GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project~”

[Grizz1963]

Loooong overdue job on the carport built last year done yesterday.

I removed strip lights from inside the garage and mounted them outside in the carport, all individually wired and plugged so that I can select which to run.

I had smashed one pair of tubes before when I dropped a light, so headed to the local electrical wholesalers to get replacements, and while out there I got an LED spotlight, going for a 50W unit claimed to deliver 4500 lumens.
Should be great for dark time work.







Went to see how they worked after dark last night.

I think they will do.








May add one more to the front edge of the carport as well to improve coverage.

Happy though.

[Grizz1963]

So while I fitted the lights, @nickwheeler carried on assembling the other side of the front end with the new hose and cut down bolt and nuts.



And finally……..

BOOOOMM !!!!

SOOO PLEASED TO HAVE IT BACK HERE.



Then we had a coffee and jam donuts to celebrate.

Followed by a start up on the rear brakes as the slave cylinders ordered had been delivered in less than 24 hours.

Unlike me, Nick does not have a foul sailors mouth, the air around his head was crystal clear once we started disassembly, whereas I was in a puff of blue smoke tinged with frustration.

Even the disassembly was just not easy, though I am sure there could be an easy disassembly technique.

Once removed……..



Trying the new ones I had bought off eBay it seemed they just did not want to fit, either on the backing or in the drums.



At this point a reference to the service manuals Nick and dan had brought here before, showed that there are actually two sizes specified……..

8” or 203mm for the lower spec 1300cc and 9” drums for the 1600, 2000 and 2300cc models.

So as luck would have it, I had bought 9” brake shoes, and then the slave cylinders I ordered were wrong too, they have a round mounting on my brakes, but the ones I had ordered have a more oval shape, so do not fit.

Guess I have a full set of new, unused parts for sale.

Original part number, now need to find a pair.



And the original slave has some almost illegible details.



FRUSTRATED.Com



Later, and after dark, the lights seem to be really good, I will add one more just inside the roof on the final beam.

Seems shadows will also not be a big problem, maybe.

I guess progress is progress, regardless.

.

[Grizz1963]

Some random stuff.

On my daily walk, I have few touch points that end up giving me the 6.3km or almost 4mile walk I do.



Alpaca corner.





A new farmer has taken over the land lease from the Church, and he is ruthless, greedy and destroying infrastructure as he goes about maximising his profits.

The tractors and trucks are ruining the road surfaces that were never made to be used at this scale.

300-450mm deep trenches along the edges as they collapse verges etc.

I am not impressed.



Lucky I guess its not my driveway.

Waiting for the first cars to land in the trenches.

[Grizz1963]

Not a road trip, but a 4hr trip on the road with a small detour to collect some fiberglass resin, matting, rollers etc from @adam73bgt that he collected for me a few months ago and stored in the back of his MG BGT.

Also stopped at Watford Gap Services for a pee and overpriced Costa Coffee along with the croissants Sally had made for us.

Thank you mate for collecting and storage.

Easy house to identify.



Then back on the road……

Up to Sandford near Whitchurch in Shropshire to come help mate Craig and Lorraine get some yard work and heavy lifting done.

They bought a converted barn house and a bit of paddock that needs a lot of work to get to where they want it.

Awesome details, layout and features, including an AGA wood burning stove in the kitchen.



He bought the old stables, enough for 4 horse and tack store and it is getting moved 100 meters to a new spot in the back field, joined later by a garage/workshop

Also happening is a new access path through the back being built, purple line….

So petrol head stuff needs doing.

Yellow graded access started yesterday, 20 tons of hardcore being delivered on Saturday, so loads of prep needs doing before then.



So Sally and I are the extra muscle.

Gas tank for heating and cooking had to be installed as the seller is redeveloping the old stables next door in the large paddocks into a new home, stables, riding school etc.

So new tank installed





The vintage Massey Fergusson you see working here is the result of COVID 19 when the owner operator lost his job and started his own business.

Garden bed, shrubs etc removed. Wall later today.

I brought some tools too to help cut back parts of the overgrown garden and access.









Loads of hedges to cut back.



And lawns to cut.

Everything is badly neglected and overgrown



There is a lot of lawn to cut, another Grizz-job as I do love a good looking lawn.

Gas delivery done early this morning.




Lawns starting to look good too.

More today.

And shed dismantling plus a glass greenhouse.

[Grizz1963]

This morning we started at 09.00 and moved about 4 ton bags of roof felt that was on the stables’ roof.

Then transferred and compacted further and into Hippo bags for removal.

So I started on the lawn again once the other random jobs were done.

Squared off the centre part as a plan was brewing.



And in the mean time Larry had removed a pile of soil from where the new access path and driveway will be going.

Next up would be the wall, followed by removing a few more hedge plants and large shrobs and trees.



Eventually I got done with the lawn, the grass was so wet and thick from being overgrown, it took a load of clearing the machine nd basket.

I think Lorraine is a bit miffed as it means she needs to do it this way next time.




More work going on all day.

[Grizz1963]

Just a bunch of pics today.

We all did a helluva lot of stuff yesterday and as I said to Craig last night, what we did was a lot more than the sum of its parts.

Still, loads of progress.

A lot of jobs needed to be done in order to line up for other jobs.

After all the lawns were done, the next big task was breakfast at around 11.30, American style bacon, scrambled farm fresh eggs and mushrooms and onions.

Then back out to cut backma load of overgrown hedging, trees and other wild growth.

Clearing, bagging and more.

Ohhh, and with the money saved by changing the roofing felt into the Hippo bags as Craig said, in my typical “Man Maths style” the saving, back into pocket, by recycling or reusing, repacking a Hippo bag left by the gas fitters is £132.50 if they remove it with your bad rubble, and you reuse your own turfs from it, along with recycling the contents.

Sally, Lorraine carrie on cleaning and clearing loads of beds that have clearly not seen a gardeners hand in years.

Larry carried on shifting soil, prepping for the Type 1 to go down and compacted (Monday)

Craig worked, and played Ring Master to all.




So in no particular order.

Reversing all the way from the A41 motorway up a farm alley road.




We had prepared and laid down some so e of the OSB inner walls from the stables so that the drive did not get too contaminated with the Type 1



Nicely dropped.



Another job was to cut a gateway for an archway and person gate in the rear hedge and into where the workshop, stables and Craigs new office will go.



Using the digger to lull the plants out, quicker than a spade and axe.



This was one of Craig and Sallys jobs, while I carried on cutting trees, hedges etc.



Trees along the way were cut back so the digger could get through to bring the Type 1 through from the front, remember the purple route on the satelite picture.



This was cut back by about a meter, also the rose bushes inside of it, cut out bit by bit and removed.



Larry carried on with hi demolition mission.

By day he is a farmer, but since Covid screwed his life up, he does a lot of this stuff, and really does take pride in what he does.

Loads of manual lifting, shovelling by hand and checking it was coming together as planned.





I gave up by 4.45 as my body was huring.

Craig and Larry carried on for another hour in the dark, laying the membrane under the new drive, and bringing the first bucket of Type 1 around from the front and spreading it to hold down the membrane till Monday when the whacker plate comes and the stone will be compacted in two layers.

After. Dinner, cooked by Lorraine, we headed home fast just after 7.00 pm

Absolutely knackered.

At our AirBnB there are chickens, cats and a dog called BEAR.

She greeted us and came to spend about 20 minutes being loved and loving unconditionally.

I love a dog mauling me, not bitting my butt.



Rarely sits still.

I was very happy, so was Sally, who wanted to handbag her and Donna the horse.




Today we have yard work, moving a load of numbered plastic boxes, and maybe dismantling a smaller shed so a bigger shed can be built in its place incorporating the smaller shed on the side.

Work till 2.00 pm

Then head back, shower, clean up and hopefully head out, cleaned up to a couple of local shops, followed by a pub dinner.

Of course things can still change dramatically.

Later.

[Grizz1963]

So Saturday promised to be a full day.

Woken early morning by Tara, our AirB&B hostess’ chickens and the neighbours ducks, along with a visit from little black Bear the catflap sized dog….. we go going and then headed back to Craigs place.

They came inside our space, looking for food.

So Sally shared a slice of bread with them, which they loved.



Then off to Craigs.

A quick walk around to inspect the work we had done the day before.



Looking top to bottom.



Quck coffee, a status check and day plan, followed by me straight out to start cutting back on the very overgrown garden shrubs, loads left to do.

The house is also covered in a variety of creepers and and different plants, all fighting for,space.



Loads of cutting, chopping and packing into ton bags.

Many of them.



We took 6 tightly packed ton bags and a few loads of tree branches and removed shrubs to the neighbours bonfire pile, pulling and packing everything on top on]f the pile.

Remember the person gate created yesterday?

From the other side, after removing the gazebo and about 70 boxes, all individually marked, inventoried and recorded.

Moved into the double tandem garage space for storage till the stables are moved and Craig figures the most sensible garage construction to lay down on site.



Yes, it is at an angle, weird for an OCD guy like Craig, but it is planned that way.

Continuing on the lift, carry, move, pack theme, we unpacked a shed and greenhouse after the gazebo was emptied.

Sally and Lorraine continued while Craig and I sat in the shade and drank a ton of low alcohol beers…….

Strong as a Shire horse and as eager.



Loads of stuff carried inside.



Such a fake pic.



Sally is a pretty good recorder of progress, taking pics when we were not expecting it.

While we kept rearranging the interior she got some pics too.



After emptying out the gazebo and sheds we broke for some food, and Craig with his chest still beating him up, took 30 minutes to catch is breath, sorting his mailbox..

I also tried but the paparazzi was there.



During our break, Craig and Lorraine sorted the sign writing on the mailbox……

Remember it cn only be straight.



Of course I had to edit it slightly.



When we took the bags and branches out to. The bonfire field, they neighbours wife was tending their donkeys.

Gentle, tame animals.

I loved the attention too.







Then back to more of the same.

Just so much overgrown plants.



Dinner was due after a shower and catching of our breaths.

Always more to do.


.

[Grizz1963]

Saturday night after finishing late again we went out to a pub for dinner.

Excellent all round.



Mixed grill was my choice and a sticky toffee pudding for desert.

Perfect.



Back at the guest house by 9.00 and bed before10.00

We were shattered from three days of nonstop work.

Sunday morning alarm clock was Dinky.

Looking for breakfast.



Out the AirB&B before 08.00 and back to Craigs for breakfast of toast and coffee.

I also wrote off my garden shoes and planted them in the tree.

Only to get a text from Craig later to say his daughter found them and objected to them.



Craig had wanted to show me the loft all weekend.

I kept declining.

On Sunday I went up.

What a bonus space.

Most will be converted to playing and relaxation space for his 9 year old daughter.





Oh and later more creepers removed from the walls.

This stuff will s beautiful but destructive.



We left by 10.00 in order to get home at a sensible time.

Stopped for a toilet and coffee break

Price of fuel is steep per liter.





Headed back up on Friday after work to belp get the stable block down on the ground.

I may be off the Rezin Rockit build for a bit.

[Grizz1963]

No progress at all on the Rezin Rockit since last week.

Been busy helping a friend, and day job is currently very demanding and in fact quite stressful; or even hateful.


Need to still source 8” rear brake shoes and a pair of new Slave cylinders.

[Grizz1963]

Interesting change of pace this morning.

5’C outside.

When I came down around 07.00 George was sitting outside the door.

Let him in, gave him a cuddle and some catnip.

Carried on with my morning rituals.

Later I found him curled up on my bed upstairs.

First time,for,everything I guess.



He is welcome, and I guess it was warmer inside.

[Grizz1963]

While clearing some old rubbish, Craig found this hatchet or is it an axe?



He gave it to me because he knows I love to polish turds.

At home I had a piece of an old pick axe handle that has been waiting for a job for possibly 3-4 years, crazy but true.

So while trying to wriggle the old handle, which has borer beetle holes in it as well, so obviously unsafe, out…. It snapped at the head without any effort.



So I marked the new handle and went to the woodwork shed, not been in a while, and got my small bandsaw out, only to find the clade had jumped the track, so reinstalled that, then skimmed the head to a point where I could shape it on the bench grinder, yes….. that is very wrong, but faster than the belt sander or linisher.

Eventually got it to a very tight, hammered in fit, followed by some flapwheel action.

Then realised the rear end was way too thick for easy use when chopping kindling etc.

So back to the grinder, more shaping, followed by flapwheel smoothing.



Still not satisfied, I decided to add Craigs username and date of birth, just to add more random detail.



So I will take this back to him over the weekend to use at his fireplace or the Raeburn stove in the kitchen.

Beats throwing it away.

[Grizz1963]

So in the spirit of randomness…..

I popped in at Sallys Unclebob the hoarder today to go look at a car I have an eye on.

No idea why really, just a whim.

While I was there, Bob who knows everything Sally does asked how the weekend went.

I told him, showed a few pics and mentioned some things that need building sooner than later.

Like a firewood and solid fuel store alongside the house and the play area in the loft for his daughter Elli.

So from old Cars we went out into the yard to a pile of wood and he said to select any of it that I thought Craig may need.

So I will go back before the weekend and select all the hardwood and pack it in the car.



Window sills and door thresholds.



Also in the deal were some “offcuts” of 6” by 1” thick planks, treated good quality.



Remember the loft conversion and Sally halfway up there?

Craig wants to build a permanent staircase up there from her bedroom with a door to close in when needed.

And guess what……..??


Uncle Bob had a 101 inch rescued wooden stair.


Now I just need to get it in or on the car…… and up to Craigs place.





In other news, Fil “Sparkplug” contacted me today to ask if we could use another set of hands as he did not want to miss out on the fun.

At 150 miles from Cambridge in the Yellow Submarine camper, he will be sleeping on Craigs driveway on Friday and straight out into the horse yard.

Thanks Fil.

[Grizz1963]

A friend, Bob in America commented below:


Rian, that looks like a wonderful old folded axe head, probably forged in a small shop more than a century ago. With my eyesight it may well be a Chinese knock-off from Bunnings circa 2002. Either way it's a beautiful save of a classic tool. I am so glad you are easily distracted because it makes me feel better. I can often be found working on something that isn't on any list with even the lowest priority. They just make me smile.

Well Bob, I took a closer up pic for you.

Grinding marks very much evident.

BUT……

Looks like you were right.

[Grizz1963]

And again a surprise skip find.

Used, still works, but the neighbour building has used it as needed, and not keeping it.

Thank you, free money.

Offered it to mate Craig but he already has one.



Madness.

[Grizz1963]

I took the drum, slave and shoes @nickwheeler removed and left neatly, to the local factors today and left them there for them to find the replacement parts for me.

Lets hope they can source the bits.


In the mean time my serial vintage bike restorer neighbour called me over this afternoon to collect the diesel/paraffin heater for the carport.

Usually @pauly arrives on site in winter when the temperature hits 6’C but this winter he may only need one set of thermals…..



The whole heater felt like its tank was filled, reasonably heavy.

But further inspection shoed it was empty.

So I added some diesel and started it.

STINKY Thing.




But it is hot, should make the carport comfortable to work in once I hang the large blue canvas on the front.

Roll on progress.

[LT7A]

Huge amount of work on that rural property - ambitious. Very good of you and Sally to help like that, wow.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Huge amount of work on that rural property - ambitious. Very good of you and Sally to help like that, wow.

Yes it is ambitious, but the last owner clearly left so much stuff to its own devices.

I am headed up there again tomorrow afternoon to help Craig disassemble the 4 stables on Saturday and Sunday.

In life these things go around.

[Grizz1963]

Went to Uncle Bob after work.

Loaded some wood stairs, 101 inches or 2565mm for Craig to fit in his daughters bedroom up into the Loft.

Covered in Barn Owl poop.



More wood for random jobs.

Free is good.



Busy weekend ahead, and looking forward to working with mate Fil and Craigs son Kyle over the weekend to get as much progress as possible.

Later.

[Grizz1963]

Saw this on FB this morning.

Yes please.





Should be a bag of laughs.

[Grizz1963]

So I forgot to post the interior of Dennis’ truck.



Friday I headed up to Shropshire again to meet up with mate Fil “Sparkplug” at Craigs in order to help him bring down the stable block and move and stash it.

Unfortunately I struggled with the trip.

It took me 5 hour 45 minutes to do the posted 204 miles on a Friday afternoon.

Included was getting “lost” twice thanks to Fords useless Satnav that is both slow and not very clear, plus showing maps upside down etc.

The roads were stop start, and at times the engine was off and handbrake up…..

Not ideal.



So I stopped at Craigs just after 7.00pm, had dinner, then Fil got there from his 150 mile trip from Cambridge and we sat talking till after 10.00pm before heading out.

Fil to his camper, and I came to the AirB&B we used last weekend as well.

Greeted by nobody that time of the night.

However, this morning both cats were in for a love and a cuddle as their mother was away on funeral duties.



After a mug of tea and a shower, I headed over to,Craigs.

Fil’s van in pole position on the drive.



Walked around and found them already busy.



So we unpacked my car and started on the stables…..

At about 11.00 we were called in for breakfast by Lorraine.



Then headed straight back out again……

A hectic, hard and productive day saw us get about 70% of the job done.

I am happy to do a more complete report if anyone is interested.

More to do tomorrow till 12.00 then it is back on the road.

Knackered tonight.

Pills x4.

[Grizz1963]

Friday morning while I was having my before work starts mug of tea and toast, George the cat came in.

Had his Catnip on the “cat tree” scratch post.

Then walked into the lounge and jumped on my lap for a cuddle, and off again to inspect the lounge as before.

Then this……



And this.



Followed by this till I got up to go up to my office.




Nice of him to pop in.

[Grizz1963]

Before Fil and I got there, Craig and Son Kyle had done a load of preparation already.

Removing a corrugated roof, and a felt roof off the wooden roof structure.

Dismantled all the doors, cages and removed most of the wood panels inside of the structure.

These were already move and dry stored up on his land.

So he and Kyle both are skinny size, unlike me and to some extent Fil who are full size humans and they went up on the roof to start dismantling the roof panels.

It was wet and slippery when we started.



Crowbar cobras, there was so much nails, screws etc there.



Larry the farmer and digger/tractor driver had brought a trailer to help move the panels across the field to the next resting place.



One way to move a bloody heavy trailer…….



First panel down.





Once the first one was off, it got slightly easier as one had a hole in which to shove crowbars and reciprocal saws etc.



Not as much fun as it seems.





Looking from the other side.



And deceptive…..l




A wasp nest, one of many.



At this point we were called in for lunch, around 2.00pm





Fil the machine.



Roofing all off.



Next up was the walls.

Large

Heavy

Awkward

Dangerous.



Eventually Larry got home from his day job, potato farmer.

And drove the tractor to drag the trailer up to the top paddock.



We laid sheets and then moved Lil the Chevy back onto some boards.



First load unpacked on top of sleepers/ties.



After unloading we headed back in failing light and carried on with loading a second load of walls and panels, using phone torches etc.

And unloaded trailer no2 with Larry's help in the dark.

Calling it a day by 5.30 when the dark had completely taken over.

I was hurting like hell by then and found some pills in the car, taking a load.

Craigs wife, Lorraine had made us a South African Malay curry and rice and a traditional South African food called Vetkoek which is basically bread dough (or you can use diy pizza dough) fried in hot oil.
Then you slice it open, and load with the curried mince, or apricot jam/jelly and butter.
Absolutely mind blowing, if you know what it is.
I had not had any in 25 years or more.

Fil and I left by 7.45pm for his camper and my guest house respectively.

It had been a long, hard day.

I stayed awake till 11.00pm as I knew if I went to bed too early my aches would wake me by 4.00am.

It did, and I got up by 5.10am and made myself some tea.


Sunday was still ahead of us all to deal with the rest of the stables.

[Grizz1963]

Sunday morning I was awake by 05.10 and first mug of tea by 5.30

Got to Craigs by 6.30 and took a walk around the bomb site, smiling.

This was my view on site.



Then texted Craig to open the back door.

Into the kitchen which is absolutely the family centre of this home.

Saw the hatchet has a home too, by the Raeburn stove.



Outside the bird feeder was fully engaged by blue tits and other birds as well as this greedy guy.



An edited version of Fil looking through the one window was texted through.

Made me smile.



This was the result of Saturdays work.



Carried on dismantling and loading the trailer.



Lorraine made us bacon and sandwiches as well.

Very good.

Then straight back to work as we were against the clock.



Anticlimax when the last wall was packed.



At this point Fil formally handed his personal crowbar that was a firm favourite both days over to Craig.

There is a lot more to this photo than meets the eye.

Fil is generous to a fault and this was an example of kindness, tinged with humour.

Formal hand over



Then the bricks were,removed, packed on a small bike trailer and pallet to be moved.

Craig will be reusing as much of the materials as possible, as this is a costly process.

Any donations of bricks welcomed.




We also moved all the smaller pieces, leaving the trailer for Larry the farmer to pull up when he got back.



Also in the paddock was Donna the pet horse who had been keeping us company over the two days.



All wrapped up.

I got my stuff together, as did Fil and we were both on the road by 12.00 on the dot.



Fils Camper held this gem too.



A long hard weekend and again proof that together we are unstoppable.

Friendship goes a long way.

[Grizz1963]

What a day, what a weekend, well, two weekends.

But I took 30 minutes over lunchtime to run to the local village Hoo St Werburgh to collect and pay for parts.

Sourced by these guys.



New Slave cylinders.



And rear brake shoes.



Total cost £39.66

@nickwheeler I think it means one can proceed.

Some parts you just get on with it when you need them.

Weekend I suspect will be the time.

[Grizz1963]

Becoming a habit it seems.

George walking up the garden path by 07.00 meant company.

First time he has come to sit on the armrest when I am doing my early morning day job stuff.

He also does sit on my lap a bit……..

Life is certainly good for me, having company.



This week has been very busy from,a,work point of view, full days of online training, testing and planning.

So yesterday was my first chance to go for my daily walk, and it was pretty good. Somewhat fresh if not chilly, not cold.

By 3.00pm the warmth leaves and the sun is heding home.



Look carefully at this pile of hay bales.

Zoom into the left top of the pic, and get a perception of the sheer size and height when you see the fences and gate on the ground.

This new farmer has so much scaled up his operation, which of course if destroying the roads because of the sheer size of the machines and tools running up and down here.

And it seems the local council and he do not give a toss, or care for anything except profit.

It really does anger me.



Now a home, but the St Mary Hoo Parish Church has been here a long time.

Quoted off the internet.

Of the three churches in Hoo – St. Mary’s, St. Werburgh’s and Allhallows – it is not completely clear which came first. However, St. Mary’s is the best contender as there is record of one Wifward de Hou passing part of the tithes of the parish here to the Priory of Rochester when he became a monk. This was around 1068 and strongly implies a church was already well established here.

By the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 Hoo St. Werburgh seems to have existed and was prevailant over Hoo St. Mary already. This is probably because the site of Hoo St. Werburgh was more suitable for habitation and that village grew as St. Mary Hoo shrank to a few houses.

Nevertheless, the church at St. Mary Hoo was rebuilt between about 1280 and 1350 as a fairly typical Kentish ragstone church with a castellated tower. All of this was heavily rebuilt around 1881.

Today the church is, unusually, a private residence and no longer has any ecclesiastical relevance. It is an odd feeling being the graveyard, which is still open to the public, but being aware that you are also standing in someone’s garden.






Hopefully I will be able to get back to the Rezin Rockit by the weekend inbetween giving Sally some deserved time.

Friday tomorrow.