The plot thickens...

Good fences make better security

2007-09-04T11:03:00.000+02:00

From the first time we went to the plot, we noticed a well worn, highly travelled thoroughfare along the side by the neighbour's wall fence. This popular short cut, though convenient for the neighbourhood could prove to be a costly nuisance to us. So the next step was to build a fence to change the behaviour of the neighbours. The ultimate fence, which is part of our architect's plans, is also expensive and therefore relegated to some future phase of building.

Getting down to basics, we decided to build a simple fence of wooden slabs and posts. So we found someone to do just that - give us a quotation for materials and labour and get it done. Finding someone was fairly easy. Getting a written quotation wasn't a big job either. After checking the costs of materials and transport and having the first load delivered to the site, work began.

Work started on the fence in the back of the plot. Twenty-one post holes were dug, two meters apart. Once the posts were secured in the holes, horizontal wooden slabs were attached to the posts. Vertical slabs were then meticulously nailed. You can't really tell from this picture, because you're looking at the inside. Outside pictures come later. Remember, patience is Fruit of the Spirit.

When work began on the front fence, the issue of the container surfaced. It had to be moved. The fork lift moved the container to the gate opening and left it there. The idea was to go around and lift it from the front. It sounded like a good idea at the time, except that...

...the fork lift got stuck in the sandy soil. That begs the question - "Why is the soil sandy?" Because the river is very close by. Did you think it had something to do with the waterworks?

Those two lonely posts aren't for the fence. They're for the shack - about which more later.

While waiting for the forklift and container to be extricated, work continued on the front fence.

Now you see the outside results of meticulous nailing. It will look even better with the gate in place.

Do I hear the sound of bated breath?

Will some accomplished blogster tell me how to get the spacing right?

Comments

2007-08-31T17:45:00.000+02:00

Can't get the hang of this. Checking to find out if I've enabled comments. Put me out of my misery. Any comments on the gem below?

Let's start at the beginning

2007-08-31T09:06:00.000+02:00

So here we are somewhere beyond the water works, masters of part of what we survey - or at least we thought we were. Don't look for us, we're shy. The car isn't even ours, but it adds a nice touch.

For those of you whose horizons are bordered by those two oceans, this is NOT a cemetery plot. This is a residential plot - high cost, thank you very much.

Now, for a view from the back to the street:
WOW! I like this panoramic view better. But cast your eyes up to the first picture and imagine a fence from left to right, low wall of hydroform blocks, topped by decorative wrought iron posts up to two metres, with two driveways and (of course) two gates. On the front left behind Gate One, a guest cottage and further back to the right behind Gate Two, the house. Behind the house a spacious, well appointed insaka, or lapa to you viewers from the south. Next to the insaka a real swimming pool, not one of those splash pools found hard by some game lodges which can't adequately accommodate traditionally built ladies like myself and Mma R. And the crowning glory - a fish pond. Not one of those feng shui aligned pools with temperamental little decorative fish. A serious pond stocked with bream and mirror carp for consumption, but decorative.

Imagination won't run to that. Watch this space. And take note of that container. It features in upcoming posts.