Colds all round

No project progress over the festive period, which is a real shame. Just managed to knock down the wee squinty shed and pile it all up when Christmas, and then a nasty cold struck. First I was feeling awful, then it hit Holly (poor wee thing) and finally (and inevitably) Bridget has been struck. Hopefully we'll be clear of it by the new year.

Baby Holly Rhodes has arrived!

Sunny Day, Fergie Fun

Thanks to Rambo I got the new HT leads on the Grey Fergie and had it fired up and lapping the garden again.

Also you'll see from this photo had another big load of logs delivered so I'd best get stacking. However, another fantastic project has cropped up - wee Holly Rhodes was born. I'll post some photos shortly!

Other Woodstore

Heres my other big woodstore - that has now been emptied to fill up the one that is part of the new shed. Hopefully we'll get this one filled up at the weekend if the log man comes and delivers a nice big batch.

I built this one in the summer and its not quite right. It could do with a bigger roof, also i'd like to slate it, but it was just built with what was lying around.

The nice thing about it is that it uses the weight of the logs to hold it to the wall, no fixings. it has two feet at the front then it kind of leans against the wall.

Mental note: keep an eye on it if it gets windy this week - it doesnt have many logs left on it!

Log Storage Progress

It was freezing cold this weekend. I did manage to get an hour or so out in the garden, and built the wee log store along the driveway so we can order another batch of firewood. I managed to build it without buying anything - just from stuff lying around.

Its basically 3 end panels left over from our kitchen, all screwed onto laths, then felted, with additional laths to sandwich the felt in place top and bottom (folded round). I found some old hinges, so its kind of hinged from the fence to allow improved access, and it can be let down so it hangs against the fence taking up less space if required.

More Snow, More Tractor fun

No project progress really.  But here's a photo of me on my tractor doing laps of the garden this morning.

PTO & Hydraulics working

Not a very productive day from a project point of view, but it was great to wake up to 3 inches of snow this morning.  It was good to take the fergie for a few laps of the garden, see how it handles the snow - excellently it turned out.  Even with its rubbish tyres it was just like driving in the dry, no skidding at all.

While I had it up and running I decided to spend a while playing with the various levers.  I had spent a while this week researching the workings of the PTO and hydraulics and figured out that the lever to the left of the seat should engage the PTO.  I was hopeful that the pump that runs the hydraulics was also tied into the same engagement.  Turned out it was, and once i'd got it switched on, the hydraulics were pretty good.  I think I need a wee cap for my PTO, looks a bit vulnerable open to the elements as it is.

I also got a nice trailer for free from my brother today - it was a great day to learn to drive a trailer for the first time ever - snow and ice everywhere.  hopefully get a towball system for the tractor made up by a smiddy.

Wintry excitement

welcome to my projects

I Do Love a Project.

Right now I have quite a few going on.

1. Forthcoming fatherhood - some might say the greatest project of all. the more negative may warn that this could also be the death of my projects. my thinking is more in line with the first statement.

2. Fergie Tractor - bought this earlier in the month and loving it. I love the tractor a lot, obviously. But I'm also fascinated by the responses it invokes in people. Not only the confusion, but also the most unlikely tractorphiles that I'd have down as doubters, and vice versa.

3. My Shed - in the closing stages, I am already missing working on my shed. its been great fun not only to build, but to realise that you really can just go out and get some wood and then build something that was just a scribble on a piece of paper before. I love that about a project.

4. My Garage - a biggy this one. got it through planning already, i thought that would be the biggest hurdle, and i guess it has been tough. next up is building regs, could be a challenge. hoping to start actually building in spring 2009.

5. 2cv - feeling increasingly guilty about this one. needs finished off, but i need my garage (#4) to really do it in. painting and the like shouldnt be attempted in a muddy garden.

theres just a few of the clearest cut projects. theres always a handful of sub-projects that come about on a saturday morning from nowhere and mean the biggies dont get a look in. such is the nature of the beast.