The Three R's

Our Ten Year Plan to have a magnificent patio and garden at the back of the house is slowly reaching fruition. It began PD (pre digital), so I've no photos to hand to show the initial digging out. After a quick levelling and scattering of gravel, we enjoyed being able to sit out in the evening sun and decided to make a "proper job" of it.

Drains were laid, electricity cables were laid (just in case). And the ground left to settle. Now this seemed to be a euphemism for leaving the next phase until next year. But eventually work began again on what was now just a weedy patch of earth.

More levelling and a retaining wall, artistically curved round the corner, and we (or rather Henry) were ready to lay the paving blocks.

The blocks were laid over all the main patio, and once again work was put on hold as the evenings became too short to work after milking.

By Easter 2007 we were ready to get the new table and chairs out of storage and drink a toast to many family parties outside in the sun.

A few pots of flowers provided an instant garden, and for a few days it was even hot enough the justify the parasol.

We were probably going to do Phase 2 (the path round the house) in the same leisurely time scale, but a suggestion that we have our Granddaughter's Christening Party at Strickley in June served to concentrate the mind and we (ie Henry) have been working every night to level the ground, remove the old rickety steps up to the paddock, build more wall, lay more blocks and build our very own Grand Design - the new steps.

"The Three R's"?

Reduce - Recycle - Re-use

Or as farmers and hoarders say "Don't throw anything away - it may come in useful". All the stones for the wall, the flags for the steps etc were from Strickley and the paving stones were taken up from someone else's drive. And even the small low window in the picture above has been been recycled (admittedly a long time ago - it was a mullion window in the long since demolished wing of Bleaze Hall). Now all we need to find is an old gate to put at the top of the steps to keep stock in the paddock, and get ready to enjoy sitting around doing nothing!