Removing the Cat Flap

It is some years since we had cats and now we have decided to remove the cat flap. Having just competed a search for bricks to match the house wall, we found a small supply of them at a local builders merchant.  The bricks are a 1970 design  (LBC Cotswold) which is discontinued.

The first job was to remove the weather shield, which was tied into the wall as a permanent fixture.  An angle grinder and lump hammer got me started.

The wall fitting had a marine-ply box holding the cat flap, and the fixing screws were well and truly stuck.  I had to take a saw to the front of the box and prize the pieces out.  I will leave the step in whilst I brick up the front, as that can be removed later at leisure.

Before staring to lay the bricks, I fitted a patch of damp course and glued it down to overlap the existing damp course ends.  Then I cut all of the bricks to fit before mixing the mortar.

The brickwork was straight forward and I fitted brick ties to lock it into the existing wall.  Just the last 2 bricks to lay, and this is the tricky bit.

The jobs a good one - now I need to let it dry out for 48 hours, then give it a waterproof treatment to seal the bricks.

The step will probably be removed in  a week or so, and the inner wall bricks and cavity insulation will be sorted in a few days time.  Then I can sort out the water butts and overspill drainage pipes.

The London Brick Company Cotswold Bricks are a notoriously dry brick and they are prone to spalling as they age.  The house is 55 years old and a few bricks are showing signs of spalling, so they will need to the sealed with a waterproofing agent to prevent any further damage.  That is going to be a next project.

Windy start to the day

 

This morning we had an early visitor.  He was not impressed by the wind, and a bit skitty, but was hopeful of a few scraps of food.

He is one of this years cubs.  The rest of the family seem to have decamped and left this first year in the den alone.  This is his first experience of very high winds and he has yet to see a winter.

I think he is putting me on a training schedule.  I have learned that he is not fond of sausage rolls, and prefers fresh meaty feasts. Bird nibbles from the ground feeder are a second option.

He also avoids wet weather and will appear in the garden when the rain has stopped of an evening.  Not sure of how his behaviour will change when he encounters a vixen!

Fungus Hunt

Every year, the fungi start putting up fruiting bodies and every year I do a quick photo-survey of what is around.  Today we went on a walk in Trentham Woods to see what we could find.

Lawyers Wig or Shaggy Ink Cap seen in the fields near the woods.

A rather battered Boletus

This one keys out as Amanita battarae, if that is right, this is a rare specimen.

Common Ink Cap, at the end of its growth, with the inky exudate.

Fly Agaric, Amanita muscaria, which is often seen with lots of white veil fragments on the red top.

Russula densifolia

Sulfur Tuft, commonly seen in woodlands.

These are freshly emerged Sulfur Tufts and they can often be confused with other types.

Common Bonnets with their margins turned up at the edges.

Common Bonnets that are freshly emerging.

Common Ink Cap before it has started to decompose.

Lactarius Acerrimus, with a wrinkled cap edging.

And there is always one that looks different from anything else.  This may be a Lactarius or a Russula, but I cannot work this one out at all.

Footnote:

Some of these fungi are edible and some are toxic.  You really need to consult a specialist before you eat any wild fungi.

Improving the Conservatory

 For some time, the conservatory roof has been an issue, with leaks and broken seals.  Also, one of the large windows has blown, giving us condensation between the double glazed panes.  Time for a new roof.

The old conservatory was an inexpensive lean to style with a poly-carbon roof that did little to keep the space warm/cool or quiet.

The parts arrived last month and that delivery was followed by the installation team.  All of the components were dispatched directly from the Production plant and the gutters were commercial products.

Off came the roof and the conservatory was stripped back for the installation of the new roof.

The frame was like a Meccano kit, it had all been manufactured to precise specifications and was bolted together with ease.  The insulation was cut and numbered to slot into the assembled frame exactly and the roof was structurally sound in a few hours.  On went the waterproof felt and most of the tiles.
All of the main frame is high density plastic, which will take screw and structural mounts. I was surprised at how much per-engineered work had been done to enable a fast and precise fix.

The next day, the gutters and outer structural components were fitted and the old doors were re-set to close accurately. all of the leading was fitted and all of the water seals were installed.

The electrician, who had isolated all of the electrics before the start of the work, came back to install the fittings and cables (First fix).  That included re-routing the outside lights to an internal switch in  the conservatory.  That was an extra to the work, and was done as a direct charge on the day.

The next day it was the turn of the plasterers.  It took a morning to fit the plasterboard and edging.  The following day the walls and ceiling were skimmed and finished.  Two or 3 days needed to allow the plaster to dry out.

Then it's my turn to do the painting to seal the plaster and coat the wall, fit the skirting boards and gloss. Another day to let it all dry out.

In  that time I took the back door out and painted it ready for re-fixing.  All of the fittings were cleaned, serviced and replaced. The paint was mainly from our own supply, so that has made space on our garage shelves for some more stuff.

The electrician came back and did the final fix, tested the cables, re-connecting the outside lights and mains feeds and checked the cutouts.  The fitter came to replace the large blown glass window with a new one and gave it a good clean.

The job is a good one. Warmer and noise free in the rain,bright and clean inside. The final payments made, we are just waiting for receipt of the planning copy from the local authority now. That is withheld until the planners have seen photographs and signatures for the final completed job.

The conservatory is now a very appealing and comfortable space.  We are very satisfied with the results.

Baking Gluten Free Bread

 Gluten free bread has been a difficult bake for years, and in recent times the job has become easier as there is now a better understanding of what is required.  Gluten Free is not the same as wheat bread, but for gluten allergies, it is one sensible option.

The idea is to use flours like chickpea, rice, maize, with the addition of starch from potato or tapioca and to use xanthan gum as a substitute for Gluten.  The resulting thick batter can be activated with improved varieties of dried, quick action yeast.

There are pre-mixed gluten free bread flours available more widely than there used to be and also bread mixes containing all of the ingredients.  The illustration is an on-line option from Dove Farms, which can be mixed with oil and water and beaten into a stiff dough, risen for about an hour, then baked for 55 minutes in a fan oven.

The mix makes a very stiff batter, which has to be scraped into an oiled bread tin for rising.  I used a bread tin liner for ease.

The resulting loaf needs to be cooled on a rack for at least 2 hours, until it is cold.  It will not cut well whilst warm.

This bake is easily cut with a serrated bread knife and has a good, but soft crumb.  It has a taste of bread, but with overtones of the flour ingredients it is made from.

Gluten free Bread Flour is available from some supermarkets and on line stores.  Do not use gluten free plain flour or or Gluten free self raising flour for bread making.

If you are using the Gluten Free Bread flour, you will need to add Xanthan Gum, a little vinegar, sugar and quick yeast to the mix.  You can substitute water with milk if you wish.

The home baked loaf is, in my opinion, the best option for Gluten Free bread.

Looks like cucumber sandwiches tomorrow.

Footnote:

I enjoyed a sandwich with cheese and pickle, Toasting the bread takes longer than wheat bread and results in a crisper toast - OK with marmalade.  Scrambled eggs on toast was less satisfactory than using wheat bread.

My next gluten free project may be an oatmeal based pizza base.

Worlds shortest scheduled flight

 Westray airport to Papa Westray airport is just 1.7 miles across the North Sound.  It usually takes 2 minutes from terminus to terminus.  I shall fly this route on my X-Plane simulator.

Starting at EGEP Papa Westray in a Robin DR401, the start terminus is a cabin on the departure apron.

The destination terminus can be seen from the aircrafts start position across the sound to Westray

Off we go, taxiing out to the main  run way.

Airborne and starting the approach to land at destination.

The runway at Westray is visible at 500 feet and  am now throttling down  and engaging first flaps ready to land.

Turning in to align with the runway, less than a minute into the flight.

On final approach with second flap position selected.

Rotating across the threshold of the runway.

Taxi in and park up - about 2 minutes to engine off at EGEW Westray.

Looking back, I can see the terminus at Papa Westray where I started out.

It has taken far longer to write this blog than it took to make the flight.

Loganair have the flight schedules for this flight which is a relatively inexpensive hop.  It is also the shortest scheduled flight in the world. However, you would need to get to the island from Kirkwall or sail across on one of the ferries to take the flight.

At the moment, the Orkney Islands Council are discussing a land bridge between the islands, so the worlds shortest flight may soon become redundant.  No doubt it will still exist as a purely tourist driven schedule for some of the year.

Re-Roofing the house.

 A few weeks ago we had a repair done to the front boarding of the roof. It was replaced with a new plastic end board after the old one dropped off due mainly to the securing nails having rusted away.

Now, there is a leak near an old disused vent pipe on the side of the roof and some of the felt lining has come away. The time has come to have the roof re-felted and re-tiled.

Today we have scaffolding around the house in preparation for the work, which starts tomorrow. The old roof was fitted at the building of the house at the end of 1970, so it is 55 years old.

We have also arranged for the conservatory to be re-roofed with a sold pitched roof in September.  This year is becoming quite expensive.