An insight to the daily life of a garden design and landscaping build up on a rear garden located in Cullompton, Exeter, Devon.

Day 12

View previous day here

Coffee.

Video footage applying the scratch coat

It's not until you watch yourself at work you realise your little habits, it would seem I like to tap the plastering spot board each time I fill the hawk, this is to ensure my steel trowel is clean for the next lay on.

Concreting the reflection pond

Concreting the reflection pond

Whilst I'm applying the scratch coat to the garden feature walls in the Marshall's kitchen area and the raised seating area the team mix the concrete for the base and footings to the reflection pond, 200mm depth of concrete in all will allow four courses of 225mm wide block work with 10mm joints, bringing the top of finish block work to 72mm below finished paving level.

Plastering the scratch coat

Plastering the scratch coat

I have completed the render scratch coat, all but one small area, now where's my Jewson lintel, I can only assume the missing lintel is walking the 5.7 miles from the Tiverton branch to my Cullompton landscaping project, perhaps I seek to much by means of an explanatory  phone call ??

Whilst I await I'll feed the last perimeter up-lighter cable through the electric ducting to the seven raised Marshall's black limestone planters.

Ducting draw cord connection

Ducting draw cord connection

I bend 200mm of the cable and clamp tight, I fasten the internal draw cord from the duct to the clamped loop of the electrical cable and wrap tight with duct tape.

At the furthest point of ducting from the draw cord connection I pull the cord slowly through the ducting, once the cable is fed through the ducting I include 500mm at each end for the electrician. Plastic is wrapped at both ends of the duct and the cable is wound up and secured.

Cable pulling

Cable pulling

This simple device of two road pins at the same height and a small bar or broom handle assists me when pulling the cable.

Still waiting

WAITING !!

Where's my Jewson lintel. 

Where's my Jewson lintel

Where be my lintel to I know where he be ?, actually I don't.

This kind of poor service would never occur from Phil Skeats at the Newton Abbot branch, what do I have to do to climb ranks in the Tiverton packing order?

Garden reflection pond footing and base

Garden reflection pond footing and base

With guidance from the rotating laser level at dig level I set the laser to 200mm above dig, this level is used through out the concrete pour, once all concrete has been mixed the levelled concrete is tamped and left to cure.

The lintel arrives !!

The lintel arrives !!

YAY 3.45 pm ........ I bed down the lintel and clean down the site.

I detest being in the hands of a sales rep, I call it a day for today.

Tomorrow were not relying on others.

Tomorrows blog:

Garden reflection pond and overflow system build.

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John F replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"On choosing the height of my henchman Tim it was easy it was determined by the height of my valued regular bread and butter customers hedge height requirements so I could work on them without them having to resort to getting contractors in .
Another…"
3 hours ago
Duncan Neville replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"Spot on! I had a heavy fall from a tripod ladder, and part of my safety check now is a taught chain and front leg vertical and midway between both back legs. Absolutely never lean, always cut immediately in front of you! "
3 hours ago
Tim Wallach replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"They had the niwaki pro to try out at NEC Gardeners World.  Reassuringly robust.   I'm still contemplating 8 vs 10 vs 12 though.
i can't reply to all the helpful comments and suggestions but it's appreciated to have the wisdom of you all. "
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Adam Woods replied to Peter sellers's discussion Cordless drill
"THe Aldi and Lidl ranges are good, I havent used their drills, but lots of other battery tools, they work well, and have a battery that can be used in different things in the range.
Theyve also been through the companies German QC processes
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Wednesday
Adam Woods replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"I used to have an 8' 3 leg adjustable when I had the business.... I added a 4' NIwaki a year or so later.... I didnt have any hedges that needed anything higher - I still have the 4', its invaluable"
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Redexim is pleased to announce the launch of the Sandstorm. The Sandstorm is a self-powered topdresser that works without a tractor or hydraulic connection. Simply hitch it to a utility vehicle and spread. It has a 28 ft³ (800 L) capacity and can…
Wednesday
Geoffrey King replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"Of course they are more akward to carry, but using a regular ladder now feels preposterous.
I thought long and hard about tripod ladders before getting the 12 ft one over 10 years ago.
Well one clear advantage they have, they stand up by themselves.…"
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Honey Badger replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"Last year a customer asked me to give him a price to clip over his 18ft tall holly shrub he offered use of his extention ladder so. My reply was 'No that's what the young and the stupid do and I am neither'. Made him laugh.
All ladders are dangerous…"
Tuesday
Graham Taylor replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"I just use an ordinary extending 2 piece ladder with a 6' plank across the top which stops it falling into the hedge..........  never seem to have a problem   These tripod ladders certainly look impressive but they look a right pain to lug about,…"
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Geoffrey King replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"I have a 12ft & 8ft , the 8ft has been really useful especially for picking fruit & pruning fruit trees
The photo shows some one  using the ladder unsafely
Firstly he looks right handed, therefore the ladder should be place the other way around with…"
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