PULPITGATE - we can carry on!
Thank you for all your prayers - we recived confirmation this afternoon that work can re-commence on Monday. No changes whatosever to what we were doing in the first place, but we can all be really happy that all the paperwork is properly in place. Because thats really important. And well worth holding up the project for.
HEATINGGATE!
Ah, heatingate.....more details on Monday! Nothing is ever simple.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Day 39 - Thursday March 12th
PULPITGATE - explodes!
There are many developments to report pulpit wise. The pulpit was strapped and lifted out of its siting without too many problems (see Andrews photo library via the discussion pages) and hoisted clear. One of the builders on examining it closely pronounced it as 'mass produced machine shop Victorian' so we enjoyed that bubble bursting moment a la Antiques roadshow. Essentially our pulpit came from the Victorian equivalent of IKEA and this was confirmed as the builders neatly dismantled it in to two bits. I looked for confirmatory IKEA like markings like 'Knurl' or 'Stigley' or to hear the the builders were held up because a couple of crucial screws were missing. It was odd to see something so central to our place so quickly sidelined, like Sampson losing his hair I suppose.
Anyway, the hole it was removed from is huge - if any latter day Gideon wants to find a wine-press like hole to hide in then look no further. If nothing else it will do very well to incarcerate any errant children on a Sunday, beneath the floor of the re-installed pulpit - we will have to sing loudly to drown out the insistent tapping.
Pursuing our still unfulfilled desire to kick 'WHATLIESBENEATHGATE' in to life we peered down in to the hole. Absolutely nothing. Not a sausage. Not even a solitary lost top hat or bonnet.
So, all going well, the builders whistling a merry tune as they carried out the works to the pulpit then suddenly our happy little world was shattered by........
..........ATTACK OF THE BOX TICKERS............ (preferably said in a big spooky voice)
Yes, it was true, there was some paperwork pertaining to the pulpit work outstanding. It would not have made one iota of difference to the job in hand - we had been asked to restore the pulpit exactly to where it came from and that is what would be done - no question. But because the paperwork was outstanding everything had to stop. Yes, really, all work on the pulpit has been suspended today pending paperwork. It did'nt need to be stopped, common sense could have prevailed but oh no - boxes must be ticked. All the channels that can be worked are being worked but depsite our light tone its an intensely frustrating situation. Please pray that we can start again tomorrow.
There are many developments to report pulpit wise. The pulpit was strapped and lifted out of its siting without too many problems (see Andrews photo library via the discussion pages) and hoisted clear. One of the builders on examining it closely pronounced it as 'mass produced machine shop Victorian' so we enjoyed that bubble bursting moment a la Antiques roadshow. Essentially our pulpit came from the Victorian equivalent of IKEA and this was confirmed as the builders neatly dismantled it in to two bits. I looked for confirmatory IKEA like markings like 'Knurl' or 'Stigley' or to hear the the builders were held up because a couple of crucial screws were missing. It was odd to see something so central to our place so quickly sidelined, like Sampson losing his hair I suppose.
Anyway, the hole it was removed from is huge - if any latter day Gideon wants to find a wine-press like hole to hide in then look no further. If nothing else it will do very well to incarcerate any errant children on a Sunday, beneath the floor of the re-installed pulpit - we will have to sing loudly to drown out the insistent tapping.
Pursuing our still unfulfilled desire to kick 'WHATLIESBENEATHGATE' in to life we peered down in to the hole. Absolutely nothing. Not a sausage. Not even a solitary lost top hat or bonnet.
So, all going well, the builders whistling a merry tune as they carried out the works to the pulpit then suddenly our happy little world was shattered by........
..........ATTACK OF THE BOX TICKERS............ (preferably said in a big spooky voice)
Yes, it was true, there was some paperwork pertaining to the pulpit work outstanding. It would not have made one iota of difference to the job in hand - we had been asked to restore the pulpit exactly to where it came from and that is what would be done - no question. But because the paperwork was outstanding everything had to stop. Yes, really, all work on the pulpit has been suspended today pending paperwork. It did'nt need to be stopped, common sense could have prevailed but oh no - boxes must be ticked. All the channels that can be worked are being worked but depsite our light tone its an intensely frustrating situation. Please pray that we can start again tomorrow.
Monday, March 9, 2009
DAY 36 - March 9th
Hello Bloggers -
Well, things move rapidly and as I write, the beam and winch have been installed and the straps have been attached to the pulpit ready for lift off! Andrew has already been in with his camera so expect photos soon. There is a major push on to get the pulpit sorted because it needs the scaffolding as part of the project and overall the builders are desperate to get rid of the scaffold
It opens up a whole new, entirely unexpected, chapter in 'whatliesbeneathgate' as the pulpit foundations are revelaed for the first time in 125+ years.
What could there be? - we long for an aged overhead or two - 'would the owner of Austin 7 registration number.......', 'would gentlemen please remove their top hats to avoid obstructing others view....'
Possibly loads of sermon notes, accumulated shepherds crooks from nativities, other suggestions most welcome.
Beyond that the work continues in its ploddy way. There are a number of teams here today and it amusing to see everyone wobbling around over the joists - like middle aged weebles - but to date no one has fallen down yet!
On a more serious note, please continue to pray as we work to iron out one or two issues on the project regarding what we expected from some contractors and what was delivered. It would be in-appropriate to discuss further here but these things are going on and your prayers for grace,fairness and wisdom would be appreciated.
Despite this the work goes on - and it is exciting - when we get the heating commissioned then the back will be broken of the work and it will be the downhill slope to the finish.
We continue to get a lot of encouragement with donations coming in from unexpected sources and really nice letters of support which helps to ameliorate the not so nice parts!
Well, things move rapidly and as I write, the beam and winch have been installed and the straps have been attached to the pulpit ready for lift off! Andrew has already been in with his camera so expect photos soon. There is a major push on to get the pulpit sorted because it needs the scaffolding as part of the project and overall the builders are desperate to get rid of the scaffold
It opens up a whole new, entirely unexpected, chapter in 'whatliesbeneathgate' as the pulpit foundations are revelaed for the first time in 125+ years.
What could there be? - we long for an aged overhead or two - 'would the owner of Austin 7 registration number.......', 'would gentlemen please remove their top hats to avoid obstructing others view....'
Possibly loads of sermon notes, accumulated shepherds crooks from nativities, other suggestions most welcome.
Beyond that the work continues in its ploddy way. There are a number of teams here today and it amusing to see everyone wobbling around over the joists - like middle aged weebles - but to date no one has fallen down yet!
On a more serious note, please continue to pray as we work to iron out one or two issues on the project regarding what we expected from some contractors and what was delivered. It would be in-appropriate to discuss further here but these things are going on and your prayers for grace,fairness and wisdom would be appreciated.
Despite this the work goes on - and it is exciting - when we get the heating commissioned then the back will be broken of the work and it will be the downhill slope to the finish.
We continue to get a lot of encouragement with donations coming in from unexpected sources and really nice letters of support which helps to ameliorate the not so nice parts!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Day34 Thursday 4th March
Hello to you all - my apologies for lack of blog related activity this week, but here is a quick update now.
Firstly, Pulpitgate!
Long story short, it stays. No changes, no lightening up, no nothing - it stays as is.
The bad news is that in round numbers it will be a £6,000 fix.
The good news is (photographically at least) is that in order to achieve the fix it will have to be winched completely clear of its position up in to the air. A camera will be there!
Secondly, Heatingate. It's like drawing teeth but slowly the heating system is taking shape, and the builders are starting to fill in the spaces between the joists with insulation so that the heat does not flow away in to the floor void. The floor is starting to look a little bit more like a floor which is encouraging.
The lighting people plod on, but we would value your prayers for this aspect of the work as there is real conflict over particular parts of it. Pray also for the speedy availability of the lights we need.
We had a site meeting today (Brummy accents to the fore here, a translator was in the room for the benefit of the rest of us) with all the parties involved in the work and, regretably, the builders have applied for a 5 week delay on the works due to a combination of factors. This 5 week delay is not set in stone yet, it is subject to an arbitration process and an assessment of its reasonableness but nonetheless there it is.
More to follow....
Firstly, Pulpitgate!
Long story short, it stays. No changes, no lightening up, no nothing - it stays as is.
The bad news is that in round numbers it will be a £6,000 fix.
The good news is (photographically at least) is that in order to achieve the fix it will have to be winched completely clear of its position up in to the air. A camera will be there!
Secondly, Heatingate. It's like drawing teeth but slowly the heating system is taking shape, and the builders are starting to fill in the spaces between the joists with insulation so that the heat does not flow away in to the floor void. The floor is starting to look a little bit more like a floor which is encouraging.
The lighting people plod on, but we would value your prayers for this aspect of the work as there is real conflict over particular parts of it. Pray also for the speedy availability of the lights we need.
We had a site meeting today (Brummy accents to the fore here, a translator was in the room for the benefit of the rest of us) with all the parties involved in the work and, regretably, the builders have applied for a 5 week delay on the works due to a combination of factors. This 5 week delay is not set in stone yet, it is subject to an arbitration process and an assessment of its reasonableness but nonetheless there it is.
More to follow....
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