Jack the Eel catcher called by on his punt to retrieve the carpenters hammer from the boat-dyke
Jack the Eel catcher called by on his punt to retrieve the carpenters hammer from the boat-dyke

More stud-work and posts erected on a much brighter day but little sun and ideal for working as my groundwork progresses with much gravel and mud-shifting. I erected fences and the site is transformed.

We have been intrigued by the wildlife, with the workers feeding the moorhens and a tame vole fascinating Della but the wood wasps terrify Dave the carpenter.

Jack the Eel catcher called by on his punt to retrieve the carpenters hammer from the boat-dyke with his long metal rake.

Another early morning, rising at 6.00am and managing a little of my journal before going out in good time to greet the builders. I continued the gravel and mud shifting today, completing the section in front of the garage and also that right next to the new boat-shed. I propped a couple of fence panels between Heronshaw and the garage to block the view to the lower land behind it and the effect was quite dramatic with the fact of our raising the land now being completely hidden. The builders erected the rest of the posts in the enclosed area and then more of the stud walls, forming actual openings for the doors and windows. The new building is very definitely starting to take shape.

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I went out and bought the next batch of nuts, bolts and washers from Beardshaws for the structural support of the boat-shed and settled for threaded zinc-plated studding again so that we could form our own lengths to suit. Jack drilled some holes in plates for us and Gilly is welding them to lengths of studding for the cross braces and so we are getting on very well. Whilst we have been working, we have been intrigued by the wildlife. The moorhens keep up constant progress across the plot between the drainage and navigation dykes and the workmen feed them portions of their sandwiches.

There has been a very tame vole or door-mouse making forays across the lawn that Della was fascinated with and keeps me company. There is also a strange breed of very large "wood-wasp" that comes in numbers as the timbers are being cut and their huge size terrifies the carpenter. We had a visit from Jack the Eel-catcher today at Gilly's request to retrieve the carpenters hammer from the boat-dyke with his long metal rake. He arrived by punt and goes everywhere by this means of transport which I thought was a real piece of local history.

News from home has Della gaining three Brownie badges and Debbie enjoying her first day at Paxton Lakes where she was canoeing and sailing. A much brighter day but little sun and ideal for working but I was glad to hear that Steven planned to arrive in the morning to re-join the effort. I was up late again tonight but at least it meant that I could get up to date with my journal and can get on tomorrow.