Routy56 - can you just....

[Routy56]

Had a call out of the blue last week asking if I can help out grading off the site for a shipping container and digging out the ground for about concrete pads
Turned out that it was on recommendation from a guy who I test test holes for about 2 years ago (didn't get that job- builder had his won machine)
Turned up first thing yesterday to work for these guys

The new Kingdom Hall is only about a mile from home and was built about 18 years ago by a team of members. The building went up in 4 days - bricked over a wooden frame

So here's the site cleared of vegetation at the rear. Bit tight but the container should go in...

What a great bunch of guys. During the day there was at least 3 - 5 guys helping, all trades or retired trades. We had a builder, a plumber, a carpenter and a painter and decorator

So after grading off about 4-5 tons of dirt stacked at the back corner, we got to grips with their cunning plan.
The scrap wood boxes set in the ground, filled with concrete and topped with scaffolding pole as runners.
Then when the shipping container arrive next week, other poles are set as rollers to slide it in - simples

Selfie - how do you flip these photos round

Job done with concrete setting
Great bunch of guys - during the frequent tea breaks we had time for 'God Slot' chats
And more importantly exchanged business cards with the trades

 

[Stubota86]

Tidy job!

 

[Jimoz]

Wish my job looked as tidy

 

[doobin]

So did they sign you up?

 

[Routy56]

So did they sign you up?

That's a great question
We did speak about their beliefs and The Bible etc.
However, I think I put them off when I proudly declared that I was a local Freemason
That said, we did have some great conversations and banter.
Turns out that some of them know some of my members and vice versa - small world

 

[V8Druid]

when I was first ill in 2010 ... they were here every other week, knocking on the door ... they took some shaking off, but telling 'em I was a fatalist did the trick eventually

 

[Quattromike]

That's a great question
We did speak about their beliefs and The Bible etc.
However, I think I put them off when I proudly declared that I was a local Freemason
That said, we did have some great conversations and banter.
Turns out that some of them know some of my members and vice versa - small world

See I don't mind a bit of genesis, they had some good hits in the 80s

 

[Cyberprog]

when I was first ill in 2010 ... they were here every other week, knocking on the door ... they took some shaking off, but telling 'em I was a fatalist did the trick eventually

I'd have just set the dogs on em.

 

[JD450A]

Most are sound as a pound, but I can't be doing with the irritating ones that are pushy..... Satanism does usually get em to f**k off.

R.E Freemasons, funniest story regarding them was one I know asked..... "How much do you know about the freemasons?" (Me) - "Not a lot, I thought that was the point" Nice enough bloke, But I've never been a fan of wheels in wheels groups be it Freemasons, Jehovah's, Rotary Etc. No disrespect intended at all @Routy56 Btw

 

[Routy56]

Tidy job!

Thanks matey Mind you I wished last week soak away job was as tidy.
After I 'tracked in' the clay back fill, it was all over the place.
Bought back nearly a wheel barrow full of the stuff on my tracks for the pressure washer to sort out
Going back with some top soil and grass seed in a few weeks once the it has settled down a bit

 

[Routy56]

Wish my job looked as tidy

Not all my jobs are tidy......sometimes the groundworkers or builders that I work with are bloody untidy.
I just push the stuff about so I can work the site. Always say - "A tidy site is a safe site"
On this job, I had loads of helpers who just got on with it.
Mind you had to still get out of the seat wielding a shovel at times

 

[Routy56]

I'd have just set the dogs on em.

That's interesting and poses many ethical questions......
.......but what I really want to know (turn yer volume up) Who let The Dogs Out

 

[Routy56]

Most are sound as a pound, but I can't be doing with the irritating ones that are pushy..... Satanism does usually get em to f**k off.

R.E Freemasons, funniest story regarding them was one I know asked..... "How much do you know about the freemasons?" (Me) - "Not a lot, I thought that was the point" Nice enough bloke, But I've never been a fan of wheels in wheels groups be it Freemasons, Jehovah's, Rotary Etc. No disrespect intended at all @Routy56 Btw

Agree with all you say Rory
Regarding my Freemason Brothers - there are some really great guys that I trust with my life
Then there are others who are complete cocks and I tend to avoid
It's no longer a secret - that's why I take every opportunity to 'come out' with pride.
Some of the biggest critics have ended up becoming members
Overall, like everything we do, it's networking. We have a great laugh, I get some great referrals and repeat customers

 

[Cyberprog]

That's interesting and poses many ethical questions......

You're right of course. Wouldn't want the dogs catching anything off em.

 

[Routy56]

Few interesting jobs last week
My brother has a very good friend, Richard, who has a house that he rents out just up the road at Stanway, Colchester.
He said to me a few months ago can you just dig out the grass and put down some gravel


So a first for me was to squeeze my trusty old mini onto my tipping trailer to be used for the Muckaway

Not ideal but it's got great ramps tucked away underneath and being plated at 2700kgs carried my kit to site easily


My brother Graham has got a trusty old TD5 Disco seen here taking the spoil (private use) to his place to build up the ground
In less than an hour he returned with 'back loads' of MOT Type 1 for me to push around.
Love piles of stuff

Under the top soil was 'good ground' with gravels.
So Richard didn't want to mess about with geo textile and thick layers of Type 1

So after giving the Type 1 a good old wack we covered it with recycled gravels.
With Richard and Graham on the hand tools I was able to get on with the skilful part of twiddling joysticks
The neighbours are Johavah's Witnesses and plied us with tea and biscuits all day.
Funny how I see to attract nice people
Complete job done is a short day at 'mates rates'

 

[V8Druid]

Few interesting jobs last week
My brother has a very good friend, Richard, who has a house that he rents out just up the road at Stanway, Colchester.
He said to me a few months ago can you just dig out the grass and put down some gravel
View attachment 12637

So a first for me was to squeeze my trusty old mini onto my tipping trailer to be used for the Muckaway
View attachment 12638
Not ideal but it's got great ramps tucked away underneath and being plated at 2700kgs carried my kit to site easily

View attachment 12648
My brother Graham has got a trusty old TD5 Disco seen here taking the spoil (private use) to his place to build up the ground
In less than an hour he returned with 'back loads' of MOT Type 1 for me to push around.
Love piles of stuff
View attachment 12649
Under the top soil was 'good ground' with gravels.
So Richard didn't want to mess about with geo textile and thick layers of Type 1
View attachment 12650
So after giving the Type 1 a good old wack we covered it with recycled gravels.
With Richard and Graham on the hand tools I was able to get on with the skilful part of twiddling joysticks
The neighbours are Johavah's Witnesses and plied us with tea and biscuits all day.
Funny how I see to attract nice people
Complete job done is a short day at 'mates rates'

one less patch o' green shite to mow and some extra parking win win

 

[JD450A]

The neighbours are Johavah's Witnesses and plied us with tea and biscuits all day.
Funny how I see to attract nice people
Complete job done is a short day at 'mates rates'

Your one of em now

 

[Routy56]

This is what happens when other trades get you in to help them dig trenches

Do loads of work with these guys - the short fat one is my brother-in-law
They do loads of general groundwork that I don't wanna do.
Everything from block paving to foundations etc


This was tricky and had to turn the gravity off to dig sideways
Note that the bricky effed up the brickwork on my foundations


So while I was there, "can you just...." tidy up the Muckaway pile

 

[Routy56]

Morning all - what a difference that is affecting us all
For the past few weeks I haven't been out working with my gear.
Last thing I did, just in time, was to collect my pecker from Nigel at the Pecker Hospital

It's an Arrowhead S20 and actually works well after a complete overhaul by Doctor Pecker
Now just have the work come in to pay for the investment

The past week or so have been helping my immediate family get set up for the 'lockdown'.
We have 2 adult daughters who have 6 children between them. Fortunately they all live nearby.
Then Sharon's 86yr old mother also lives nearby. We are doing her shopping etc

We have Ryan, our 15yr old grandson living with us until further notice.
He loves my 'boys toys' and is a very handy dumper driver.

Here is Ryan stacking cleaned up T & G roof boards for a summer house.
Under the blue tarp is all the other components

So, yesterday, I opened up a vegetable plot with the old mini.
Problem is that it's on the graded spoil, mainly clay, from the old swimming pool in the poly tunnel


First stripped off the old turf


Decent size plot - dry in the middle where my mates big caravan was stored over the winter


Digging out the clay overburden.
There is good topsoil underneath covered over when we did the pool dugout nearly 30yrs ago

Later today bringing in more good topsoil and compost..........

 

[V8Druid]

Morning all - what a difference that is affecting us all
For the past few weeks I haven't been out working with my gear.
Last thing I did, just in time, was to collect my pecker from Nigel at the Pecker Hospital
View attachment 12850
It's an Arrowhead S20 and actually works well after a complete overhaul by Doctor Pecker
Now just have the work come in to pay for the investment

The past week or so have been helping my immediate family get set up for the 'lockdown'.
We have 2 adult daughters who have 6 children between them. Fortunately they all live nearby.
Then Sharon's 86yr old mother also lives nearby. We are doing her shopping etc

We have Ryan, our 15yr old grandson living with us until further notice.
He loves my 'boys toys' and is a very handy dumper driver.
View attachment 12851
Here is Ryan stacking cleaned up T & G roof boards for a summer house.
Under the blue tarp is all the other components

So, yesterday, I opened up a vegetable plot with the old mini.
Problem is that it's on the graded spoil, mainly clay, from the old swimming pool in the poly tunnel

View attachment 12852
First stripped off the old turf

View attachment 12854
Decent size plot - dry in the middle where my mates big caravan was stored over the winter

View attachment 12855
Digging out the clay overburden.
There is good topsoil underneath covered over when we did the pool dugout nearly 30yrs ago

Later today bringing in more good topsoil and compost..........

keeping you out of mischief at least Dave ....... do your neighbours know you'll be relieving them of their topsoil, some time soon