Summer Decking & Wet New Year!!

Hello and a happy New Year to you all...

Last blog we were back in July working hard on the beginnings of the new deck, hopefully in this blog we should finish the deck and get ready for the next project!

As it was nearly Christmas I posted some pictures of the snow which for us was a real treat and yes we did have a white Christmas!!....

To welcome you to the new year and before we go backwards once again into 2010 here are some pictures which I snapped on my phone on the way home from work today....it ain't snow!...

Above and Below...this is a small drain not too far from my house, these fields actually border the countryside behind the house!...looks like 2011 might be wet...bring back the snow!!

Right then enough of all that and back to the real business of gardening, in this instance the continuation of the raised deck...so lets go back to a very hot and sunny July 2010 and see if I managed to complete the deck...

With all the boards fixed down to the batons on the raised patio next job was to fix the step runners onto the front posts of the raised frame. I ran a piece of strong timber across the front of these posts and then screwed the runners into place fixing them to the posts and the timber for extra support. Notice that the deck will sit level with the top of the pond helping to give the feeling that they are both part of the same structure!...

Once all the boards were screwed securely in place I completed the fronts of the steps by using a cut down deck board. To stop the steps feeling to 'boxy' you can see that I left a gap between each step. By doing this and leaving the underneath of the raised deck area open it should act as a deterrent to any vermin who might be thinking of taking up residence under here!.... 

Last job was to make and fix the railings in place. Each newel post required careful 'slimming' with a chain saw to ensure a good snug fit into it's metal shoe which helps to prevent it from moving when leaned on! Also to get the perspective right every single rail (about 80) had to be cut down to size before being fixed between the base and hand rails, these were made up in the shed and then screwed into place. Amazingly every single one fitted!!...

A look back at the deck shows it sitting level to the top of the pond and the use of wood for both structures complement each other nicely I think (the green plants in the foreground are actually horsetail which is an extremely hardy, invasive and persistent weed which will require completely digging out..ouch!)....

A good time to take stock and look at where we are at this stage. this picture was taken from the sleeper bridge on 1st September looking back towards the house, it shows the garden beginning to take shape and where the project is after about 5 months work!


Now that the pond is complete and the deck is finished I'm sure you're all thinking that there isn't much else to do?...How wrong can you be!...I've got lots more ideas and plans and after all it's only the beginning of September so plenty of time to start a few more projects!...

Next time...What the hell am I going to do here????!!??...

To find out what happens to this disused junk yard tune in next time...You might be surprised!!! 


Quickly before I sign off it wouldn't be right not to mention our feathered friends who I have been keeping well fed through this harsh and unpredictable winter of ours...They have rewarded me with giving me some great photo opportunities and I have seen so many more species this year compared to others. Two new species this month (Jan 2011) have been a Tree Creeper and a Brambling which I haven't had the pleasure of seeing before.
I will finally leave you with a recent capture of a greedy crow in flight...

'Greedy Crow' shot by hand at a rang of about 100feet and amazingly taken through a double glazed window!...


See you all next time...