Our neighbour has recently started using a walking frame - and realised that it was too wide for her front path - the feet kept sticking on the gravel at the sides. Local builders came and made the path two slabs wide. Accessibility improved, everybody happy. Our front path is only one slab wide too - not much of a problem when we usually come in via the car and the side door but it made me think.
There were random slabs all over the garden when we moved in, and we put some down on the gravel to make walking easier. These are where the new garage would be. So I said to Bob "Why don't we gather up all the spare slabs, and use them to double the width of the front path?" Bob was not so keen - he doesn't like "crazy paving" and the slabs were not uniformly sized.
So I suggested carefully matching up the squares and rectangles, to make a Mondrian style path. I measured all our slabs, made scaled down paper templates, and spent an afternoon playing tetris with them till I had a plan. [Artiistic, recycling and thrifty]Then I carried all the slabs to the front, and proceeded to lay them in place, to see if it would work.It was hot and tiring. But looked OK. As the slabs were loose laid, I put tape and warnings everywhere. I did not want to get sued by any delivery people who tripped over.
On Monday I stacked up all the slabs again, and proceeded to dig out the earth in order to prepare the path [membrane, sub base etc] I was doing really well - and my barrowloads of earth were added to the builders' heap so they would dispose of it for me. I planned to dig out more on Tuesday, and fix the slabs on Wednesday.
Then the man from Eon came to change the fuse- and said we needed a new supply cable to our meter box. And that would run from the road, straight to the front door!! Right through my Path Project! The slabs were stacked up, and we filled in the hole with barrowloads of earth, and put a layer of sand on top. There is no point in laying the slabs if Eon are coming in the near future to lift them up again!
What did I do this week? Dug a hole, and then filled it in again!
Then the man from Eon came to change the fuse- and said we needed a new supply cable to our meter box. And that would run from the road, straight to the front door!! Right through my Path Project! 
Well, it kept you out of mischief I guess.
ReplyDeleteJust hope the eon man was correct and they do the work soon.
At least we have power. But I do wonder about all the other properties in this Close. ALL built in 1972, so I imagine they all have 50 year old supply cables. And we can walk to the front door across the grass!
DeleteOh Ang!
ReplyDeleteThis is a minor inconvenience - "first World problem". Many of my blogfriends are struggling with far bigger issues right now. Thinking of you with love x
DeleteHaha, typical, eh! Ah Well, a little bit of weight lifting never harmed anyone!
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly cheaper than signing up to a gym
DeleteWell, you now have something else to wait for as well as the garage project. Meanwhile you have at least designed your path, a tremendous feat in itself!
ReplyDeleteOh, wow! What a lot of work to do and undo again! Hope the new cable will be put in place, soon! At least now you know that the slabs you have will work!
ReplyDeleteI have numbered them with chalk. But may have to use a Sharpie if there is more rain!
DeleteThe best laid plans.. A Mondrian path - will be great - you should paint it as well. Cheers
ReplyDeleteI suspect it will remain just "Fifty Shades of Grey" Carole
DeleteI'm very impressed that you made this your project rather than Bob's. And did all the heavy lifting.
ReplyDeleteOh boy! What a week! I hope it can get done soon!
ReplyDelete