A very stormy, wet and windy day for Di's Parents' Golden Wedding Anniversary Celebration at the University of Essex that started with me trying to retrieve building materials from the dyke after they had been blown there.
The long journey with Diana driving, Della in the front seat and me in the back intending to work on the way, planning the final stages of the building project and entering some costs in my notebook.
We got back to complete the recovery of my materials and to meet Ivan and Maureen Smith have been building their house Quay West since January and theirs has also taken longer and cost more than expected! It had stopped raining by this afternoon but remained very windy until dusk.
I woke up this morning to the sound of pouring rain and strong wind and it was soon apparent that I was in trouble as a stack of light wallboard had disappeared from the boat-house walk-way. I saw it missing and hoped that Steve had come down and moved it but, once I had my breakfast and got dressed and out, the stream of bubbles from the bottom of the dyke confirmed that my worst fears were realised. Masterboard is light and really soaks up moisture but, unlike plasterboard, regains its physical properties once it dries out. Therefore, I managed to catch hold of three of the sheets with the edging shears and lift them up to drain and start to dry them but the rest slipped beyond my reach and I had to leave them there. I got into quite a state moving timber around on the barge having the idea in mind of rationalising the storage of materials to avoid having the Masterboard outside, but time was running out and I could only secure more materials against the wind (which had risen to gale force). I also fished out a roll of damp course and several plastic bags from the dyke that had been carried there by the wind. The Blooms came by and had decided to go home because of the changing weather. Steve offered to help me for a few minutes but it was an hour's help that I needed and so I declined.
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Time then to set off for The University of Essex for the family celebration with Diana driving, Della in the front seat and me in the back intending to work on the way, planning the final stages of the building project and entering some costs in my notebook. We just about arrived on time at 12.30pm for drinks and the meal at 1.00pm to find the whole of Di's extended family there. The meal and venue fair enough but I was distracted by thoughts of my building materials at the bottom of the dyke and the gale-force wind tearing at my sheets and covers back at Horning. I pushed things along and we left at 3.00pm. Debbie had been brought by Daniel and Angela and she cried when I insisted that she come back with us to leave them for another day alone, but Angela was upset with Daniel for earlier agreeing for her to go back with them and I had to do something. I drove us back and the journey went well with far less traffic.
We arrived to find the wind causing problems and so I carried on re-organising the barge and then got Diana's help to move the 8ft by 4ft boarding onto there and then to help me hook the remaining sheets out of the dyke to start drying. I took Di for a trip in the Jolly to see Ropes Hill Dyke and met Ivan Smith, the owner of the other property being built in Ropes Hill Dyke and found that he was using the same roofing tiles and electrician as us. Ivan and Maureen Smith have been building their house since January and theirs has also taken longer and cost more than expected! I was pleased with my work this evening though I did have to spend some time showing Debbie how to use the engine on the inflatable and even then, she succeeded in getting the davit wires tangled by either not hearing or misunderstanding my instructions. It had stopped raining by this afternoon but remained very windy until dusk.