The outside side of the wall with part of it rebuilt and heightened.
This is the wall now completely rebuilt. Note the vertical stone at the foot, just left of centre. Behind it is a very large stone (I could not move) which resembles a steep sided back. The first time I thought I had bridged it successfully. The second time (!) I put in the vertical stone to hold the bridge.
In the longterm, Sorley's house will provide shelter and we may reduce the height of the wall again. But in the meantime I can grow more things in the garden.
Archie has now started work on the gable window. First off, David (who works for him) has taken out all the old pointing and repointed deeply with plenty of cement. Towards the left (not pointed) is where the window will be. The plan is that all the new pointing will hold the wall together when he takes out the hole for the window, long enough for him to install a concrete lintel. Having built walls with the 'pigs' heads' stones of Bousta, I know the problem!
Archie is now making the window (a sash window same as the kitchen and bedroom windows, which he made) and I have a two week gap to nip down south for family and culture. I'm hoping the weather will be better than last week when the boat took 12 hours (into the northerly gale) from Orkney!
Archie has now started work on the gable window. First off, David (who works for him) has taken out all the old pointing and repointed deeply with plenty of cement. Towards the left (not pointed) is where the window will be. The plan is that all the new pointing will hold the wall together when he takes out the hole for the window, long enough for him to install a concrete lintel. Having built walls with the 'pigs' heads' stones of Bousta, I know the problem!
Archie is now making the window (a sash window same as the kitchen and bedroom windows, which he made) and I have a two week gap to nip down south for family and culture. I'm hoping the weather will be better than last week when the boat took 12 hours (into the northerly gale) from Orkney!