David Bellamy R.I.P.

The only real certainty in life is death.  We all know that but just now and then someone dies who is well known and whose death comes as a particular shock,  One such was naturalist, broadcaster and larger-than-life character David Bellamy.

Perhaps a strange thing to post here but hey, it's my Blog, I can post what I want within reason and I think DB would have approved.  The BBC sacked him when he cast doubt on global warming.

I just love this story among hundreds that have appeared on social media since his death, some poking fun at his hugely individual style of delivery.   He is said to have been driving on the A1 and was tuned in to BBC Radio Lincolnshire.  Much to his amusement he found himself listening to a phone-in competition to find the best David Bellamy sound-alike.  Using an assumed name he rang in to try his luck.  He came third.

Massive Delivery of Plasterboard and Plaster

Much of today has been spent finishing off the outsides of the windows to get the frames fully waterproofed and parts of the floor sealed tight against the tower external wall.

We also took delivery of a vast weight of plasterboard, skilfully craned onto one of the concrete pads that will take part of the mass of the stairway.  All is safely gathered in to the dry building.

Stair builders John and Shane paid a final measure-up visit this morning to see how long the staircase supporting legs needed to be.  The staircase and platforms have already been built.  Handrails still to complete, then off to the galvanisers on Friday with a view to fitting next week.

Doorways Boarded and Plasterboard on its Way

Now that we are fully windowed and the place is becoming gradually airtight this morning was one for talk about plaster-boarding and plastering.   Builders Hopleys have a slight lull before their next big job so they can drop straight onto our internal walls.  Indeed the plasterboard arrives tomorrow!

We had to wait to be sure we could ventilate, heat and dehumidify before the plastering stage started.

Through many projects now I have come to appreciate that builders, and other trades cannot be in two places at once so opportunities like this are most welcome.

I have also learnt that builders are inventive people well used to problem solving. They need two essential creature comforts as well - tea and a loud radio.  Unfortunately our tower provides a massive metal and stone shield that gets in the way of good radio reception.   But where there's a will there's a way:

I wonder if the radio station being picked up is Builder's Band?

All Windows In and Stairs Next Week

Busy day today with visits from Building Inspector Bob Morris and architect Stuart Green.  Both were highly satisfied with what they saw and had good advice for the next stages of construction.

The last of the seven windows are now installed - and most welcome after Storm Atiyah over the weekend blew a good deal of rain in from the south and west.

Here if the south end from the inside.  Window number seven is still a big hole in the wall to the right:

The mop and bucket towards the left tell their own story after the weekend.

And here is a closer view of the kitchen windows:

An here are the completed windows from the outside:

The entrance door is still boarded awaiting delivery of the external doors.  Good news though from stairs maker John Robb who is confident of being able to install the stairway next week, subject to how busy his galvanisers are.

Next inside job is wall boarding and plastering.

Three Windows In Already

Here is the first window fitted this morning.  Fitted like a glove too.  Slightly tricky because of the the need to cut and drill steel angle irons all round each opening, mainly because of the eventual rain-screen aluminium panels the go on the outsides of the walls.  The external cills project for 80mm so that they shed rainwater well clear of the eventual 70mm cladding.

It looks a bit odd at this stage because of the protective white tape on the vulnerable grey surfaces.

All windows will be fitted by the end of Monday.   The doors are under way, after which we shall be fully airtight.  Then we can get on with plaster-boarding and plastering.

Below are joiners Trevor, left, and Jamie fitting the top pane of bedroom 2's window.  The lower pane is an opener for building regulations fire escape purposes.

Narrating Gigs - a New Career?

Not quite sure how but I got 'volunteered' to be the narrator for the first public performance of a new CD entitled 'Lives on the Line' by singer-songwriter Karin Grandal-Park at the Victoria Hall in Settle.  It was part of the hugely successful annual Settle Folk Festival.  The main catalyst for the event is one of Settle's famous residents, Mike Harding.

The gig (see, I am falling into the jargon) has since been repeated twice and I seem to have got myself a job.  Last evening the third such gig was in Saltaire at the home of (coincidentally) long time friends of ours Chris and Nigel Schofield.  And a right good do it was too - with a cosy audience of just 22 - plus Karin and three super musicians.

Settle is hugely lucky to have such top class talent of people glad to do sessions at local watering holes for all to enjoy - not least the performers.  Here is a video of Mike Harding and Karin Grandal-Park doing their thing at Settle's Golden Lion;

https://www.facebook.com/VisitSettle/videos/1891391147547992/

Flying Visit from Scotsman

During the last two days the lads from Blok Build CNC who actually built the floor and walls of our extension did the finishing touches.   They were rewarded for their labours by a surprise visit through Settle of Flying Scotsman en route from Manchester to Carlisle.

These three fine pictures appeared soon afterwards on the Visit Settle Facebook website:

Interesting to compare the picture above with that below.  Notice that the black smoke starting to blast out of the chimney is a great deal bigger in picture 2 below, a split second later.   The momentary black puff of smoke indicates that a shovelful of coal has gone into the firebox.   Northbound at Settle it is a 1:100 uphill gradient - hard work for firemen.

Our three Blok Build heroes insisted on viewing from the over-bridge despite my advice that they risked being kippered in smoke.  You can just see one of their heads in picture #1!