From Paxton to Norfolk for a couple of days making calls and visits to organise the planning, materials and first phase of the foundation for the new Harnser boatshed which involved liaison with my solicitors, Jewsons, Bearshaws and contractor Amis.
By the end of the day, laying soft sand and fitting vermin mesh, awaiting the arrival of paving stones. Phoned home to find Debbie on her own with Di taking Della to the Brownies. She was using the time alone to bake some shortbread!
I said goodbye to my daughters this morning as they went off to school as I was going to be away for a couple of days again. I had time first to make a few telephone calls to organise some new savings certificates and the encashment of some older ones and also instructed my solicitors to forgo the quest for temporary planning permission and to agree on the latest draft for the Heronshaw Planning Agreement which gives us just about all of the things that we are looking for. Morning coffee and then, as I started to pack up ready to leave, Diana had a visitor and so we were both delayed a little. Some time with the gardener and then off at 11.15am.
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A good fast ride to Norwich where I managed to collect some electricity ducting and a meter cabinet before the depot closed at 1.00pm. Lunch on the move from MacDonalds next door and then to Heronshaw to unload the car and get some measurements for building materials. Once the Jewson’s staff were back after 2.00pm, I drove into Wroxham and checked on the timber and watched it being sawn and planed in the workshop. The Corsican Pine seemed all right and Jewsons assured me that their stress grader was happy with it. They have been given until Wednesday by the treatment plant to get the timber ready and then they have promised to take it away and get it back by Friday which seems to be tight, but they are confident. I ordered the paving slabs and found out where to get the matting that I needed to go under them.
It was "Typar" and I could get it in Norwich. First to Beardshaws next door to get the M12 threaded rods and nuts at a very good price and then the dash into Norwich where I got the matting and was back in time to hook up the trailer and collect a tonne of sand from Jewson’s and get it back safely. Out shopping again in Wroxham for my tea and some provisions and then, after a salmon salad, I tackled the oversite for the new boatshed. First, I spread a couple of centimetres of soft sand over the site and, after rolling it, I then laid the mesh over it by cutting holes for the foundation piles and overlapping sections to ensure a vegetation barrier.
I was pleased with this progress and planned to lay more sand in the morning and then await the arrival of the paving stones. I also managed to call Amis tonight and he confirms that he will get the barge here this week and be ready to handle it across to the quay at a days' notice. Also phoned home to find Debbie on her own with Di taking Della to the Brownies. She is using the time on her own to bake some shortbread! The weather holding up despite quite a lot of clouds this afternoon.