It seems that I told you about our plans to build this wall more than 3 years ago, and the footings were already in by then. It seems that, if we have it done by the end of the autumn, that the whole plan will have taken 5 years from conception to completion. I’m tremendously pleased that we have finally made a start on it, that I can actually – slowly, carefully and not to a professional standard notwithstanding – lay bricks and that we’re all enjoying it. I love working with the Sage, and we’ve been so busy over quite some years that we don’t do things together any more. And Dave, as well as being the spur and the help to getting it done at all, is good company and we are all getting on well and working well together.

Fabulously and wonderfully, the Sage is already talking about the next project he has in mind – rebuilding our boathouse, which hasn’t been used for several decades. I adore this man (don’t tell him that, I prefer to play it cool) – he’s as much of a fool as I am. But we’re fools with feet on the ground, because we plan things that are achievable*. I don’t know if Dave is a fool? – oh go on, you must be, Dave. I’d only met you once when you offered to help with this project and now it’s taking up half your life for several months. The kindness is terrific (ah, we’re sorted into ‘old enough to know where that comes from’ and not, I suspect).

*I’m not entirely sure about the achievableness of the boathouse project, since it stands in the river and I’m not good around water. But I’ll don the old Mae West and brave the element.

Anyway, today the first pillar was completed – that is, to the eventual height of the wall, which will be about 5 foot. Dave is leaning heavily on the wall, which makes it look as if it’s bowed out slightly. It isn’t.

As you can more clearly see here.