solar power

I have previously posted pictures of the panels. Today, Jeff & Colin (pictured) from Solar Partner came to commission them - that means this afternoon we were using our own generated electricity.
The inverter (above) is in the loft and has lots of information showing how much electricity was generated over any period.
Today, an overcast afternoon, we were generating about 180 watts (see the panel below)

How we spend our time

When we began this project, we knew that Keith's skills would be the ones most used. Assembling the staircase, putting up the boards in all the rooms are jobs that use the skills he has learned over the years. Although this is by far the biggest and most difficult project, it is one where he "speaks the language"
So we knew that my role would be support, at all levels.
I do all the paperwork and keep track of the receipts & payments.
I make the phone calls, organise deliveries etc and liaise with the workers (of which more, below!)
As Keith puts the boards up, I go along, checking the screws, scraping off excess adhesive & smoothing down & filling. Having written about impact drivers, I have to say that the new Ryobi driver does fit in my hand very well:
Note for anyone who buys me presents: this is the ONLY time in my life that I am likely to be delighted by a power tool!!!!!

I make sure that we have tea, coffee, soup, biscuits & apples (many thanks to my aunt & uncle, Pat & Dorothy, for the pears & apples from their trees)
I run errands of all kinds: collecting Screwfix orders, picking up small items from local stores, as well as the usual food shopping. You will not be surprised to know that I have found local markets at Raunds & Thrapston, an excellent deli (Buntings) and I occasionally run to M&S food at the local service station.
I am supposed to be the labourer as well, but sometimes Keith has to manage without me, such as today when yet again the scaffolding firm waited a week to send someone along with the wrong information!
I do the washing-up in a bucket at the outside tap (camping has prepared me well!) which I quite like as passers-by stop to chat: Denford has proved a very friendly & welcoming place.

This week I spent longer than I would have liked bundling and grouping cables for the "smart home hub". They were already coded, but I had to group them by type & area & number; here they are finally:

This may look boring, to me it is beautiful! And when - if all goes well - our computer systems, TV & audio are all functioning, I shall remember the cables!

the staircase

Getting this in spread over 11 days, so we could have the help of 2 sons.
Keith & Neil took delivery on November 4th

And Keith got to grips with the instructions

Keith & Neil "offered up" the upper flight to check that it fitted


We took it down and glued it on November 5th, and then on the 6th, Neil came back to put it into place.
Edmund came to help on November 14th:
So the lower flight got into position:



The Keith prepared the half-landing:


And here it is on November 15th:

The main part is made of ash, and I spent November 16th covering it all up with protective wrap so that it doesn't get spoiled as we continue to work around it.
I am delighted to walk upstairs to our "office" for coffee or soup instead of clambering up a ladder.

the best news of all

Joseph Houghton Bright was born, safe & well on the 11th November
Congratulations to Katie & Duncan
and deepest thanks to birth attendant Hannah & midwife Tina
for the care that enabled this.

the 6 metre steel lintel

One of the most striking features of our house will be the glass doors that take up most of the back wall. A steel lintel has been specially made to go over them, and Tuesday's task was to get it into place. I was mercifully excused and allowed to take photos.

First of all, John, Ali, Keith & Matt took the lintel down the side of the house




Then it had to be swung round ( the top part of the fence had to be removed) so it stuck into the neighbouring garden (thanks to Peter & Sheila for their forbearance)


Ali leapt over the fence, and Keith walked round in order to manoevre it into position along the back wall


John tried to remember his Scouting knots:

The lintel was hauled upwards

And finally positioned:

As I write, the soldier course over the lintel has been completed, but I've not been able to take a picture yet.

PS: one of Derick's favourite mugs has found its niche:

soldiers & a waistband

It has been lovely to see the decorative work coming along.

John cuts the "soldier" bricks to size: these are the upright bricks that will go over the windows:

The first one goes in to position over the kitchen window:


And is checked with a spirit level:


I took the waistband design from a building in nearby Thrapston.


Tomorrow the staircase is delivered.