Violin; raw novice.

Hi Colin
Thanks and you have a good weekend also.
Yes it must be difficult trying to play the violin.
Hope that you get your fence up soon.
Thanks for that link but we just keep on watching YouTube as it is, only watch the short videos.

Will be doing a bit of gardening but not a lot, just received 3 blueberry plants and got to put them in bigger pots.
I know that you like living where you are and that's great.
Take care
Logan.

 

Hi,

Thanks Logan; good luck with your blueberries; I'm lazy just buying our blueberries at Morrison's on their fruit offer.

At the moment I'm finding it impossible to play the violins; yesterday morning I was on the fence job early and didn't knock off until 7:15pm apart from mealtimes; I was so tired I couldn't do another thing having worked myself to a standstill; however hard I work or the many hours I put in I still can't get on top of all the jobs that keep cropping up; I did however manage to erect nine of the ten posts and already this morning I'm wet with sweat; the last post has just been erected and I've been cutting the old posts into short lengths for a neighbours woodburner; I have a big radial arm saw so it's easy to cut any timber. Most of the posts just broke as I tried to remove them so I did it my usual way the hard way and dug them out.

I still have a fancy 42' long fence to treat with presevative but with my own mix of old enging oil and diesel; I designed and made the this fence where I can remove four turbo hex head screws to remove each panel allowing me to fully treat the panel on our driveway; being able to tip and turn the panels means full coverage but it's a tedious job.

Tis the gardening season Logan meaning fighting weeds again; enjoy yourself.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi Colin and thanks about my blueberries.

You've been busy yesterday and I hope that you finish them soon. That's good how you designed your other fence. Fence panels are boring to do, we're lucky our house is on the corner just as you go in the close and all those houses have a brick wall around the back garden and the fence that divides us from next door is next doors, but some of the walls have cracks in them.

Yes a lot of weeds, they don't mind the dry weather, they just keep growing.
Have a good day
Logan.

 

Hi,

Thanks Logan; I hope you've not got sunburnt with this rare warm sunshine.

Yes the fence posts have all been replaced now so should give the termits toothache as they try to bite into the steel although I think it's more rot than termites that caused the posts to fail.



Less than six years old treated fence posts; curved like a banana; split and rotted out; things aint what they used to be.
This is the fence with the rotten posts; I made a lovely job of it when I erected it.

Here's the fence now with new galvanized steel posts; it's just been another very hard job working aginst the steep slope ballet dancing between shrubs and new plants; the posts are 6' long x 48mm dia and are sunk into the ground 18"; no conctrete just rubble and soil rammed in; the wire mesh doesn't need a great deal of support; I removed every other post leaving five posts supporting the mesh then the new posts could support the mesh whilst I replaced the remaining five posts meaning lots less work. I think this time I can forget these posts for good?

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi Colin
Thanks and no I'm very careful with the sun and I don't garden when it's very hot, I don't seem to like it like i used to do.

Your fence looks better with those new posts and you can forget about them now.

Take care
Logan.

 

Hi,

Thanks Logan; here in the UK any really hot sunshine fills the A&E department because we're not used to it; setting off this morning the car was showing 3.5C and it's overcast. I've just done the shopping; Morrisons; Aldi; M&S and Home Bargains back home by 8:30. This retirement for me is more like an endurance test.

Trees felled; two fences treated a third fence having the wooden posts replaced; hedges trimmed; grass cut; car washed; weeding and another fence yet to treat. It never lets up however hard I work; I did manage 15 minutes violin practice yesterday much to my delight; not bad going 15 minutes doing what I wanted to do.


I bought a post hole auger and given our hard clay stony ground it proved absolutely useless it having a large point on the end; not to be beaten I cut the point off as seen then used my spade and wrecking bar to gradually loosen the debris then I could scoop it out with the auger; it worked a treat and I've also loaned it to a neighbour who found it very useful.

The final fence I've still got to treat these pictures from a previous treatment. I installed the pathway when I first retired digging out tons of wet sticky clay then laying these heavy flags and building the low retaining wall after firstly removing a big hedge including roots.
Here the panels are removed; I designed and made this fence it being unique because of the sloping pathway; it took a while sorting the angles out because normal fence panels would not fit. I made these of treated roof tiling battens and ring shank galvanized nails; all panels except one are identical in size with just a shorter one to fit over the manhole cover. I also added a handrail for safety; in icy conditions we have steps at the other side of the bungalow.

I lay a board on the ground parallel with the wall base then used a sliding bevel and spirit level to determine the angles the long spirit level used vertically; low tech but worked very well indeed.


Here's the bespoke fence I enjoyed designing and making
Here is one of the very heavy duty handrail brackets I made.

The lower part fits vertically in alignment with the post but the top of the bracket was welded on to suit the slope of the handrail; all this work took quite a bit of thinking about but the smallest details count.
Here's how each panel is secured; just four hex head turbo screws bought from screwfix; one in each corner allowing rapid removal of the panel.
Having erected the new fence I ran a stringline then lopped the tops off the posts; a shame to waste the short ends so I turned acorns from them on the lathe to neatly finish the fence.

I never do a job just repeating what's been done before; I like to start from scratch and try to improve; this pathway replaced nine steps; removing thre hedge meant no more hedge trimming at least for this one; access to the rear of the bungalow is now excellent and having dreampt up this idea and bringing it to success at least two of our neighbours have now copied; pity they didn't come up with the idea then I could have copied them but few actually give much thought to what they are doing; I improve as much as possible and a bit of thought up front often works for the better.

For the last 35 years Bron and I have worked hard to improve our home and better our lifestyle; I really do want to learn to play a violin but so many jobs always needs doing first; whilst awaiting Aldi to open this morning I sat in the car reading "The Strad" for twenty minutes; I do this twice weekly it being a bit of spare time.

I thought it worth adding the fence story because it shows what can be achieved with thinking about a job before jumping in; often it doesn't cost much more but the end result is always worth the extra time.

I've rambled on enough and WOW I'm going into the studio now for a violin practice; the final fence can wait for a while before being treated; I want to find out what retirement is.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi Colin
It's great what you have done with your fences and have a good time with your violin practice.

Just put the rose food on the roses, should be watered in so have to get the hose out and water the polyanthus as well, it's so dry here.
Have a good day
Logan.

 

Hi,

Thanks Logan; wishing you a great day for today. Having fed your roses and polyanthus they might take off like Triffids. We could also do with some rain because two days without rain here is a drought; I've been carrying the watering can up the mountain to water the new shrubs and plants just put in; typical of my luck; whilst doing all the tree work I suffered dire weather now new plants are in I'm having to water them.

Thanks once again for the Denby Pottery link Logan; Bron and I did watch it on TV via YouTube and found it interesting; here's another very interesting pottery video;



Still digging the clay out with a spade and carrying buckets of "Slip" up many steps might be quaint these dsays but I'd soon have a "Bobcat" for collecting clay and for the buckets I'd easily install an electric winch or manual pulley.

I didn't practice playing my violins after all yesterday morning; I remembered I needed to visit the pharmacy to collect a prescription; back home I then spent the rest of the morning catching up with emails.

I did manage two nice violin practices though one in the afternoon and one in the evening inbetween doing other jobs around the bungalow; fingers crossed I've got a rare free day all day today so I feel a violin coming on. Whoopee.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi Colin
Thanks about my roses and polyanthus, it's a bit easier using the hose but it's just irritating to get it all set up. Yes have to keep watering new plants if it doesn't rain but taking it up a hill is very tiring.

Glad that you liked the video about denby and thanks about your video, it's very difficult to do.

Yes I'm sure that you would easily make a Bobcat.

Hope that you have a good day with your violin practice.
Take care
Logan

 

Hi,

Thanks Logan. Yes an hose pipe is easier to use than carrying a heavy watering can around; like you though I find it hassle setting the hose up after all it spends most of the year in the garden hut. To the top of our garden I think it's 120' so it's a long hose; it needs plenty of water pressure; years ago after lots of central heating boiler breakdowns the British Gas engineer told me the boiler insurance would be invalidated unless the water pressure was reduced; he said the water pressure was over 9 bar? The following day when he arrived with the new boiler parts he was amazed to see a brand new water pressure regulator installed; I'd visited Screwfix and bought the regulator costing only about £20 and installed it myself; I think the setting is now at 3.5 bar; it's hassle though to keep adjusting water pressure if I want to water the top of the garden.

I was so looking forward to peace and quiet in the studio today whilst I practiced playing my violins; with the studio nice and cosy I settled down to a practice and was enjoying myself until local moggies decided to start fighting just below the studio window; it's a bungalow to add to the pleasure; Bron and I spend around £20 each week feeding all the local cats; birds and wildlife; I didn't think my violin playing was so bad but it sure ruined my concentration. If I was on a desert island totally on my own I'm sure there would be a shipwreck given my luck; it's pointless moaning it's just the way it is; my guardian angel died years ago.

I'm just having a mug of tea before heading back into the studio.

I hope your day is going well Logan.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi Colin
Yes it's a hassle to change the water pressure and that's good that you could change it yourself.

That's a shame that you couldn't do violin practice this morning but hope that you can do some later.
It's nice to have the cat's around and hope that you can do some practice this afternoon.
One of our dogs Barley has a upset tummy at 12.45 early morning and hubby has to take him out twice and he was sick, Barley went outside to be sick, he wouldn't do it inside. He's been out a few more times and now settled down. He'll be fine just have to stop his food for today and put him on dry toast.
Have a good day
Logan.

 

Hi,

Thanks Logan; I hope by now Barley is well once again; it's upsetting when a pet is ill. Bron and I won't ever have another pet; the vet bills put us off years ago when our cat Cola had £720 spent on him; our former neighbour has a cat and he's just run up a vet bill at over £2,000 and still counting; it's strange isn't it that a vet appointment is almost instant unlike an NHS appointment which now often takes months but whatever the cost our pets are never allowed to suffer are they.

I keep popping into the studio for short violin practices as often as I can; I did well yesterday with four practices but today I've been busy exterior painting whilst the weather permits; I'm using Benjamin Moore water based paint and working in the hot sun it was a real pain with the paint drying so quickly so I'm glad to be back indoors.

Once again yesterday I used the hosepipe to water the garden it taking ages but the new plants and seedlings said thank you.

I'm sure now I'm retired the days are much shorter.

Have a nice weekend and bank holiday Logan; fingers crossed Barley is now well again.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi Colin
Thanks about Barley he's fine now, if I stop his food and put him on dry toast he can get through it and he loves it.

No we can't let them suffer because they can't tell what's wrong, but we hardly go to the vet for a upset tummy because it can get expensive when they're put on antibiotics when they don't really need it. But some around here have been so bad with it they have to be put on a drip.

Glad that you had a bit of violin practice yesterday and hope that you get your painting done with the dry weather, make the most of it, it might rain tomorrow and I know what it's like, here the ground is solid and I couldn't help my friend with her garden today.
Yes I think that i'll have to get the hose out again at some point.

Thank you and you have a nice bank holiday weekend also and again thanks about Barley.
Take care
Logan.

 

Hi,

I'm pleased Barley recovered so quickly Logan and you and hubby will be delighted too. I enjoy two slices of toast for breakfast and evening tea; I like the thick multi seed wholemeal bread from Morrisons; on the bare toast I like Blackcurrant jam also from Morrisons but the cheapest which I think is better; I doubt Barley would like jam on his toast but you never know.

Any pet owner locally needing their pet being put on a drip would face a second mortgage; years ago I reckoned it cost at least £30 just to reach reception in our vets.

Perhaps you've had some rain by now; on Friday it was so dry here I used the hosepipe because the forecast for two weeks was dry which is a huge joke for Yorkshire; later in the day it forecast rain for next Tuesday which is more realistic but still rare to have a few days without rain; yesterday it was updated to rain on Sunday (Today) so yesterday I got stuck into some exterior painting which is sure to bring on the rain; I gave a coat of paint to the siding panels to the bungalow front starting just after dinner in hot blazing sunshine rapidly drying the paint also placed a folded bedsheet over the car windscreen to protect the leather upholstery.

WOW so far so good; after teatime yesterday I said to Bron I'll apply a second coat of paint before the rain arrives; half way through the largest panel the rain arrived so I completed the panel and quit in total disgust at my bad luck and the useless weather forecasters.

Rain is forecast for today so I'm sure the weather forecast will be accurate this time but I quietly went out at 8:30 this morning hoping not to be spotted by the clouds and I've just knocked off having finished the second coat of painting but whilst the brush and paint were out I gave the large panel a third coat of paint; the paints no good in the tin. I don't care now if it even snows today because the Benjamin Moore paint I use flashes off extremely quickly so much so that even the rain yesterday didn't spoil it this paint is water based unlike the previous oil based paint I used for years which always got spoiled as soon as the last brush of paint went on; I'm tormented in so many ways by our dire weather but it's pointless moaning about it.

Thanks; yes I enjoyed a short practice with the violin yesterday and plan to practice more today but firstly I'll take to bits the bench seat to the bungalow front which needs some TLC but by taking it to bits I can have the pleasure of ignoring the bad weather and do the work in the workshop in peace; I think I should start wearing blinkers because everywhere I look there's always jobs to be done. I'm never ever bored.


Half way through painting this panel the rain arrived. Everythings normal.

I gave the whole exterior woodwork a comprehensive makeover just six years ago April 2016; the panels are my idea because I used WBP 18mm thick plywood sheeting using my big router to add the profiles; I considered lots of options before choosing plywood such as Hardie plank but was put off using this due to terrible reviews; having cut and machined each ply panel then I painted both front and back also the edges taking a great deal of care to seal everything with a thick coating of paint; stainless steel screws were used as fixings the heads being filled; who would know it's plywood?

After six years exposed to severe weather conditions the large panel started to slightly delaminate; I've bought 250 x 18mm long stainless countersunk woodscrews; I've used about ten of these screws just in the areas showing delamination; auto body filler was then mixed and the screw heads and indents in the ply were filled then when the filler hardened it was brought down flush using 60g abrasive paper; what an easy repair; the Benjamin Moor paint however was still like new. Still some sealing and touching up to do on the darker colour; the oil based mastic I used has failed so I'll replace this with some expensive Hybrid Polymer sealant I've yet to buy.

Enjoy your walk today with Barley Logan; I hope you both don't get a soaking.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi Colin
Thanks again about Barley and yes we're both pleased about it. Barley would eat anything that we eat but we wouldn't.
They very much like oven chips that we have and I do a few for them.

Yes you're right about vets they charge about that much for a consultation.
One of our late dogs had leukemia and the vet referred use to a older vet in the practice and they charged us for that.

We've had light rain all day sometimes it's just spotting so not a lot.

Glad that you got a lot of your painting done and got some violin practice in and you'll never be bored with how much you have to do.

Thanks we haven't got wet today with the walks and finished for today.
Have a good evening
Logan.