New deck....Lockdown notwithstanding :)

It's a bit of a long story but I have an English Tearooms in France. It's been very difficult, I opened 3 years ago after probably a year long battle with banks and bureaucracy but finally we opened. 3 years on and we were doing really well, built up a regular trade and were actually in the position where it was necessary for customers to book in advance to be guaranteed a table.

So, I planned an extension to the outside dining area  making a raised decked terrace. We are within 500 metres of what is a listed building so planning permission is required. Early in February I applied for permission, normally after 60 days it's a done deal. Two weeks worth of building and we would be ready for opening at the end of April. Then - Coronovirus! Planning department shut down, restaurants (including me) shut down, 3 months of every opportunity in the world to have a builder on site working alone but no planning permission. New regulations for restaurants before they can open - tables 2 metres apart, what do I need a terrace, what haven't I got - planning permission to build a terrace.....

I came up with Plan B, decking the lower garden, not ideal, a very long way from the kitchen, a lovely bit of lawned garden I and customers enjoy, but we don't need planning permission and an opportunity to space tables 2 metres apart.

I order the wood, employ a simple (cheap) builder as opposed to an engineer builder that is required for the raised deck and all set to start work.....12 hours before work starts planning permission for Plan A comes in. So, I have to fire simple (cheap) builder because he hasn't the skills or insurance to do do raised deck, beg engineer (insured) builder to drop everything and now do raised deck - he thought Plan A was scrapped so took on other work, he thankfully, puts other clients off and organises working for me, luckily is happy to use my simple (cheap) builder to do labouring for him so I have not completely fired him.... so it goes on...

But 3 days later we have the beginnings of a flying deck.Pictures below. I have spent the last 48 hours making new flowerbeds from the spoil dug out from 15 holes needed to put in the footings. Flowers have had to be rescued and moved into new beds in 30 degree heat, often builder digging them out before a space was even ready for the poor mites...they may well not actually survive....we'll see. 

I am not complaining, just a little frustrated that for 3 months I have been twiddling my thumbs and now just a week before restaurants are going to be allowed to open planning permission comes through - c'est la vie....

So before and after pics, still 3 weeks work to be done.....



Plan  A





Side view from the public park below ....




Shuttering and concreting (apparently) Day 2


New flowerbed 1 (lower garden) and in the background the wood for the decking and an old oil tank that will be a train for kids to play on (eventually) from leftover decking. 



The bottom of the staircase....aka my Penstemen bed that had to be relocated 0)



Newly made Hemerocallis bed, poor things were ripped out of their original bed by builder - 2 chances! They were just about to flower. I've topped up with Iris too now.
 I made the retaining wall from the rubble, I hope to tidy to it up at a later stage. :



New Flowerbed 2 (lower garden)


 Current view from the park. 


Lower garden before new beds were added. sails to be added to pergola frame when builder is finished, new deck will be above, looking down on this view. The original terrace is higher again. After all this I do hope customers return.

So, there you go, watch this space. A few stressful weeks ahead. Opening Day (Macron not withstanding) Friday 26th June, National Cream Tea Day.