Sunday 22th Aug 2010 / 15:00

William’s been round to deliver the ‘skip loader’ and drink some tea.

I’ve got the day off today as this is the day they start. The first thing that happens is New Forest Hire deliver the digger.

Monday 23 Aug 2010 / 10:06

Ben, William’s son, drives the digger in.

Monday, 23 August 2010 / 10:16

Ben and Orion start attacking the existing drains with an electric percussion hammer. The existing pipes and two inspection chambers are in the way of where the foundation needs to go so must be replaced with a temporary arrangement.

Monday, 23 August 2010 / 11:41

Exposing the drainage pipes.

Getting the pipes ready to connect the temporary plastic piping to.

Monday, 23 August 2010 / 16:25

Temporary piping in position. The bit sticking up will hinge down to link to the kitchen waste pipe after the digging’s done.

Monday, 23 August 2010 / 16:24

Fitting the right bucket to the digger.

Monday, 23 August 2010 / 16:31

The first dig.

Wednesday, 25 August 2010 / 07:26

Most of the conservatory foundation trenches are done.

Wednesday, 25 August 2010 / 07:28

This is the soil from Monday and Tuesday’s digging.

Thursday 26 August 2010 / 07:24

This is Wednesday’s digging, but we’ve had about 30 mm of rain and the site is turning into a quagmire. The corner to the right of the picture has had to be dug to 1.7 m because it’s a few metres away from a cherry tree. There’s a lot of water in the trenches.

Thursday 26th August 2010 / 07:25

Arggh! The pile of soil is now enourmous and I have to wear wellies to get in and out. The cars are trapped for the time being.