Laying blocks in the wet

I do not think it is advised, to lay blockwork in the sleet but I have a hunch that there is no severe cold spell on the horizon that could ruin a newly laid wall. Jordan and I busied ourselves building the blockwork foundations for the new barn. Poor Jordan had cold feet all day and the grey wet damp conditions did little to lift the spirits. You cannot see much in the attached photo as everything is covered from the rain and forecast snow. Imagine however, the sunshine and some grass where you see rain and mud!

Demolition day

The poor field is now in a real state with enormous matbro tyre marks as I moved lots of marble blocks and scrap wood out there. The whole barn has disappeared as Jordan and I smashed it up. I contacted a scrap dealer who is taking the corrugated sheets away tomorrow. They are all stacked up in a mangled heap. The forks on the matbro helped enormously with the destruction and the ripping off of the old tin sheets. Although the matbro does a quick job it is completely brutal. My neighbour is coming down tomorrow to help landscape the ground and to dig the trenches for the foundations. He is retired but likes a job like this from time to time.

Pulling down the barn

Jordan came today to start work on the demolition of the old pole barn next to where I work. Jordan is 19, full of energy and enthusiasm and great to have around. The old barn is, or rather was, very decrepit with an alarming lean to the south. It has looked as if the first gale would bring it down for at least ten years. The old barn survived all that the weather could throw at it; out of habit perhaps. Today however we gave it a pull with the Matbro and she sank to her knees. Jordan will be back tomorrow to dismantle it and clear the site ready for its replacement. I had a short day on the sculpture as a good deal of time was spent getting Jordan going. The sculpture looks good, particularly from the front. It would be good to feel that it works well all around but it is not the case.