We were back outside at the weekend, tying off some loose ends. The largest remaining island rising from the void out behind the kitchen needed attention in preparation for a new enlarged waste pipe. This would involve reducing its height back down to its original level. Luckily this was just one course of bricks, easily visible from the outside thanks to excavations and inside due to a radial crack in the cement wall.
The old manhole cover was a vastly heavy, rusted, pitted affair. The small recessed slot on top was barely adequate to pry it up with, crowbar or not. The rusted bottom, flaking and impossibly un-slimy, was crawling with large crimson and cream, thick bristled spiders, which seemingly hunted your fingers as soon as they made a grasp for the borders of their troglodytical retreat. These arachnids are woodlouse devouring Cave Spiders, their powerful jaws capable of dissecting the grey wriggling creatures' carapaces. Needless to say this cover was cast aside swiftly and out of harm's way.
The frame of the inspection chamber was equally oxidised, lightly mortared atop the bricks. Although only thin it was strongly adhered to its ceramic custodians and would not be pried off in one piece. Instead the bricks were removed one at a time from beneath it. The 9" grinder came back into action for this, slicing through the mortar bonding the bricks which were then summarily thumped out with a club hammer.
Finally the rim came away and the final bricks removed, leaving ground the new ground level three inches to the poorer. The new cover is ready to be bonded into place with its infill of paving slabs which will be an incalculably better finish. The hole needs to be filled in first though.
Whilst all this was going on at the back of the house, the front was being tidied and pampered. Beth had put in an order for many dozen flower bulbs and soil enricher and spent a happy morning digging everything in and tidying bits and bobs into skip number six. Hopefully next week we'll receive a delivery of David Austin's finest roses to adorn the roadside railings.
