Back to the Land - working on the roundhouse today

At Lammas in Wales for the past 4 days helping Simon Dale build a roundhouse. Heavy rains have produced lots of mud in the fields. We (a team of 5 volunteers, Simon's father-in-law Nigel, and Simon's friend Marcie) are staying in the house on straw bales as we build it.
Today - mixing the lime and sand for plaster - the ratio is 1:3. then applying another coat of plaster on the walls where the straw was showing through - this is the third coat.
Espjon dug a drain for the waste water pipe
Simon rigged up a kitchen sink and cooker in the outer wall of the house, sawed the windowsills and baked oatcakes when Jasmine and his two young kids came to visit. (they are staying down the road temporarily)
Andrew built up the wall on the outside of the house, continuing the undulating shape that Simon had started
Stef sorted out all the stuff in the kitchen, carrying it down from the temporary tent that collapsed in the gales two days ago and also built the wall.
Marcie went to buy vegetables with Jasmine.
Cosmo and his friends played pirates.


Tip of the day
How to make a Lime Mortar:
First shovel sand into wheelbarrow (24 shovels), then lime (8 shovels) so that the lime comes out first. On thick plastic sheet put lime mix down first, then stir in sand slowly with thick rubber boots. Do a dance but don't dance or you risk splashing lime in your eyes.

Apply as necessary to stone, straw etc.
NB. The mortar is not a glue, it fixes materials together by drying in place so should be put in the cracks between stones rather than applied between them.