Operation `Ready for Teddy` Blog 4 – Lets Raise the Roof

Week 6

After all the hard work by our volunteers to tidy the site, and collection of all the rubble and waste sacks, it was time to fill it back up again. So the end of last week saw a big flurry of activity of materials arriving on site.

With lots and Lots of wood and a big steel beam arriving, I was starting to wonder what was coming next. I didn’t have to wait for long before I had the answer, and now I think of it, it seems obvious – It was time for the ROOF!

With some evening preparation done mid week, early Saturday morning Bradley and Alex arrived and were off and running. Mummy and Daddy had to fashion up some safety measures inside to make sure that no light came in when our house roof was being disturbed. Hmm maybe a new method for drying Mummy`s washing!

Temporary Measures

By lunchtime the roof shape had started to emerge and by the end of a very long day, even after I was in bed the tired duo packed up their tools and headed home. I was amazed when I got up in the morning to see how much was done; and I hadn’t even had my breakfast when they were back again and busy measuring, cutting, banging and scurrying up and down the scaffolding.

New roof taking shape

Roof nearing completion as the sun goes down

With a only short break for some migraine tablets and to munch some bananas, they carried on until they were finished!

Alex Cooper and Bradley Sullivan work through the weekend to keep us on schedule

I was so inspired that I decided to try and make a roof for Baby Raife`s playpen. Unfortunately he didn`t share my vision and was less keen about the idea!

Hmm, flat roof of pitched baby Raife?

After an action packed weekend the week continued in the same way. Andy and my new friend Jordan (Andy`s son/our junior Brickie) were back on site and I got to spend a morning out working with them on site. After helping Jordan move and sort the wood off cuts we enjoyed our tea break with a lovely cuppa, lots of giggles and some custard creams.

Lending a hand

Tea break

Just like Andy – keeping the site clean!

It has been lots of fun having Jordan around and between his work on site he has popped in to play with me and Roo (Baby Raife), even making time to keep us entertained when it was too hot for me to come outside!  Mummy said she could even hear us laughing and shrieking outside when she was hanging up the washing! Its lots of fun playing with big boys, and I didn’t know that my ride on cars could go so fast until I met Jordan. Mummy and Daddy have been holding out on me, but now I know how to opening them up and feel the Gs!

Jordan keeps me and Roo entertained x

It`s not just been me that`s working hard this week. Trevor has been very busy making calls and getting things ready for the next phase of works and Mummy and Daddy have been busy too.

My best friend Finlay`s Mum, Emma, popped over to lend a hand after my bedtime, and she, Mummy and Daddy got all the rafters painted in preparation for the roof tiles going on next week. Well, when I say all…that is all excluding the one Daddy missed – oops! Poor Emma was so nervous painting around Andy`s stone in case she got any spots of paint on it, and Mummy was so nervy she had to break out the Maltesers to help her keep a steady hand. Thankfully they managed without disaster, well except the splodge Daddy made – double oops! Think the signs of tiredness are starting to show!

Emma feeling the pressure!

Nice and steady!

The week ended with Mummy and Daddy having a meeting with a man about indoor play equipment. They are being very secretive about this as they want it all to be a surprise for me! I cant wait to see what fun things they manage to fit into my garden room.

Lots still to do so as always very excited about next week.

Project Managers Comment of the Week

“Support for the project continues with a free of charge donation of lifting trollies for the steel beam to attach Ted’s swing to.

A slight delay to starting roof tiling, will be on schedule by 25th August.

I will be handing over to Ted on 2nd September until 16th September will I take a holiday in Wales. I am sure he will keep the project on plan for a 30th Sept completion.

Roo (baby Raife) will takeover as assist Project Manager with special responsibilities for internal finishes!”

Acknowledgements

Special thanks this week to the following:

Bradley Sullivan (roof carpentry)
Alex Cooper (roof carpentry)
Andy Cooke APC Brickwork (block and stonework)
Jordan Cooke (Junior Brickie)
Neil Shorter (assistance with site clearance)
Travis Perkins (materials)
Thomas Lazenby `Lifting Safety` (beam trollies)
Peter Mealham, Mealham Metal Products (Steel roof beam)

A big thank you to Emma for coming out and enduring Daddy`s endless banter and still managing to keep her hand steady and doing such a good job with painting the rafters, and for resisting the temptation to paint a dinosaur on them.

Daddy`s Final Thoughts

“Another fantastic week of progress and an amazing effort by Bradley and Alex who have moved us on leaps and bounds and completely embraced the spirit of the project. Thanks guys. Its also been fantastic fun getting to know our Junior Brickie Jordan. All really excited to see the roof tiles go on!”

Operation `Ready for Teddy` Blog 3 – Here Comes the Cavalry!

Week 4

Now that the floor was installed it was time for Andy to come back to site and get going with building the walls –  and get going he did!

During the course of the week walls started to emerge from the ground. Early on he was joined on site again by volunteer Kate, who brought along her daughter Emily. After helping Andy by moving LOTS of blocks into position, Kate and Emily came in for a play with me.

Andy, Kate, Emily and Trevor take a break from shifting blocks

Walls start to emerge

Adrian and Andy work out roof levels

I had so much fun playing with Emily and I think she had fun too. I hope she comes back to see me again!

Having fun with new friend Emily

While I continued with my apprenticeship Mummy and Daddy started to write a list on the Project Board of all the jobs they had to do. I must admit I took one look and thought…hmmm don`t fancy your chances, not with me and Raife to occupy. Just as Mummy was starting to arrive at the same conclusion, the very unexpected happened.  Mummy had just put us to bed and who did she see trotting through the garden gate…NANNY! What a lovely surprise when we woke the next morning and what perfect timing.

Now that the Cavalry (AKA Nanny) was here Mummy and Daddy headed outside while Raife and I enjoyed our quality time inside with Nanny. It was very hot outside this week so I didn’t get much time outside, but Daddy made sure I was still able to enjoy a little bit of the outside while indoors!

Snail watching

Busy outside Mummy and Daddy set about building a new fence in the garden to make sure we have an area safe from the building site and ready for rebuilding my outside `Night Garden` when the works are finished. It was very hard work in very hot weather, but with a little help from me and Nanny they got the job done!

Mummy and Daddy busy working through their epic list of jobs

Nanny lends a hand

Power screwdriver – mastered!

And when it was finished I rewarded Mummy with a VERY muddy hug!!!

Muddy hugs x x x

Week 5

After a lovely week with Nanny and a very productive week for Mummy, Daddy and Andy my new room is really starting to take shape.

Andy was back again and this week it was a real family affair with a little help from his son Jordon and nephews Kieran  and James. In between labouring for Andy they popped in and out to play with my and even brought me some sweets! What a lucky boy I am, with even more new friends now!

Andy with nephews James and Kieran and son Jordan all lending a hand

Auntie Becca (Teddington Trust Founder and Treasurer) and my baby cousin Iris arrived this week and were delighted to see the wonderful progress and have an opportunity to meet some of the team. This week Trevor, Lesley, Brian, Penny, Kate and (my favourite big girl friend) Emily were back on site to lend a hand, and it wasn’t long before Emily was inside playing with my and enjoying painting and sticker fun.

The A-Team (Trevor, Lesley, Brian, Penny, Andy, Kate and Emily)

Getting crafty with Emily

The weather was a little bit cooler some mornings so I was able to pick up the pace on my Training with Andy. This week I scaled the scaffolding to check the wall plate levels, got to use some power tools and even laid some stone! I imagine at this rate I will be able to give Andy a day off soon!

Aiming high with Andy. Spot check of levels

WARNING: Health and Safety Advisers turn away

Laying Stone with ACE Brickie Andy

Back to basics in bricklaying

Hmmm a little unconventional. Maybe a career in Architecture like Mummy

As Auntie Becca was here I decided to stay up late, VERY late one night, and as it was a lovely warm night, Mummy decided to let me stay up after dark. We headed out with my bike, which Mummy hung an lantern off so she didn’t lose me and I enjoyed feeling the warm air on my bare legs. My first time in shorts and t-shirt outside, quite a night!! We did a night Site Inspection with my lantern and I ended the evening before going to bed with a very special gaze at the stars and snuggle with Auntie Becca.

Reaching for the stars with Auntie Becca

To end the week I decided to bake some scones and call a Project Meeting with the Treasurer and Project Manager. We had a lovely afternoon tea and discussed the next steps forward for the project including how far we could get with our funds. Trevor and Auntie Becca were happy that we could proceed to the next step of the build which I was thrilled about!

So after another hectic fortnight, with lots of work on site, new experiences and new friends made I decided to sit back, relax and have a nap…

All worn out. Nap time with Lesley z z z

Sweet dreams of what will come next week z z z z z

Project Managers Comments of the Week

“Two weeks ago it looked as though we would have to accept a probable delay of up to 14 days. This was due to delays for finalisation of roof design and availability of roof construction team.

This was all overcome as the Structural engineer deliberations, Brad Sullivan and his assistant Alex (Roof Timber carpenters) availability came together with a start date 9th Aug with a finish date 13 Aug. This now puts us a week ahead of schedule with a 30th September project completion date, spot on original plan”.

Stay tuned to next weeks blog for roof progress…

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to the following:

Andy Cooke APC Brickwork (brick, block and stonework)
Adrian Bourne (assistance with setting out wall plates)
Dean Hatcher (Scaffolding)
Jordan, Kieran & James (Junior volunteer labour)
Kate and Emily Stevens (volunteer labour)
Travis Perkins (materials)
Trevor, Lesley, Penny and Brian (site work, labour and support)
Auntie Becca for keeping the finances rolling; and

Nanny! Without her surprise visit Mummy and Daddy would not have been able to achieve so much.

Mummy and Daddy`s Final Thoughts

“We have been completely overwhelmed by the generosity of spirit of all involved. Not only have they all been so committed to making the build high quality and professionally built, but they have also gone above and beyond to keep the job rolling, which has involved working in some of the hottest days of the year, long days and lots of liaison between the various parties. Everyone involved has invested so much time in getting to know us as a family and reaching out to the boys and we feel very lucky to have made many new friends. We promise to keep the tea flowing over the coming weeks. THANK YOU ALL “