With Steve continuing his window frame making, and still waiting on the straw to start cobbing, we decided that I should start preparing some of the large cracks for filling – there is always something to do! This took a few days but I think I have removed as much loose cob and stones as possible. Steve’s latest window frame is for the kitchen area where there is yet to be a hole – I hope I don’t get the job of removing the cob for that, although it does seem to be doing wonders for my bingo wings!!
As it looks like our circumstances are changing – the boat is in the process of being sold – Steve decided that his next priority was to get a door on the store/shed at the end of the garage (we had removed the existing one to allow a new frame to be fitted, and it was not in a fit state for refitting). Not sure if we are planning on using it as a bedroom now – although I don’t think I could possibly share the space with the numerous spiders currently calling it home! Once again, out came his trusty chainsaw and he has made a beautiful cherry plank door reusing the original fixings.
After desperately looking out for the farmer whilst cycling back and forth, I finally plucked up the courage and called into the farm to discuss straw prices and delivery options. As it turned out I wasn’t around on the day the farmer chose to deliver. Steve reckons he coped admirably with the language and the straw was delivered over the hedge from the field and rolled into position – we had decided on two bales but I think that may have been a mistake now, although it looks like we will have plenty of bedding for animals if and when we finally get some!!
Under normal circumstances, making cob from raw materials you would mix clay, sand, straw and water. However, as we discovered whilst making the mortar, reusing the original cob structure which we had removed, provided us with our best option and it recycles rather than making new. As we want to get fit we have decided that the ‘by hand method’ is our preferred choice (which may not suit some!). Steve starts out by breaking up the existing cob into manageable sizes and then shovels about 8 shovelfuls of the dry mixture onto a wooden board. If there are any biggish bits left, out comes the sledgehammer! Mixing on the board helps as it makes it easier to get your shovel under the dry mix to turn it when adding water. We are still playing with what is the best consistency! Then, over to me!! Having purchased a ground sheet (hopefully slightly better quality than a tarpaulin), a small layer of straw is placed on, Steve then chucks his wet mix on top, I add more straw and then (for some reason) I get the job of stomping. Traditionally this is done barefoot, but being of sensitive feet and knowing there are some very spiky plants and small stones hiding in our original cob I decided that I wouldn’t do it that way and chose to wear my sailing wellies – not too deep a tread and they will protect my ankles from any rising mud! It was quite fun to do, although I had to hold my overall legs up. (I now wear my kneepads which keeps my trouser legs up enough!!) Once we were happy with the distribution of straw and the stickiness it was time to place our first piece of new cob. The garage building was the lucky recipient. After wetting the existing cob with our 3 euro spray gun it was time to push, tamp, squash, squeeze and generally manipulate the cob into every nook, cranny and crevice. For some reason it looks as though I have got the jobs of stomping and pushing as I am the one with dirty boots and dirty gloves – I don’t mind really, it’s a lot of fun!! Even now, with Alex a welcome visitor and willing helper, I still have the same roles. I even had a day there alone where I did all roles myself and made and fitted three batches while Steve and Alex were busy at the boat with the potential buyers and their surveyor. We have decided that five batches per day is our target, we start getting aches and pains after that and don’t want to overdo it!! Steve does have an additional little role where he trundles off with a bucket and our Prawn Star pot in the wheelbarrow to collect water from the stream to supplement our rainwater catch.
One morning on arrival, Steve noticed a low-loader in the field next to us and a JCB next to our house! What’s going on here, he wondered. Turns out that they were digging up the road to lay a big black cable from our property to the road junction and fitting an electrical box! One step closer to having some utilities! So by this time next year we might have electricity connected!!! (Subject to us installing a consumer unit and filling in the required forms correctly!) We definitely have the right forms for this job as the previous owner provided them to us!
Fate Or Folly 