I may be a bit naive, but the late Richard Wright's song; "Wearing the inside out" on the Pink Floyd album; "Division Bell" is perhaps rather pertinent at the moment?
It seems to be taking an age to recover from my treatment, and whilst I am assured by the professionals that the cancer
has been "cured", I am yet to be convinced that some of the unspeakably horrible side effects might not be permanent. None of this is doing my mental health much good, so I'm sorry to have been a bit distant lately... but I think I am "coming around" a bit more now?
Getting the vitally important "engine shed" built this summer had become something of a millstone, but with Mrs. I's constant encouragement, plus the magnificent efforts of Messrs O. and G., I am glad to be able to report on some significant progress:
The primary task of turning the shed by ninety degrees, and shifting it a few feet westwards onto the new plinth, to abut the "goods shed" as originally intended, was completed surprisingly painlessly... and at some speed!
I had assumed that the next, and slightly more complex stage would not commence for a while, but having done a drawing of the proposed layout, it then became a case of taking advantage of opportunities arising!
Due to the need to keep the track level entry into the shed as low as possible, and the problem of drainage on the sloping ground caused me some concern. The obvious solution, and first choice would have been to build a retaining wall along the boundary, but then I became worried that over time, soil, leaves and other moisture retaining debris could build up in the narrow gap, so I then decided to make the wall part of the main structure.
We already had some leftover cement and plenty of hard concrete blocks available, so it only required a bag of clean sand to get cracking!
I am aware that the wall will impinge on the floor space slightly... but there will still be sufficient loading gauge for two roads eventually.
Yesterday, the masonry seemed sufficiently set... so the champion Mr O. and self set to by removing the back wall:
The internal height in the rolling stock area doesn't need to be particularly high, so the combination of a raised base and continuous roof pitch meant that we had to reduce and modify the salvaged end wall. It turned out to be quite a task, thanks to the manufacturer's use of those dreaded ring shank nails!
We managed between us in the end though:
I am guilty of interfering by wielding a measuring stick once too often... leading to a bit of prize bodgery!
Hopefully, any dodgy bits will ultimately be strengthened - as well as completely hidden - when it is all lined with Sterling board?!
Pete.
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