I've left a gap of a couple of feet which will be planted with hedging in due course. For the moment I've fixed some retaining wood which keeps everything nice and tidy. Can be seen on the right hand side of pic 2:
Rotten floorboard
A small job that I've been meaning to get to for ages.
One of the floorboards in the lounge was completely shot - rotten. None of the boards around it seem affected but we'll get the whole floor (house 
) treated for rot/woodworm etc in due course.
So rather than fall through the carpet each time we walk past I though I'd have it out and replace it. As is often the case I got some extra help. If only that digger was a big bigger . . . .would come in handy for the garden!
