Week 14 - (Phase 2) June 3rd

June 3rd.

Lost the last of my workforce today, so this is totally a one man outfit now as Ben's gone to Reading for a couple of weeks. Blazing hot today again. Spent a lot of the day putting gravel back in the hole as I'd gone too far. I needed to get the base level so that it matched the others on the other side of the steps.

After a few attempts I got the base where I wanted it and then got on with the filling. I almost made the mistake of filling it behind the black fabric with rubble and then realised that the side of the gabion would be visible from the steps, so I needed to put the cobbles along the side as well as the front. As before I had too much big rubble and not enough small stuff - stones and small rocks, concrete bits of brick etc. 

Above; This is the starting point this morning, the Gabion at this point is too low and the base needs to be filled, having dug all the dirt out.

This is the rubble I will be using to fill the Gabion.

Above; The Cobbles starting to be placed in carefully stone by stone.

Above; This shot show the Cobbles along the step side as well as the ones at the front. When the steps are made, the sides of the Gabions will be visible, so the stones need to be aesthetically pleasing. Unfortunately the other side isn't the same, so, I'm going to have to empty and re-fill the Gabion so it's the same that side.

View from the door. 

End of the day shot showing the progress. (Above). 

Tomorrow's going to be a bit of a day of rest as I'm playing cricket on Saturday, but in between cricket and over Sunday I'll hopefully get the top portion of the Gabion made and filled, meaning Phase 3 can start (The steps).

Looking at the steps today I reckon it's going to be at least another 3 + 1 tonne bags of earth coming out. I've found a place I'm going to buy the sleepers from, but I'm not going to advertise them because of the comments on their website regarding people who live in council houses. But the place is nearby and I'm going to buy them 2-4 at a time and transport them using my car. The last thing I want to do is give them more money for a delivery.

Thinking today, I reckon I'm going to work on the steps one at a time, but I need to think about how I'm going to construct them as there's some issues. I can't find any guidance or videos relating to making Gabion steps. 

Valders