We are building a deck

We decided to build a deck - I have wanted one for years, but the need became more apparent when we double glazed the house and put in bi folding doors.  Opening the doors and stepping down a metre and then up a metre to the grass was a bit hard with cups of tea and a plate of goodies.  So, here are the photos of our efforts - thanks to Nylan who lent a hand with the kango hammer and with Matt the builder.

Week One - beginning the spade work

Week Two - thinking about buying a wheelbarrow.  Tabby enjoyed the company, the birds enjoyed the slugs and worms, we just came home every night and dug and shifted dirt.

Week Three - It is beginning to take shape - well in our minds anyway ... and an ingenious way to get rid of the deck and bricks - use them as a retaining wall and flatten out the lawn. 

Week Four - there is no going back now - help is at hand (Nylan, Rebecca and Blake) and a power tool

Week five - and then rains came - Matt hand dug the holes for the piles - it took a few days for the water to go away.  I laid weed mat and used some of the stones to hold it down - this was my attempt to try and stop weeds from growing up through the decking - I have this nightmare of trying to pull them out with no luck!!

We came home every night to developments.  Occasionally we saw Matt and his dog - but often we just knew he had been there.  Note our new wheel barrow - $25 from Mitre 10.  Funny story - Harry bought it but when we went to assemble it found he didn't have the handles.  I went back to Mitre 10 asking for them and boy did I make fun of a husband who had forgotten the handles. Funny, the female staff saw the funny side but I just got very cold stares from the men.  Our first dirt (with some heavy stones thrown in) broke the bottom of the barrow - but with a piece of wood covering the hole up the barrow has lasted the distance and is still useful today (to grow cactus's in).

 And we painted the fence - right round the property.  But at the back - what a mission.  There is a concrete wall behind the fence and there is a "wandering willy" growing behind the fence and the wall.  It just wouldn't go away, even with spending a weekend cleaning between it.  So, we eventually came up with the solution, more wood on the fence to hide the gaps, and more strengthening around the sides as it was happily moving in a strong southerly.  Our solution worked - the wandering willy will have to grow a couple of metres before I ever see it again.

 And here it is - we have enjoyed this summer.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner outside - doors open makes me feel I am in Europe.  All I need is a lounger - next year perhaps!!