Hagg Leys Farm

Page 42 of 67

Mistakes we almost made: Obscure glass in the family bathroom

July 21, 2013 /

Now the floors are in upstairs, it is possible to walk around and get more of a feel for how some of the rooms are going to work.  I thought it might be a good idea to mark out the partition walls upstairs on the floor in masking tape.  I wasn’t quite sure what this might achieve, but I thought it might further provide an insight into the rooms and what they might feel like.

When I stepped into the family bathroom upstairs, I realised that it has a great window at the far end.  The view is great – looking across the fields and Hagg Wood beyond.  This part of the building is not overlooked at all.  I thought about being able to have a bath and admire the view. 

Then it occurred to me!  This cannot happen as there is obscured glass being fitted in this window.  I had only specified the type of obscured glass earlier in the week.  The windows are due to be installed a week on Monday.

Anyway, a quick call to the joinery making the windows and the glass has been changed to clear.  If I hadn’t marked out the bathroom walls on the floor, I would never have realised.

Now the floors are in upstairs, we are mark out where the upstairs room are going to be. The masking tape marks out the family bathroom.

Now the floors are in upstairs, we are mark out where the upstairs room are going to be. The masking tape marks out the family bathroom.

With a view this good, why would you put obscure glass into the windows?

With a view this good, why would you put obscure glass into the windows?

Mowing the fields

July 21, 2013 /

Second mow of the season.  Each time the fields are mowed the quality of the grass seems to be improved.  It is a big job, but it only takes a couple of hours using a tractor and a topper.

 

The bottom field has quite a slope to it and the best way to mower it is straight up and down the slopes. If you try and mow the slopes sideways, you get the distinct impression that the tractor is going to topple over.

The bottom field has quite a slope to it and the best way to mow it is straight up and down the slopes. If you try and mow the slopes sideways, you get the distinct impression that the tractor is going to topple over.

Jo mowing the grass on the top field where it is nice and flat!

Jo mowing the grass on the top field where it is nice and flat!

Yup, it is a compact tractor. I haven't suddenly grown!

Yup, it is a compact tractor. I haven’t suddenly grown!

The rebuilt wall along Hagg Wood

July 21, 2013 /

After nearly three weeks of great weather, today it is a litte overcast. 

This is the view from the top field looking across the valley – even on an overcast day, it is a great view.

You can see the newly built wall along Hagg Wood (down to the gate with the large white bag).

You can see the newly built wall along Hagg Wood (down to the gate with the large white bag).

There are some missing coping stones, but the wall along Hagg Wood is now largely complete.

There are some missing coping stones, but the wall along Hagg Wood is now largely complete.

The cost of moving utilities: Electricity

July 21, 2013 /

One of the things that I missed when budgeting was the cost of moving some of the utilities.  While none of the amounts are showstoppers, they do start to add up.  And the fact that they haven’t been showstoppers is more down to luck than judgement.

So first electricity…….

There were two electric meters on the property.  One in each of the properties.  The meters belong to the electricity supplier (e.g. EDF, E.on, British Gas) and it is usually free to get a meter removed.  We removed the meter from number 8 and continue to use the meter in number 10 to power the cement mixer etc.

There was third – there was a meter in one of the outbuildings, but we have never had a bill for this one and we had it removed before knocking down the building.  I talked to the electricity board and no one seems to know who owns it. So now it languishes in the long grass in the back field.

The existing meter in number 10 needs to move to the new utility room, but unfortunately that will have to wait as it isn’t built yet.  I reckon we can move it around October/November time.  When it does move, we would like the cables put underground rather than being attached to the front of the property (which they are at the moment).

In addition to the changes to the single phase supply above, we also need to install a 3 phase supply.  This is to power the ground source heat pump.  We are fortunate that there is a three-phase supply on the pole right outside the property.  Again this needs to go to the new utility room (still not built) with a three-phase meter.  This should go in the same trench as single phase supply.

On the basis that we dig the trench and laying the duct to the utility room, the cost is £2,600 plus 5% VAT.  All of the work that relates to the change of supply is completed by Northern Power Grid.  Plus, of course, there is the cost of digging the trench. Once the order has been accepted, you are given an MPAN number that can then be given to the electricity provider of your choice who will install the meters (one for the single phase supply and one for the three-phase supply). I am currently shopping around for the best electricity provider.  More updates on this later.

The existing electricity supply comes in via overhead cables. The cables are then attached to the front of the house. The plan is that there will be put underground and brought round into the new extension. The yellow sheaths are to protect the guys working on the scaffolding.

The existing electricity supply comes in via overhead cables. The cables are then attached to the front of the house. The plan is that there will be put underground and brought round into the new extension. The yellow sheaths are to protect the guys working on the scaffolding.

Home automation: Too many choices

July 20, 2013 /

I am feeling pretty overwhelmed by the number of choices in technology for home automation.  Just take a look at this page which provides a list of the main options – http://www.automatedhome.co.uk/home-automation-technology-choices

Given that I am a geek, I do wonder how members of the public manage.  I think the answer is that they don’t.  This might explain why this technology isn’t really mainstream yet.  Even I have had moments where I have wondered if this home automation stuff should really be put in the “too hard” box for now.

There are a number of solutions around that seem to proprietary or “turn key” – why would anyone want to buy a system for flexibility and then have to go back to the installer every time that they want to make a change?

From what  I can make out there seem to be two choices that might work for us:

  • Loxone: (www.loxone.co.uk) This is central server based solution connecting to KNX based devices.  (Thanks to the pointer from Chris Hampele)
  • Fibaro Home Centre 2: (www.fibaro.co.uk) Similar to Loxone, but based on using Z wave devices.

Next step is to find some time to look into this further.  I am under pressure to get the first fix wiring sorted.  However, the wiring seems to be fairly standard and the kit can be fitted lated to the server.

More of the barn being demolished

July 20, 2013 /

In the hot weather, the builders carried on demolishing the barn.  With the temperatures reaching 30C, this was a horrible and dusty job.

The stone on the front of the barn is going to be re-used. It is pretty black from 200 years of soot and grime. The new extension will need to be sandblasted when finished/

The stone on the front of the barn is going to be re-used. It is pretty black from 200 years of soot and grime. The new extension will need to be sandblasted when finished/

Despite the hot weather, the barn is almost gone.

Despite the hot weather, the barn is almost gone.

Finishing off the corner of the wall along Hagg Wood

July 20, 2013 /

Although much of the day today was taken up with briefing a kitchen designer (I have high hopes!!), I did manage to spend a couple of hours on the dry stone wall along Hagg Wood today.  The corner of the wall is not in the best of shapes.  While I have managed to get away with just repairing the top 2-3 courses, this part of the wall needs to be rebuilt. While some of the wall has a bit of a “wiggle”, this part of the wall is just lost to the under growth.

I have tried to keep the amount of rebuilding to a minimum and concentrate more on “repairing”.  But with the corner, I have no choice.  Yesterday, I spent some time digging out this part of the wall.  Today will be spent rebuilding a 4m section.  This is in comparison to spending a day repairing a wall when I can do 10-15m in a day.

The yellow string shows where the wall should be. Mmm...there is a bit of work to do here.

The yellow string shows where the wall should be. Mmm…there is a bit of work to do here.

There is little option but to dissamble the corner of the wall and re-building. I tried to keep the amount of rebuilding to a minimum, but it had to be done.

There is little option but to dissamble the corner of the wall and re-building. I tried to keep the amount of rebuilding to a minimum, but it had to be done.

At least it is now straight. It is amazing how much stone goes into the wall when it is rebuilt.

At least it is now straight. It is amazing how much stone goes into the wall when it is rebuilt.

I have to admit that I did take the coping stones off and had a second go as the first attempt had a bit of a "wave" in it. This is not perfect, but better.

I have to admit that I did take the coping stones off and had a second go as the first attempt had a bit of a “wave” in it. This is not perfect, but better.

Demolishing the barn

July 18, 2013 /

Much of the stone from the barn is going to be used to build the new extension, so it is being taken down very careful (well, as carefully as 200-year-old walls will allow).  This is the start of Phase 2.  We are going on with the demolition work and possibly the concrete floor base while the architects are finalising the design details.

With the temperature touching 30C, this is hot and dirty work.  Which is why I am building the dry stone wall in the bottom field!

This is where the kitchen is going to be. Can you see it yet?

This is where the kitchen is going to be. Can you see it yet?

The barn is being taken down very carefully as we intend to re-use as much of this stone as possible when building the new extension.

The barn is being taken down very carefully as we intend to re-use as much of this stone as possible when building the new extension.

Zep on "Pasty Patrol". No luck today. Better luck tomorrow.

Zep on “Pasty Patrol”. No luck today. Better luck tomorrow.

Life in the polytunnel

July 18, 2013 /

We started planting out in the polytunnel at the end of May and now things are starting to spring into life. 

In the current weather, I leave both of the end doors open during the day.  If nothing else, it lets the bees in to pollinate the flowers.  However, the heat in there is pretty unbearable.  I tend to water it twice a day.

Nowhere near to be red yet, but it is a start!

Tomatoes. Nowhere near to be red yet, but it is a start!

Starting to look more like a marrow. Not my favourite vegetable.

Courgette. Starting to look more like a marrow. Not my favourite vegetable.

5 out of 6 have survived. The caterpillars had the 6th.

Cabbage. 5 out of 6 have survived. The caterpillars had the 6th.

Things seem to be surviving in the polytunnel - even flowers!

Pansies and stuff. Things seem to be surviving in the polytunnel – even flowers!

These plants have started to take over the place. There are some parsnips under there, but I haven't seen them for a while!

Potatoes. These plants have started to take over the place. There are some parsnips under there, but I haven’t seen them for a while!

Four sunflowers grown from seed. These need potting on (again) as the root are well out of these pots.

Four sunflowers grown from seed. These need potting on (again) as the roots are well out of these pots.

Dry stone walling – the wall along Hagg Wood

July 18, 2013 /

I have been working on the wall that lines Hagg Wood today.  Down in the bottom corner by the gate.  Unfortunately, this wall is in pretty bad shape and the small wall that backs onto the road is pretty precarious.

It took me a while to trim back all of the holly just to be able to get to the road.  The soil is much higher here, but a bit of investigation with a pick axe revealed that it was a pile of stones – presumably fallen off the wall – rather than soil.  You can see from the picture below that there was a lot of stone hidden under the grass.  Clearing the holly and finding the stones took most of the day.  The heat (around 30C) was pretty intense and even in the shade it was hard work.

I spent an hour or so at the end of the day and rebuilt the top section on the smaller wall that runs along the road.  Although it still bows a bit, it is a lot more solid than before. I did look back through my archive photos and managed to find a picture of the wall before I “fiddled” with it!

There is a little more to dig out tomorrow and then hopefully I can finish this bottom section of wall and move up to the other end of the bottom field.

The wall is in pretty bad shape here, but most of the stone seemed to be buried in the grass!

The wall is in pretty bad shape here, but most of the stone seemed to be buried in the grass!

Apparently, Lurchers don't do dry stone walling. That is for Jack Russells!

Apparently, Lurchers don’t do dry stone walling. That is for Jack Russells!

This section of wall was looking pretty precarious. There is still a bit of a bow in it, but the large dodgey stones on the top have been sorted out. Note to self: Make sure you put your steel toe cap boots on before playing with a wall in this state.

This section of wall was looking pretty precarious. There is still a bit of a bow in it, but the large dodgey stones on the top have been sorted out. Note to self: Make sure you put your steel toe cap boots on before playing with a wall in this state.

I managed to find this photo in my archive and it shows what the wall used to look like.

I managed to find this photo in my archive and it shows what the wall used to look like.

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