Stage one of the project is to increase the size of my patio area. Currently this is all I have, for sunbathing, and pots of veges, and drying washing, and drinking tea and reading the paper, and storing all the hard materials rescued from the last garden. Oh, and outdoor entertaining - which doesn't happen!
So we are going to extend it out to 5 metres from the house, and use all those rescued hard materials to make a lovely big new patio. We'll need to learn how to lay paving, but my wonderful neighbour has said he will tell us how. This is my university son and his friend being the 'diggers' - I could have got a digger in to do it all in a day or two, but the access to the garden is through a council park with a very steep hill, and it all got a bit difficult, and I came over all wussy and couldn't get to organise it. I keep these boys going with minimum wage and ginger beer.
After only a week they have progressed mightily. This is a combination of a thick layer of clay on the top, from the previous work, then top soil in places, and in others the stony base from a 100 year old path. They've been using a pick axe and spades, and plenty of sweat and grunt. Teenage boys are so awesome!
I'm starting to get the feel of how big the new patio will be. Big enough for the whole family and then some. I'll have to buy new outdoor furniture too, but not quite yet.
