Over the water

Stylish stile

2012-01-24T11:47:00.003Z

The chap who does my plastering and rendering has a bit of down time at the moment until the weather lets us continue the lime rendering work. As the devil makes work for idle hands I have had him putting in some stiles around the property a task he has more than admirably performed. I would have been happy with a simple two step stile but he seems to be going for work of a rather more substantial nature...wheelchair ramps next?

Happy chinese new year

2012-01-22T11:14:00.004Z

The little prince OTW is celebrating his first Chinese new year today and he and the rest of us would like to say " gung hay fat choi" to all!
Update...It may appear that my boy is doing Tai chi in the pic, in fact he is balancing himself as at 8 months old he took his first steps today...He's a good boy.

Bad to the core

2012-01-20T16:56:00.003Z

If one was of a certain mind the off cut of copper piping shown could be used for the purpose of lets say...making a worm for a still, but then that would be illegal wouldn't it? The last of the seasons apple crop not turned into cider (hmmmm cider just what could be done with excess cider?) is now just food for the horses although my mother seems to rather like spongy wrinkled apples and who am I to deprive her of such a delicacy?

Dig dig dig it.

2012-01-19T18:20:00.004Z

A year after the pikey delivery men destroyed one of my gate pillars we have finally gotten around to starting the prep work needed before the much more fitting new ones are delivered. Given that we where digging holes and mixing concrete for the footings (each pillar weighs a ton) the weather of course obliged by turning the ground into a quagmire, with driving rain making work the usual pleasant experience winter in northern England is. My contribution to the day consisted of lots of pointing, swearing, shouting and limping.....par for the course in fact.

A right knees up.

2012-01-17T17:10:00.003Z

Blogging has been rather light of late I know as a combination of January blues and a smashed up knee have laid me rather low. The years of being the works donkey has resulted in damage to the cartilage and meniscus in my left knee with my right knee trying to equal it in uselessness. Having a leg with the consistency of a wet noodle has certainly slowed me down so this year has gotten off to a rather slow start work wise plus I do miss walking my daughter to school. Like most chaps of a certain age I tend to ignore the cuts bruises, sprains and minor breaks that life sends ones way but this time I may have to offer myself up to the tender mercies of the NHS....bollocks!

Music night

2012-01-13T16:55:00.003Z

It's been a bit of a tough week so time to 'rock out', 4 year old Princess OTW has great taste in music...old punks never die, we just make new ones!

Home is where the hearth is.

2012-01-10T19:52:00.003Z

Time spent dry laying the brick as we do the cuts for the Herringbone pattern is time well spent given our capacity for messing up (I'm being polite) measurements. I usually cut the hearths we lay from granite but given the semi rustic nature of the gate lodge I thought a brick base for the multi fuel stove would be more suitable...we shall see.

Sky high

2012-01-06T11:50:00.005Z

My boy has his first birthday later this year and to make it a more family occasion we booked a flight today for his aunt Vinogirl using our rapidly accumulating air miles. When using air miles one still has to pay taxes etc which when totaled up adds to a fair amount. To get the most from the air miles we booked first class seats so Vinogirl can use her larger luggage allowance to fill her cases with her excellent Napa valley cab franc and other such vinous goodies. Just out of interest I later checked how much the flight would have been if I would have paid full price.....£9000....yes, that's nine thousand bloody quid!!!!!! who in the hell has that much money for a flight? for that much money I'd walk or swim to California.

Shooting in the new year

2012-01-02T15:31:00.004Z

Mrs OTW prepares for 2012 and all its much heralded problems resulting from financial meltdown....either that or we just like shooting the hell out of stuff around here, she hit everything she aimed at much to my amazement! Mind though, I'm not sure an armed wife is such a good thing.

Bye 2011

2011-12-31T12:25:00.003Z

On this the last day of 2011 I like many people look back at the past year with mixed emotions. The world seemed a more than usually tumultuous place and in my own life the ups and downs of life caused many moments of both joy and sadness. All in all though I have to admit that it wasn't such a bad year as all my family and friends seem to be surviving and (slightly) thriving so who could ask for more? I thank God for the many little joys I have been granted and I look forward to next year with excitement as I contemplate life here at OTW with my beautiful family....Happy new year all.

Merry Christmas all

2011-12-24T13:37:00.004Z

It's Christmas eve here and all the kids are getting excited in anticipation of the big guys visit tonight, with mince pies and carrots at the ready for placing by the fire. I'm partial to the odd mince pie or six myself so an evening of eating and food prep lies ahead but with the little uns content then Mrs OTW and myself are as happy as we could ever be and grateful for our lot. So I'd just like to wish a heartfelt Merry Christmas to all that bother to take time visiting here.....have a great Christmas folks

Christmas tune 4

2011-12-22T12:51:00.001Z

A great carol from a family favourite of ours.

Christmas crackers

2011-12-20T14:34:00.003Z

As you can see we like Christmas here at OTW! our local village makes an effort for the little uns and my three had a great time visiting Santa although my boy did seem to have some questions, I think their mum and aunties enjoyed the visit too..... I had a slight hangover so was excused fatherly duties.

Little stuff

2011-12-19T15:25:00.004Z

Now that all the major internal building work has finished here it is my job to finish off all the myriad bits of detailing needed. The chaps have moved on to more basic building work on the gate lodge, leaving me and my dickey leg to deal with what the lads term 'haberdashery' rather meant as a mild insult for those who do the important work...that would be me! The alcove shown has the first of its moulding fitted and I just need to figure out how to make the rest of the moulding profile I have in mind which given my limited talents may take some time.

Christmas tune 3

2011-12-16T13:09:00.002Z

A great carol from my local church the fantastic Liverpool metropolitan cathedral Christ the king.

Here we go again

2011-12-15T14:44:00.004Z

The fitting out of the gate lodge is now in full swing now that we have made the place weather tight, something the lads and I appreciate greatly. The stairs in the pic are due for replacement with a set we will hopefully knock together from some old oak we put aside a while ago (everything here gets reused at some time). Working on a small house is not something I get to do very often but the lack of size means using higher quality materials is more affordable and more time can be spent on detail work....we shall see.

Tebowing

2011-12-13T14:37:00.004Z

As my fav NFL team the Green Bay Packers storms through the season wiping out all opposition you would think that sports commentators would be focusing on the chances of the pack reaching their magical 16th win...but no, Tim Tebow seems to be dominating many pundits columns. In fact his fame (infamy to the lefties) has transcended the sports pages and is making waves in twitter land and the general blogosphere. The thought that a christian sportsman may wish to openly live a Christian life instead of hiding his beliefs is causing some grief, how dare he pray in public!...maybe he should do a Michael Vick and kill some poor animals, that way Obama will come onside and everything will be forgiven by the christian hating libs.....not much chance of that though

Christmas tune 2

2011-12-10T14:03:00.002Z

The great Brian Setzer and a rocking Christmas tune...just what Vinogirl needs to get her deccies up!

Wind power

2011-12-09T11:58:00.004Z

We spent this morning fitting French doors to the lodge extension.Given the 60-80mph winds, attempting to fit would be more accurate. The accompanying hail and rain could I suppose be considered an extra added bonus that just topped off the start of a perfect working day!

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

2011-12-07T09:14:00.004Z

Even though Christmas here is shaping up to be rather special I just can't stop thinking that I'd still rather be spending it out in my adopted home of California. Some people may deplore what they see as American commercialisation of the season but to be honest when in America I never feel anything other than happy at the effort people put into making the holiday special. A trip into San Francisco on BART to do a little light shopping (saved by Amazon) is for me a must as is people watching all the bustling crowds in Union square as Macys lights and decorations start to glow as night falls.My hometown has a father Christmas parade with free hot chocolate and cookies for all watchers (try that in Liverpool!) which always seems to be held on an evening when a crisp edge to the air makes a hot drink and winter clothes most welcome.......I must check out my airmiles!

Wish list

2011-12-05T09:11:00.002Z

Not that I'm hinting or anything but if Santa isn't sure what to bring me then he wouldn't go far wrong with a semi auto shotgun...two in fact, just saying.

Christmas tune

2011-12-02T10:52:00.001Z

Singalong now!

2011-11-30T13:51:00.003Z

The Gate lodge extension is now watertight and so when work finishes next week on the main house we can get stuck in fitting out the lodge interior. I signed off the plans for the rebuild of the Bothy yesterday and so after the usual bollocks with the planners I will be able to start the bothy rebuild sometime around the 1st of April (an apt date for me and the lads)....next year looks busy

Let Allah sort them out

2011-11-29T09:20:00.003Z

I'm all for turning terrorists....into compost, preferably by predator drone or from 20,000 feet. I would not risk one of our troops for the dump of a so called country that is Afghanistan, nation building requires civilised people who want a nation, not savages that torture women and kill children.

The sooty show

2011-11-24T14:36:00.003Z

Chimney sweeping today...its a dirty job but somebody has to do it.....yes the old ones are the best ones.

The Duke

2011-11-23T12:38:00.004Z

As a Christian I am encouraged occasionally when faced by difficult people or situations to ask myself "what would Jesus do?" in the hope that Christian charity/humility will help me overcome whatever problem I face. I'm afraid however I'm not that good a Christian and have been forced to adopt a more suitable "what would john Wayne do?" attitude to lifes trials and tribulations. Given that John Wayne treated awkward people with his default modes of Scorn, punch or shoot I feel given my own slightly twisted personality that I'm well covered...so pilgrim thats it then.... WWJWD?

Clever chap

2011-11-21T09:34:00.004Z

My brother in law, monkey,mocked up a couple of pieces of tracery for me as we attempt to finish the internal detail work over the next two weeks.God is as they say "in the details" and we have rather a lot of work to get through so I'd better get working and say a prayer or two, perhaps to St.Jude.

Early festive cheer

2011-11-18T16:39:00.003Z

I got to hear these chaps playing this tune live last week when I went to visit my old place of work (Manchester Academy). The Darkness are a pretty good band when one sees past the jokiness and the song always sets my festive spirit in order....more sleigh bells, more falsetto!

Big hearted

2011-11-17T16:58:00.003Z

Being the generous chap I am, the lads and I have been busy sorting out a laundry room for Mrs OTW so she can keep herself busy when she isn't doing the myriad other tasks that beset a working mother of three. I suppose jewelry or some such luxury goods would perhaps be a suitable thanks for her hard work but I feel a comfortable environment for her chores is more fitting......if I don't post again she has probably killed me!

Heavy metal

2011-11-11T12:43:00.002Z

We had a handy blacksmith make up some quatrefoils recently for the front gate we are in the process of designing and building. Seeing a drawing made real by one of the craftsmen Britain is still quite rich in is a real treat and it is beholding on people like me and other builders to use them or lose them.......there is life beyond B and Q and Home depot.

Crying shame

2011-11-09T22:17:00.003Z

When I first visited St.Paul's cathedral I was literally overwhelmed by the history,grandeur,architecture and sense of Englishness the building emanates. Now the building is beset with human garbage protesting in the name of some unholy alliance of leftist anarchist green garbage.....sod em all.

Weekend wind down

2011-11-04T16:41:00.002Z

A little bit of Alex always puts me in a good mood...the man was a true maverick God bless him

Guns and girls

2011-11-03T20:31:00.003Z

I picked up one of the above today for the Missus and little uns to do a little shooting with as larger gauge shotguns are a tad wearing on my diminutive females.....our plague of tree rats had best keep their wits about them!

Funny frogs

2011-11-01T22:04:00.003Z

Who would have thought the French had the bottle.....cue the religion of peace.
UPDATE.... I just love being right.

Halloween

2011-10-29T11:41:00.003+01:00

As pleasant as Autumn in England can be, in my odd idle moment I tend to start wistfully thinking of Halloween/fall back at my home in California. Americans tend to put quite a bit of effort into the fall season way beyond Halloweens ghosties, with food and drink being much more seasonal than is common here. I suppose the chill in the air of a morning in California followed by an often bright if not too warm day helps, with the trees being a more colourful sight than is usual in a more subdued and damp English landscape (we do get a more autumnal smell here though with the piles of damp leaves slowly decomposing) My sister Vinogirl sent a little package of goodies for my children which included the above garden bags for me ( yes I'm slow on the leaf sweeping front) clever little things hey? Now all I need is a couple of bottles of spiced pumpkin ale and all would be right in my little world.

Craftsmanship

2011-10-28T12:06:00.003+01:00

There is no secret to a good finish on woodwork or in fact any building work, it's preparation, preparation and more preparation. Princess OTW is not averse to getting stuck in to the less glamorous side of the job...she is a good little grafter.

The not so great wall

2011-10-25T11:50:00.003+01:00

The stone work on the gate lodge has finally started and in a week or two we should be able to fit windows and doors. A watertight building gives the lads somewhere to work and hibernate this winter, which means for the first time in a couple of years we will be warm and dust free....luxury!

The doctor is in.

2011-10-21T19:29:00.002+01:00

Back in 1975 these sweaty dirty dodgy individuals provided much needed respite from a school full of bloody hippies ( never trust a hippy)....God bless the Feelgoods.

Done and dusted.

2011-10-17T13:04:00.007+01:00

This years external work is done and its time to get the scaf down and get started on indoor work. We managed to complete 80% of the work I had planned which considering the weather isn't a bad result, the stacks etc will have to wait till march. After a few weeks work on the main house it is then time to get everybody out so Mrs OTW and the little uns can have their first warm Christmas in a couple of years while the lads and I freeze while working away on the gate lodge.

The evils of child labour.

2011-10-15T19:26:00.003+01:00

What has the world come to when one feels slightly guilty about sending a 4 year old up a tree? It was the third bout of cider making this gloriously sunny autumn weekend and as my co worker Monkey had already done two sessions and was in urgent need of a manicure and some new guyliner, the little princesses had to turn to.....nobody drinks for free!

May the scally be with you

2011-10-13T17:20:00.001+01:00

Scousers and star wars,what a great combo....watch out universe

Motorbiking

2011-10-12T19:25:00.003+01:00

If I wasn't so busy I'd be tempted to have a crack at this, it seems an interesting project and the numbers add up...a bit daft though considering I don't like bikes.

A is for apple

2011-10-11T10:43:00.004+01:00

Last weekend was again another cider making session with monkey and I feverishly chopping,pressing scratting and doing all things cider related. All in all a rather pleasant way to spend a wet and windy weekend.

Just for you

2011-10-07T16:57:00.003+01:00

I thought after mentioning my big sis last friday I'd better do the same for my little one. When my little sister was very little this was one of her favourite tunes, so this is 'just for you' Vinogirl.

Rock and a hard place

2011-10-06T11:40:00.004+01:00

My long awaited and much delayed (complete with bogus excuses) sandstone arrived yesterday and upon unpacking...it was completely rubbish. The pic shows on the top left the two test panels that were agreed upon as the standard for all the tooling. What I received was some beautiful stone that had been air chiseled in straight lines by what I can only imagine is some sort of masonic lunatic. The chap from the Quarry is arriving today to explain just what transpired and I think harsh words are the order of the day.....building is fun kids.

Rocking

2011-10-05T09:15:00.004+01:00

After the night time destruction of my gate pillars by the pikey delivery men last winter my new pillars are finally starting to take shape. The block shown is the piece that will be set into the ground with another similar size block mounted on top to secure the top gudgeon pin. There is quite a bit more detail work to go before we have the joy of manoeuvring the couple of tons of sandstone into position...oh joy!

Who are you looking at 2

2011-10-04T08:24:00.003+01:00

I'm not sure who is the most interested in who as my girls meet our neighbours.

Juicy

2011-10-03T09:12:00.004+01:00

I took advantage of the weekends glorious weather and got stuck into the making of the first of this years cider. Quite a bit of time was spent setting up equipment and even more getting my little girls to stop trying to add in rotten windfall to the apple pile but come early afternoon the juice was flowing. England's poor (people) weather has resulted in a bumper crop of apples but shortage of time limits me to a measly 30 odd gallons but that should be enough to enable me to accidentally (of course) produce some apple brandy. My fellow worker monkey and I rewarded ourselves with a glass of ice cold apple juice(plenty consumed earlier straight from the tree)....more scrumpy!

Friday Slade

2011-09-30T18:51:00.005+01:00

To my eternal gratitude my big sister risked her musical credibility way back in the seventies and took a very young Thud to see Slade at the Liverpool Empire and I've loved them ever since (her too!). I meet people who tell me about growing up listening to soul,disco,tamla etc, if you were white and working class in 1970's Huyton then this was the soundtrack of your life.

Who are you looking at.

2011-09-29T08:21:00.002+01:00

The boy is looking a bit belligerent today, he needs to be more like Mrs OTW and less like me...one Thud is enough!

Dazzled

2011-09-28T09:37:00.003+01:00

The weather folk reckon we are in for a week or so of uninterrupted sun, I'll settle for the rest of this week as we are whipping through the last of this years external work at a rate of knots....more sun, more work!

Moon festival

2011-09-27T15:40:00.002+01:00

It was the moon festival (or something, I'm not too sure on the family Chinese stuff) the other day so after work Mrs OTW served the lads up some Mooncake...not too bad when washed down with a bottle of Pironi.

Give me a break

2011-09-22T17:53:00.003+01:00

If the bloody wind and rain would stop I could get these beauties painted and up on the house....I hate the rain, I really hate the rain.

Let god sort them out

2011-09-20T14:11:00.002+01:00

Having shot most types of weapons over the years I had an opportunity whilst in Las Vegas last month to try my hand at a machine gun....it was even more fun than I had imagined. As an equal opportunities hater I am now qualified to defend OTW castle from
1. zombie and alien invasion
2.various ne'er-do-wells of all colours and creeds......more bullets faster!

The sound of victory

2011-09-18T15:42:00.003+01:00

Working outside today I was disturbed in my weeding of the veggie patch by the sound of a Rolls Royce Merlin engine or rather two Merlins as a brace of spitfires passed low overhead. I'm not sure where they were going but for me there cannot be a more glorious sound or sight than a Spitfire in an English sky, cliched I know but what a cliche.

Any clues

2011-09-14T15:58:00.004+01:00

The apple shown is from an established tree that I had thought firstly an ornamental cherry and then a crab apple. The apples it has produced are deep red in colour (with red flesh) sweet and of small to mid size. In spring the flowers are deep pink/ purple colour....any ideas?
UPDATE... a rather clever chap informs me that the apple is a Wisley crab...he's probably right!

Flutter by

2011-09-11T11:40:00.005+01:00

It's the tenth anniversary of 9/11 today and I plan a quite day with my family, something denied the victims of that terrible day. Can any post add anything to the immensity of the falling of the towers? so quiet reflection it is then. On a walk outside this morning I photographed one of this summers remaining butterflies feeding on the last golden buddleia blossoms, pretty hey? of such small things is life made from.

Back to work

2011-09-09T09:39:00.003+01:00

The lads did some pretty decent work during my absence with most of the scratch coating finished on the Victorian half of the house. Starting the finish coat this week has been a bit of an effort as we are now fighting time and the weather as the work has to be completed well before the first frost. so unfortunately for the chaps it is less tea drinking and more working....get a move on!

Home again

2011-09-04T20:42:00.003+01:00

In an attempt to shake off the killer jetlag, the girls and I spent this morning taking stock of what our absence had wreaked upon the garden. A combination of lots of rain and some sun had made my reasonably tidy acres into something resembling a jungle. Fighting through the rampant greenery the girls and I managed to collect a sample of fruit on offer and hopefully tomorrow we will see just what veggies have survived my workers and the voracious hares and rabbits I am plagued with, as for the squirrels the lack of hazel nuts on the bushes means that next year I plan to have a deficit of squirrels....oh well back to work.

Time to go

2011-09-01T23:30:00.004+01:00

There was enough time today to call into our local Barnes and Nobel for some spiced apple cake before we departed for our flight to England. I'm as guilty as any of buying most of my books from Amazon but while here I do try and spend some money in the only remaining book shop. The outside terrace is a major attraction as fortified with a hot drink it is possible to sit and read outside even into late December...try that on Merseyside! Well that's summer done then... a summer to remember for all here with a special thanks to vinogirl, monkey and tenbellies....onwards and upwards.

All things must pass.

2011-08-31T16:43:00.004+01:00

Summer in California for the OTW family is rapidly coming to a close and thoughts turn to a return to a wet, windy England. The shops here fill more and more with autumn (fall) goods, with the smells of pumpkin spice reminding of the changes to come. Escaping from what I read is England's coldest summer for 20 years was a great idea after the pretty dire winter we had and I can only hope we have stored up some warmth for the coming slog this winter. If I sound a bit down I suppose I am as the little OTW girls and boy have had a few weeks of absolute freedom and now a colder reality and environment beckons. The few dry autumn days ahead coupled with wholesome English food do however promise some joys plus the prospect of a great fruit crop means lots of fun for the little ones as we crush and bottle the resulting avalanche of apples,damsons,quince and plums. So its time for one last round of California sun and then its blighty here we come.

Vino workers

2011-08-27T22:36:00.004+01:00

We have spent today having a part work part lazy day up in Napa at Vinogirls. Whilst Monkey and I helped with the bottling, my little Princess OTW spent her time gassing (argon) the bottles in preparation for filling....nobody eats(or drinks) for free!

Car crazy

2011-08-23T01:32:00.004+01:00

This past week end was the Napa classic and American muscle car show, a show I've seen three times now and enjoyed no end. American car culture has resulted in some amazing cars and the skill shown at the show by owners and renovators was outstanding. As I left for the show I photographed the above shown atrocity committed on a Rolls Royce by one of my neighbours. just who does that to a roller? from the ridiculous to the sublime indeed.

Get thee behind me.

2011-08-19T17:22:00.003+01:00

Due to a mix up when ordering a drink at the recent family wedding in Vegas I ended up being treated to a bottle of miller lite. Miller lite is for some reason known only to its evil makers ( I can't bring myself to say brewers) billed as beer...beer? you must be kidding. As a Catholic we were expected until recently to believe in purgatory, a timeless blank place that souls resided in before perhaps entry into heaven. Miller lite is the beverage equivalent as it manifests when drank the overwhelming experience of nothingness, no taste, no body, no anything, in fact it is almost surreal in its none existence. Just what function does this abomination perform? As a penance I purged myself after the unfortunate experience with a couple of large Jack Daniels and have since pledged to stick to Samuel Adams Boston lager, a much superior drink...cheers!

The sound of summer

2011-08-18T18:09:00.003+01:00

The above was adopted by my little daughters as the soundtrack to their holiday here in the Land of the free (my fault) so I dedicate this snappy little tune to my Utah family as a thanks for their efforts and as an explanation as to just what they sang over and over....sing along now!

We all love utah

2011-08-17T06:21:00.002+01:00

As we prepare to leave Utah it is pretty obvious from my two little daughters choice of hat and boots that Utah agrees with them....so here's to their cousins and next years visit.

I really love Utah

2011-08-16T00:04:00.006+01:00

The pic above shows just a selection of today's toys. A quick drive up the canyon from my sisters and I was doing what every true blooded Englishman has been shamefully denied these past few years. shooting guns of all kinds was once a sport available to all in England but now with some exceptions it is pretty much a thing of the past. Here however my 15 year old nephew was able to try out his new double barrel coach gun without anybody raising an eyebrow,no range, nobody lecturing, just some guys blowing things up....just as it should be. I got to try out my mk4 Lee Enfield (fantastic) and of the other weapons available .40 Glock was pretty decent with the .357 magnum a close second. As an education my nephews also provided a muzzle loading musket, fun but I'm bolt action or auto all the way. Now I just need to find a decent 5.56 or perhaps a Garrand to add to the lads collection...roll on our next session!

Home from home

2011-08-14T16:40:00.002+01:00

Family OTW are now safely ensconced with La serenissima and her large and recently expanded family. Utah seems an other worldly place to me and I always feel distant from troubles in the wider world, which for a short time is no bad thing. Tomorrow the lads and I plan a serious shooting session in one of the nearby canyons, a day to be ended with a meal of Buffalo steaks. As a dedicated carnivore the thought of a meal comprising of large juicy Buffalo steaks is worth the long desert drive alone....more meat!

Who cares

2011-08-12T15:43:00.003+01:00

Not a rioter to be seen this morning in the view from my Las Vegas hotel window. later today I'm getting some time in on a machine gun at a local range....you can never be too prepared!

White riot

2011-08-08T16:10:00.003+01:00

From several thousand miles away the troubles in London make me ashamed to be English as the media here reports the riots in terms reserved for places like Iraq and Afghanistan. One brief look at the pics associated with the troubles shows however that the troubles are the property of one group of people and one group only. I don't imagine the media or the politicians will dare to face the reality of the truth behind the trouble but I will...these people who burn our country do not share nor ever will they share our values...... They are NOT English....may they burn in hell.

Look up

2011-08-04T16:39:00.005+01:00

Whilst wandering around San Franciscos China town I like to see if I can see any remaining buildings of the pre 1906 earthquake city. The assorted women of the party amused themselves buying various bits of Chinese finery while I sat in the sun and indulged in my favourite pastime of building and people watching.....yes thats me, action packed.

All work no play

2011-08-01T19:07:00.004+01:00

As soon as the littlest princess OTW arrived at Vinogirls vineyard she donned her John Deere tool belt and got to work on a disabled tractor...nobody eats for free!

Hello Contra Costa

2011-07-27T01:15:00.004+01:00

The view of Mt Diablo from the window of the plane as we come in to land at SFO is always a cheering sight. The Swiss air flight was as efficient and comfortable as one would imagine the Swiss would provide and the journey to our home at the base of Mt Diablo accomplished courtesy of a crazed Indian with little trouble and maximum speed ( mind you we now all speak Hindi). As an Englishman I always feel guilty by the joy California elicits in me but what can I do?...sun,food,wine and good company is an unbeatable recipe for happiness....it's good to be back.

Off we go

2011-07-24T22:16:00.002+01:00

So its down tools and California here we come!!!!!!

Evening time

2011-07-23T20:30:00.003+01:00

As we pack for Mondays escape to a Californian summer, the view from my kitchen window this evening reminds me yet again that a summers evening in England is the equal of anywhere in the world...but consistency is what counts with me.

More bloody wood.

2011-07-21T14:01:00.003+01:00

What I hope will be pretty spectacular barge boards are starting to emerge from the bare boards, but I will only get so far on this job for now as I've had enough of this terrible summer...... so in a few days time its off to California for family OTW.

Bzzzzzzz!

2011-07-20T14:17:00.003+01:00

As can be seen from the pic some of today was spent standing back and...doing nothing! Whilst trying to get the next section of the house prepared we hit upon several very large wasp (yellow jacket) nests under the eaves. The resulting performance on the deck of the scaffolding was apparently a sight to behold with suitable accompanying language. Now we just have to wait awhile until the chemical warfare we have unleashed works its deadly magic and kills the horrible little sods....well at least its sunny today.

Head for hights

2011-07-19T09:39:00.003+01:00

The rather stormy weather this past week made getting the first of my treasured Gothic pots onto the stack a somewhat interesting operation. My neighbouring farmer offered to bucket them up on one of his machines but we eventually used the tried and trusted brute force and ignorance method...a favourite with the chaps and I. The result however is worth it with the pots combining with the ongoing external wood work to set the house off to its best advantage....a real case of onwards and upwards.

nothing changes

2011-07-18T09:50:00.004+01:00

As the media and the chattering classes obsess with the News Corporation death spiral the rest of us shrug and get on with the daily task of earning a living. Apparently the British people are incensed...really? The to-ings and fro-ings of incestuous journalists,cops and politicians is of only passing interest to many of us, we just want the corrupt punished and blame attached to the guilty. As for a root and branch reform of the media perhaps they could start with its biggest outlet, the BBC, a body that works against and betrays the British people every day.

Pointy things

2011-07-15T15:30:00.002+01:00

Princess OTW seems to think that my latest attempt at a finial is going to be part of a fairy castle I'm being bribed by smiles and kisses into making....she may be right as who could resist?

Variations on a theme 3

2011-07-14T20:06:00.007+01:00

Yet another set of barge boards and their accompanying finial can now be crossed of my 'to do 'list...thank goodness. Only nine more sets to go, nine much more complicated sets mind you.

Good hat and boots

2011-07-13T17:44:00.003+01:00

A house needs a good hat and boots, and today the roofers finished the new hat on the gate lodge. The Welsh slate looks very smart with its lozenge shaped ornamental courses and most importantly it's watertight. The brickies can hopefully start the stonework in the next few days so I can have a finished shell to work on when I return from America in September. The realisation that I have to start Autumn planning now is a bit of a shock though...what happened to our summer?

green fingers

2011-07-11T10:43:00.006+01:00

As I worked away at woodwork over the weekend, Monkey worked in the veggie patch and a bang up job he did!......it's just a pity I don't eat veggies unless you count pickled beetroot and spuds.

Limited ambitions

2011-07-10T12:48:00.003+01:00

Since it featured on the megamind soundtrack my 4 year old daughter has taken to singing the above song 'crazy train' on our morning school run ( a comment on my driving perhaps?). The artist featured 'ozzy' is not someone I would normally listen to but the track does feature some stunning guitar playing. Many years ago I earned my living as a musician although my guitar skills were of a much more simple kind, and playing like 'Randy Rhoads' would have been beyond me even at my best. For some reason entirely beyond me however, I have decided I'm going to learn how to play the featured tune with rather a lot of help from some clever chaps featured on youtube tutorials....Oh my poor family, it will end in tears no doubt.

Roundup

2011-07-07T11:54:00.002+01:00

It is always nice to get a helping hand but the littlest princess decided that rounding up her remuda was more important than helping dad....priorities and all that.

Up on the roof

2011-07-06T15:54:00.004+01:00

Whilst not the most eco minded of individuals I am aware of the ever increasing costs of energy ( a constant in our future) and so one of my future proofing solutions can be seen above. Evacuated tube solar heating is a reasonably efficient way of cutting fuel bills if a suitable roof is available and self installation is undertaken. I seem to have acres of slate roofing and so the panel has been positioned in the most efficient orientation with the added bonus of wind shelter and quite a reflective surrounding thermal mass, by tomorrow I'll know if it works!

4th of July

2011-07-04T09:13:00.003+01:00

To my American family,friends and readers....have a great day and enjoy all that today offers and means.

My little left footer

2011-07-03T20:24:00.005+01:00

As the date for the departure to our American home approaches, plans are being made for what is going to be a rather busy trip. The first event of our summer is the christening of my baby son in this church. The church is a small town church of no great import but it does have a great priest and we happily had the young lads two sisters christened there in the last few years. After the ceremony, our happy bunch of left footers will repair to one of the many local eateries to celebrate the happy event with a suitable feast and a couple of bottles of Napas finest wine....roll on summer in California.

Doodle do 3

2011-07-01T18:03:00.003+01:00

The finial is now ready for its final painting and looks pretty much as good as I had visualised and hoped. The basic design is taken from several surviving finials on Gothic style houses dotted around the Wirral so it should fit in well with the overall refurb of the house. It also looks a little like the Empire state building and being short of giant gorillas I substituted a pink thing to add excitement to my picture....I lead a very dull life!

Union blues

2011-06-30T09:43:00.004+01:00

In an ideal world we would all like to earn more and work less for our money and it seems our unions have decided that they wish to adhere to this fantasy world whatever may happen. We as a country/world are technically speaking financially buggered! as a combination of sharp banking practise, cheap credit and profligate government have lead us to the brink of insolvency. Those of us of a more conservative nature have watched with horror as people have lived as they say 'champagne lifestyles on lemonade money' with no thought to the inevitable hangover that follows such a binge. Whatever or whoever is responsible for our financial position is now of little consequence, we just have to adjust our lives to the new economic reality and hope to emerge at some future time as unscathed as possible. Working longer and for less with more responsibility for pension provision is something many of us have had to accept recently but it seems our hard left union leaders have decided that this is the rock they will stand and fight on to try and bring down the hated conservative govt ( I say conservative here with tongue in cheek). I can only hope that the majority of hard working people realise that we live now in a not so brave new world and the promises and dreams of yesterday mean nought as we try as a country and as individuals to find our place in the financial wasteland we have landed in....oh well onwards and upwards I hope.

Doodle doo 2

2011-06-28T12:46:00.003+01:00

My rather scrappy drawing of a couple of posts ago is starting to take physical shape and so far all seems well.....so fingers crossed.

Variations on a theme 2

2011-06-27T17:17:00.004+01:00

The last of the relatively easy and accessible barge boards was finished and mounted up a couple of days ago...now the high and difficult ones! The lime render on this elevation of the house is carbonating nicely so the silicate painting should be in hand sometime in the next couple of weeks and on and on.

Doodle do

2011-06-24T17:04:00.003+01:00

In the age of cad/cam, cnc cutting and routing I'm afraid some of us have been sadly left behind. I plan to start on the first of the roof finials next week and so a couple of minutes work with a pencil and a scrap of paper resulted in the above drawing. Now I'll be the first to admit that I can't draw for toffee but the chaps and I have always worked like this ( or from drawings on scrap wood) and we seem to end up with pleasing results so I'm happy continuing to doodle away.

Happy Birthday Princess

2011-06-21T22:58:00.004+01:00

Four years ago today my life changed irrevocably for the better, and now my little angel is the proud big sister to two other little uns....Happy Birthday to my pride and joy.

Neat and tidy

2011-06-21T18:53:00.004+01:00

Whilst the chaps and I worked away on the main house a trio of builder friends turned up to get the roof sorted on the gate lodge. A few hours later they knocked the last nail in, packed up their tools and were off while we soldiered slowly on with our respective jobs....I may sack myself and let the pros speedily finish the job!

Some things do change for the better

2011-06-19T17:06:00.006+01:00

Not so many years ago I would have spent today recovering from another very late night spent working security on the doors of Manchester and Liverpool's clublands, more often than not with cuts and bruises (or worse) to prove it.Today however is fathers day and I spent the day having fun with my growing band of little uns. The Princesses and I spent the morning gathering elderflower which then was mixed by my eldest (soon to be 4) daughter with lemons,water,sugar and citric acid. The resulting mess/concoction should when it finishes infusing be a refreshing elderflower cordial....beats taking a beating!

Cut backs

2011-06-16T11:05:00.002+01:00

In these dire economic times I have informed the chaps that tools are an unnecessary expense and from now on we all have to make sacrifices...it's a hard life indeed.

Variations on a theme.

2011-06-15T19:51:00.003+01:00

The second set of barge boards are now starting to take shape in what will eventually be my woodshop. The last few days has seen some dismal weather but the woodshop has a stable door so working away on the boards has been quite rewarding and almost cozy as the heavens seemed to open in the courtyard. The boards are a variation on the first set with just some extra moulding to be added to the bottom edge to add definition as this set will be set at a higher elevation than the last....bigger and much more ornate sets to follow if I can figure out how to make them!

Farewell Paddy

2011-06-11T14:37:00.001+01:00

A life well lived.

Wood stuff 4

2011-06-10T16:48:00.003+01:00

The first of the barge boards are now in place (albeit the smallest and easiest) and with some trim and finishing on Monday the job should turn out as I had planned...something that always comes as a surprise! All in all a pretty decent effort and effect all round.