On what has been the coldest morning of the year so far, Martin Bowers from Fordingbridge arrived promptly to start work on replacing our Wisteria arbour.
The first stumbling block was literally one of concrete – a thick layer from which he had to prise the sheathed bottom of a post needing replacement. It was very hard work – even to watch him.
The same was true of the next one which Martin drilled before breaking up to make room for the second post, which would be
cemented in like the first.
Great concentration, employing the obligatory pencil behind the ear, measuring tape, string, and spirit level, was demonstrated in lining up the second post.
Unfortunately Martin then discovered that some of the older posts he had thought could be utilised were rather too like the curate’s egg, and only good in parts. He will therefore need to return with more new timber to complete the job a day or two after Christmas.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s thick chicken and vegetable stew with crusty bread. The accompaniment to the Culinary Queen’s portion was Hoegaarden, and mine, Chateau Chante Mistral Lirac 2020
In your part of the world you’re blessed with some excellent artisans.
We certainly are, Sheree. Thanks very much
My immediate thought as well!
Mine, too!
🙂
I can see from the photos that this is lots of hard work! There’s always something that comes too it seems.
Indeed. Thanks very much, John
It will be good to have a safe, new arbour in place.
It will, Anne. Thanks very much
Looks like the arbor is in good hands
Yes. Thanks very much, Laurie
Martin is an excellent worker! Looks like he’s THE man for the job. It will be good to have a safe, long-lasting arbor.
(((HUGS))) 🙂
Thank you very much, Carolyn X
In your part of the world a cold morning is much different than ours. You need a jacket on the warmer morning and a coat on most mornings now.
Thanks very much, Mrs W
Your welcome.
I would say that the days of the lurching wisteria arbor are over!
Yes, indeed, Liz. Thanks very much
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Some days you can’t win for losing. Better luck with round two.
Martin gives me every confidence, Pat. Thank you very much
Some days you can’t win for losing. Better luck with round two.
Excellent work. It won’t fall down in some of those winds you get.
I don’t think it will, Chrissy. Thanks very much
What fine timbers Martin is using – it will indeed be an arbour fit for The Head Gardener’s Wisteria!
Thanks very much, Emma
It is rather an essay in hard work, Derrick. One does get tired even to look at the photos.
Indeed, Dolly. Thanks very much.
You are very welcome, Derrick.
Happy Holidays to you and Jackie!
And to you both, Dolly
Thank you.
The traditional pencil gives one great confidence in the quality of the work being done.
Indeed. Thanks very much, Tootlepedal
Excellent photo series on concentration and hard work. You’re going to have a sturdy wisteria arbor.
Thanks very much, Merril
You’re welcome.
Definitely a clever craftsman t work Derrick ..
Thanks very much, Ivor
Your Wisteria arbour appears to be in good hands. Look forward to seeing Martin’s finished work.
Thanks very much, Rosaliene
Martin looks quite focused on the project at hand. Nice shots, Derrick!
Thanks very much, Jill
That is hard work and Martin is doing a fine job.
I have the black plastic same folding sawhorses as Martin. 🙂
Thank you very much, Lavinia
That’s going to be one sturdy arbour!
Thanks a lot, JoAnna
That’s going to be a right proper job when it’s finished
It is. Thanks a lot, Gary
I imagine it’s quite the challenge to untangle a wisteria from its old arbor. Did you have to trim it back a lot? It will be nice to have new timbers for it to climb on when it’s done, but you’re a smart man to hire someone else to get it done. It looks like backbreaking work…
Yes, Anna. Maybe 7 or 8 years ago I could have tackled it if I had the skill – but not now. Jackie really trimmed the wisteria away a lot, but we are confident that it will grow back. Thank you very much
Haha – in your climate, I have no doubt it will! 🙂
That is a …. devil of a job. You certainly ensnare good tradesmen. Still no word on Aaron? Surely if something ‘bad’ had happened to him you would have heard?
I think we would have heard, but we couldn’t keep chasing him. I think he has his hands full and may pop up again one day
I’m looking forward to seeing the end result.
Thanks very much, Sue
I was never able to keep the pencil behind my ear!
That’s what Jackie says 🙂 Thanks a lot, John
It does he does good work. But that reminds me of Aaron. He’s been gone so long, I do hope Covid didn’t get him.
I expect we will hear from him some day, GP. Thanks a lot
Coldest morning so far and Martin is only wearing a tee shirt.
He started off well wrapped up, but soon warmed up with that effort. Thanks a lot, Andrew
Hello Jackie and Derrick, Merry Christmas.
Thank you very much from us both, Arlene
Welcome Derrick.
We had a wisteria once, goodness, it was beautiful, but got quite messy with time. We chopped it down and it came back, chopped more down, and it came back. It was tricky to get rid of it. An arbor is a good idea, it’s a heavy plant.
Thanks very much, Bridget
Most interesting Derrick, and it has added another English word to my vocabulary! I did not know the word ‘arbor’ and so I looked it up….and courtesy of Google, I quote…an abor is a vertical structure in a landscape or garden that can provide shelter, privacy, shade, and serve as an accent. It even gave me a picture 🙂
I am sure yours will look lovely too Derrick.
Thank you very much, Agnes. Always pleased to add a word 🙂
🙂
You are lucky to have found a skilled and hard-working tradesman. I imagine the finished results to be stunning!
Thank you very much, Eugi
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Given it was a cold morning, I think Martin must have a very different thermostat from mine! You do have so many good workmen/craftspeople and I imagine they are in high demand. I like that he was re-using timber–even if it means he must choose some different pieces and return. And yes, the pencil give confidence!
Thank you very much, Lisa
Hard work and great concentration indeed!
Thank you very much, Ribana
Martin has certainly taken over that parcel of the garden. I look forward to seeing an enormously augmented Wisteria Arbour.
Thanks very much, Uma
Martin doesn’t seem to realize it was the coldest day of the year. I got a chill looking at your photos.
You can’t beat an ear-pencil for accuracy! 😀
Indeed. Thanks a lot, Widders