Kris Kindle 2010

It's that time of year again and whilst none of us know who we are buying for it's never to early to get advertising.

For those of you who don't now, the principle is that everybody buys a christmas present for one given person. This is to be done, more or less in secret as no one is to reveal who they are buying for until after the presents are opened. Since we only get one present, it pays to advertise and hopefully get something you really want (not just socks and pencils, which no one really wants (or do they......))!

As we have not had our letters yet this year, we do not know how the global financial crises has affected Kris kindle, but one expects that the value of the present will be around the €50 which it has been previous years.

Word has it that it's back to singles this year, and I believe that the rules do state that you do not end up buying for your partner.

The Kris kindle post last year generated 74 comments (some hilarious, some total nonsense and some hilariously nonsensical), let's keep up the tradition.

The barn roof #1

As mentioned in the previous post, the Barn roof has taken up pretty much all my spare time this summer. After heavy winds (not prevailing) blowing across the roof and piling a lot of snow on one side, the barn not only twisted even more than it already was, 3 roof trusses also broke. All in all, it was a miracle that it did not collapse.

So, quite rightly, all other projects were down prioritised on the grounds that the house will still be standing if we don't finish painting, the kitchen garden can wait and so on but the barn will not stand another winter.

The real farmer next door happens to also be a fully qualified carpenter/joiner/builder, very competant and, especially since he also has equipment up there, very helpful. He has been my consultent for this project, supplied materials (which will be paid for!) and lent a helping hand (along with his 2 sons) with any jobs I couldn't manage alone.

So, the barn was emptied, 1 "pack" of 8"x2" and 1 of "4"x"2" where delivered (local wood cut on next doors saw)

and early in June, phase 1 was to straighten up the gable end and install new diagonal strengheners. As you can see, the old ones were doing next to nothing.

With the help of a long strap, a laser and a tractor the barn didn't really need that much persuading to straighten up, somthing that it hasn't been for a long time.

The opening, which was modified (raised) after the barn had already moved was the only bit of the barn that was verticle, so this excercise has left me with a straight barn and a crooked door, another job on the list, albeit cosmetic.

Proper diagonals were installed

on both sides of the door,

and not surprisingy, when the tractor and strap were removed, everything stayed put.

That was the easy bit, now attention was turned to the roof.......

Getting Ready for winter.....

It's been too long.... I can blame how much I've had to do, motivation, a barn roof, a tractor, a studying wife, all the fun things there are to do with a 2 year old, a knackered computer, building a new computer and so on....

Anyway, nightime temperatures below zero are annoucing the oncoming winter, which we are not ready for.

Here's a photo of the only one who is ready....


This photo was taken towards the end of last winter when Ski's were on offer, he only had a couple of outings on them, but I expect that this winter he'll be much more enthusiastic. The boots should fit him now as well!

Here's another photo from the end of last winter, and the cause of the reason why we're not ready for this winter.


Here's the damage, which as the real farmer next door rightly pointed out, we had to do something with otherwise we wouldn't have a barn next year.


Drastic action has been taken and is nearly complete, more on that (maybe) later....