A welcome milder day after recent the previous harsh chill and one where the Amis crew were busy sinking the new piles for Harnser (as I had decided to call the new boatshed). After finalising my detailed design plan, I dropped off copies with the structural surveyor and District Council offices in Cromer. More work on the Paxton Princess in the afternoon re-installing the gas cooker
I was very late to bed again and slept well. The weather had turned milder again after the harsh chill of yesterday which was a blessed relief. I was resolved to ensure that the new boat-shed (which I am considering calling "Harnser") and the restored Heronshaw are both very well insulated and protected against the frost because the cold north-easterly wind comes straight from the continent this far east in Norfolk. I was a little ponderous in getting ready and the Amis crew beat me to it. I got dressed in jacket and trousers and drove off to begin my list of visits and chores.
** "Read More" BELOW for the complete story **
First to Prince of Wales Road in Norwich where I successfully got them to copy my detailed design drawing onto a single sheet of paper. Then over to the structural surveyors office where I left a copy of this plan with David Townend's receptionist after which I made off for Cromer and the offices of the North Norfolk District Council. Meantime I called DT and resolved with him an outstanding point on the support of joists before going in to meet the building regulations and planning people. They accepted my plans which seemed to be in order and then I spoke to the conservation officer about the choice of tile and cladding. He recommended a new type of lighter concrete tile from Marley and assured me that a fire-resistant material underneath the normal wood cladding would be acceptable. I lastly resolved the question of the lack of communication over the planning agreement and conditions and obtained a copy of the draft Section 106 Agreement from the file to take home and brief my solicitor about.
Off to Wroxham where I dropped in on Jewsons and then went to have some lunch in a cafe. Whilst eating, I worked out that these 'Superlite' tiles were a third lighter than the normal equivalent but I have yet to ascertain the cost. Back to Heronshaw and the afternoon doing some work on the Paxton Princess, cutting away the superfluous insulation and re-installing the gas cooker ready for more work to be done tomorrow. I also measured what the contractors had piled today and discussed where the main bearers were going to go to support the new building. Inside after dark and the evening eating, relaxing, reading and completing the update of this last week's journal which has coincided with a very active time.
I finished off by taking a bath and washing my hair after jotting down the important action items for the following day. The Amis men just had a couple more piles to finish off the following day to only leave the second side of the open boat-shed left to do and they hope to start digging out tomorrow which will be a new development. I tried to get Steve over again but found him out tonight, but a neighbour's friend came round to thank me for allowing him to use my boat whilst he is here on holiday. The chap has been commanding HMS something-or-other, a fishery protection vessel, which has been laid up. As a seafaring man, he is well-versed on the use of dinghies and outboard motors.