still alive

i have always thought that people that say that they don't have time for stuff just need to prioritize. i would like to apologize to those people... i have been extensively prioritizing the last little while and thus managed to both eat and sleep (a little). at least that is what it feels like. 

but i have been able to get my hands on some goodies and to make some other goodies and have been having fun. 

my automation for my gate, the gate motor, died. it gave us little notice and i found it rather rude. we had not other choice to replace it. like most diy jobs its always a quick and easy "little"' project until you get started. lucky for me i had ll the power cables and intercom cables conduits in place for the new installation. shock and horror thought when i removed the old motor to find that the conduit was coming up out of the ground int he wrong spot. it  was a long week, working on the installation after the kids went to bed every night but may i say, i wish the old unit had died earlier. it has been a lovely upgrade! i even installed safety beams so i no longer run the risk of my gate closing on my visitors cars! 

with the ground sloping quite a bit towards where the motor is placed, it is always a problem when it rains. loose soil gets washed into that area, grass cuttings joins the fray and regular cleaning around the mounting area was regularly required. this new installation was special and did not deserve that kind of invasion. 

so i tried my hand at bricklaying for the first time. i guess that is why i waited so long before posting anything about it. it was the first time. i needed to make sure that wall stays standing before i tell the world who built it... it sis also the only picture i have of the entire job. don't think it is too bad for a first go...