Below Belief

I spent the weekend in Bristol volunteering to work on the self-build project C and R are attempting. They’ve bought into the commonhold of an ex-industrial building which is being refurbished (on the outside) and have basically just taken possession of a 100m2 shell on the 1st floor and have plans to turn it into a 3 bedroom flat with space for their them, their young son M and baby-on-the-way.
There were 6 of us – including fortunately C’s dad who has many years experience in joinery and shopfitting and by the end of the weekend pretty much all the internal wall structure was in and built. We used metal studwork which I’d never used before but the design of curved wall meant there were various complex aspects to getting the studwork in the right place and with the right centres such that plasterboard can be easily nailed on top.
Pictures to follow once I can get them off my phone.
Had a great weekend anyway – hard work but great fun and will post more pictures if I can of how the build progresses. They’re hoping to move in in March and with progress like this, they might stand a chance!

Although quite unbelievably cold at -30′C , skiing here in Banff at Lake Louise is absolutely superb. The snow is new but in great condition – no ice and lots of powder.

Staying out all day in the alpine scenery requires many layers, no exposed skin and a modicum of pain and discomfort. Canada has organisation licked though and we both want to live here…