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Hi
How the weeks are flying by although every day seems to be the same as the one before or the one coming next. Apart from the odd click and collect that’s about the only travelling I’m doing these days as I find that Toolstation has an excellent free next day delivery and also Wickes who delivered six sheets of 4x2 polystyrene to me for insulation in my garage roof in the middle of the wind and rain on Tuesday – they got it in to the garage without it snapping and I managed to get it cut to size inside using a jigsaw which I had not thought on trying before but had no room to wield a handsaw or large knife! They are now up between the rafters and covered in aluminium foil insulation so nice and cosy and good light reflection from my new LED striplights.

Two bits of information came in today – first the Scouts have their new lease on the land and Graham has given us the go ahead to start work when we can. He is hoping to come on to zoom tomorrow but has a trip to the tip first so may be late. This means that we need to think about getting the ground cleared as a first item and I have already asked the guy who did my driveway if he would give a quote which he has agreed to do but he has a lot of work on although he did say that could be a bad weather job when other things like laying paving and bricklaying were out. I think we should get three or four quotes so tomorrow on zoom and by this email I’ll be asking for help and ideas on how to do this and also possibly just resurrect the ad hoc committee to undertake this. Advice and ideas for the ground clearance first. When we have it cleared and levelled the remaining budget will determine next steps so don’t go rushing away and buying containers!. I’m also hopng that anone giving a quote for the groundwork may also have ideas or contacts for portacabins – you never know.

The other bit of info is that John has got the go-ahead for one cross to be sited at the church alsong the lines we discussed and the gardener is happy with a hole in his lawn so John and I will investigate that further and Geoff and he are going to make the cross. A donation from the Church for this work is forthcoming which is in keeping with anyone wanting something done to provide materials or a donation. I’m assuming that Lyall will be happy with a bank transfer but before I pass on that info Lyall can you confirm that it is ok to do so please. I still have a B&Q £30.00 voucher from Currie Primary but have not been able to use it for anything for the shed yet and may just use it next time I get stuff from them and pass over the cash value to Lyall. Anyone else going to B&Q soon could do the same but given the meeting up restrictions I’ll not take that any further at present unless someone just happens to be passing on their way to B&Q!

It looks as though the completion of my driveway has been well timed When the skip goes I’ll maybe post a few pictures on the website. We’re very pleased with the work and it is a superb
even profile right from pavement to front door threshold which is just as well as the result of Mary’s x-ray shows she has indeed got an osteoporosis induced fracture in one of her vertebrae so will have to be very careful for some time when walking and stepping up as even when the fracture heals there is not a lot of bone to keep it all together. She will now be having CT scans to see if there is any medication which can maybe help build up the bone. That review was not for another year but it looks now as though it may be brought forward although with COVID that may be a forlorn hope.

Vaccines seem to be giving us all some good hope for the future, I just hope the politicians hold their nerve and don’t move too fast and screw the whole get out of lockdown scenario once again but I fear that that will happen as everyone seems to be taking Boris’s dates as gospel even though he is sounding a note of caution too. The fence everyone is sitting on is pretty wobbly and undoubtedly needs some supports from the Shed!!

Now I’m going to say cheerio for this week, hope all are still safe and well and I look forward to seeing some of you on Zoom tomorrow.

Best regards, Alister


Alister Skinner
Chairman
Pentlands Men's Shed