The man from the Clapham Omnibus

Building in Coupeville 4 - Ask everybody then verify ! . Sunrise over Penn Cove The next stage was to make sure that the basement would be dry . I decided on a belt and braces approach . First measure was to coat the walls with " asphalt emulsion " I chose asphalt as it can be applied to whet concrete . I initially broke off all the external protruding spring clips The I hammered off all the washers - as these are potential points of failure removed all loose concrete paying special attention to the footing brushed away all dust and debris especially again from the "dry joint" between the footing and the wall applied an initial coat by roller and brush where necessary into holes and crevices where the walls would e below ground level Second coated the wall being careful to ensure no gaps again being especially generous to the top of the footing and also where the spring clip shafts went through the walls Second task was to install insulation externally - I economi...

Just after the Labour Day weekend holiday Eric's team began setting up the forms that would hold the concrete in place around the reinforcing rods . Firstly Kurt examined the plans to determine where the driveway would end up . Now that the basement footings were in place he first calculated how high the ground floor surface would be . Then he took off 21 inches for the final height of the garage screed . This would give three steps down from the kitchen to the garage . From this he knew the height of the driveway at the garage . He then set up a string line from here heading to the driveway stub . This was to be the ground height across the building and determined where the basement concrete walls could step down . By code here the walls must either be full height so they are supported by the floor joists or can be a maximum of five feet to support a maximum of four feet of soil . Any more soil and the wall could bow out where the concrete attaches to the wooden section . The n...

After talking to everyone who would listen I got the details of three likely foundation guys . I contacted them and handed out plans . Eric Walters was recommended by JT Madson and his brother Mike . B and B construction and Chris Marty were also highly spoken of by local builders . I met with Eric at the weekend in Langley and got a price per Yard and a yardage estimate next day . It seemed reasonable and he could also start immediately. I then got a cheaper ( by $60 per yard ) one next day from B and B and was minded to accept it . I called them for clarification and a start date . I was disappointed but not surprised that they were quite busy - they also we going to charge me for more extras than Eric . They were avid hunters and the short hunting season was almost upon us and the elk in Idaho were calling . I had to go back to Eric and accept his quote . I am not one to play one contractor against another . Eric and his team turned up as he said a day later and set to work at onc...

I have always been interested in the outdoors and love the countryside . I also get bored easily without having an aim or purpose to my activities - be it to get to a specific point or to get photographs for instance . I have also been keen on shooting and guns from when I was a child - this was considered quite normal then ! I believe that the countryside is important and should be preserved and if possible improved for the benefit of both wildlife and future generations . I know that hunters in Britain have been at the forefront of protecting and enhancing the outside environment to maintain a good habitat for wildlife to flourish in - unlike some farming practices which are about profit from the land .However thankfully many farmers are hunters too or see a profit in conserving wildlife and the land for hunting to the benefit of all. As a London born city boy I have no personal experience of hunting so I decided that now I am in Washington State USA I would learn more so I booked o...

I got started finally . First I located and marked my property corners . These are special metal pins placed by a surveyor and legally define your corners ! Once you find one the others are best found by taking the dimensions from the lot plan and measuring them out physically ! I also contacted the Utilities Underground Location Center as is required by law Second I marked the setbacks on the boundarys showing where the building will sit . Then a big problem - the building 's position is right where the trees were ! Therefore thirdly I had to get out my chainsaw and strimmer - or weed whacker as they call them here and clear the site ! Three days of hard work later - god willing - I had the area clear and had marked the building position and the area for excavation for the full basement I had planned . It was good to see the deer taking an interest - Pictures here . I got J.T. Madsen who is a big man with an even bigger digger who clearly enjoys his work . Despite the hard...

I am all for sustainability but I am a tad annoyed by having my building permit delayed because I did not give calculations for the size of the rain garden I am having to build on my property . For those of you who are unfamiliar with rain gardens they are a sort of above ground soak-away and garden feature . They are meant to ensure that under all but the most extreme rainfall conditions that the rain that falls on the roof and other impermeable built structures is directed into the soil where it would have gone if the home had not been there . I am aware that in cities such as London where properties are very close together there is a problem with too much water flowing into old Victorian drains due to so many gardens being made impervious largely for car parking . This does not seem to be an apparent problem in Coupeville ! However I am new in town and a foreigner to boot so what do I know . I just intend to be a model citizen so am happy to go along with the requirements that are ...

The Hinchliffe family had a problem with security on boarding the second leg of our trip to Seattle . Calgary security thought it was possible we were terrorists trying to take on board a quantity of liquid explosives cunningly disguised as Channel No 5 ! - or did they ? I wrote them this letter - I await their answer with little hope of justice ! 15 Aug 2010. Without Prejudice Dear sir , I am writing to you as I am in the process of making an insurance claim relating to two bottles of Chanel no5 that were taken from me by your officers . My family and I were travelling from London Heathrow to Seattle Washington with Air Canada . After clearing security at Heathrow my daughter Emma ( 20 ) purchased two small ( less than 200 ml ) bottles of Chanel No5 at a duty free shop in the airport and gave them to me for safety . Nine hours later we landed at Calgary on flight AC 851 . The local time was 13:15 on Sunday the Eighth of August . We swiftly cleared Canadian immigration and cust...