Alan White

Great report Mike, but I do feel a bit light on Tak appreciation this time. Some more picture, just for @paulastro, you know it makes sense 😄 As to the 80a filter, I agree, sometimes that light blue does tease a wee bit more out of Venus. I don't have a yellow filter, so cannot comment on this option, but sounds like it is just as well that I don't. Lucky you getting out last night, I was very tempted, I could put a tripod out without danger of falling down a very large hole at last, but alas, the comfy sofa won again, probably the VE Day refreshments assisted in this call too.

Parcel Force delivered earlier, it is Astro related honest, both relate to my recent flush of sucess with the Khazi, Some sealant for the fence Khazi interface, one tube was not enough! A very nice set of Marples chisels, this Wood Butcher needs some better wood tooling going forward. Otherwise, how will I build the Cistern Chapel.....😂 see where we are going with this line.

So here are the pictures, I think my addled brain made it bigger than it is last night, but still not what I would expect from powder coating within a layer of foam wrapping. I think the blurred marks, sorry camera will not focus on the upright fins, all at same height are from the carrier rolling a heavy lump about. The top plat was under layers of foam wrapping, so could not have been marked in transit, so was this how it was supplied? For the money a little disappointing, but I always over expect perhaps, but it will touch in OK, just need a suitable paint.

Mike thanks for the inputs. The house is on TN-S and the Consumer Unit matches (well similar MK unit) the one on the Garage put in by my sparks in 2018. The supply to the garden was run to an RCD socket in 2010 by the same sparks. All I have done is change an existing RCD socket at the concrete base to a Consumer unit so I could protect the socket and light circuits, the socket was used for a pool pump and hot tub pump in the past. As to the soakaway, no those are run the other side and end of the plot, which as I am on a slope, slopes in the other direction. This side of the garden is the driest. I have been assured by others that I have hit one of the local 'Hoggin' layers and I have nothing to worry about. Clearly time will tell.

@mikeDnight So I could not resist, had to sneak out to garage and unwrap the pier, oh was my reaction. Sadly somehow it’s chipped in a few places and scratched through to metal. it was as the picture shows wrapped well in foam and bits, so I can only conclude that the paint is very soft or very hard? The pier itself is well constructed and very solid, but the paint is a matter of concern as it will live outside. I have since sent mail to FLO about this, I am sure they will be as helpful and obliging as ever. Perhaps some touch up paint from the manufacturer?

The neighbours are the cause of the build Mike, they are the ones with 20+ spotlights that set me off building.... Always happy to entertain SGL though. I have to say the Lounge is now abandoned due to the temperature 🤒 but not that temperature.

Resisted so far, but mainly due to having to light a smoky fire in my lounge, on a hot day to convince the Bees trying to move in to move on. They normally reside in another unused and closed off pot, this year they are socially distancing from the previous hive....grrrrr. It's rather hot at home would you believe.

Get the observing pad and pier completed. Get a new mount, but I have blown the cash on the pad and pier! Win the lottery to buy above item. Carry on observing solar and lunar for summer.

DHL have been, parcels from @FLO, amazed it has arrived on a Bank Holiday. The Pier and a Box of the bits. Unwrapping to follow, but not today as I am being good and not Astro-ing today...well appart from SGL and parcels of course!

DHL delivery from Auntie @FLO today, was not expecting a Bank Holiday delivery as was only sent yesterday afternoon. Pulsar Pier and a Box. Yet to be unwrapped and checked, but still amazed at speed of delivery. Nice one all at @FLO

I wonder if I should suggest this at home right now........... 😉 Hmm, perhaps not, I was just allowed to buy and do the pier after all, buuuut.... oh Mrs W, that nice man on SGL suggests A Tak 😘

In my excitement about solving the ground issue, I missed posting a picture of the shelving in place.

Well good news is, it's all done, instructions followed to the letter from said friend. And my back knows all about it, that was a lot of type 1, ballast and cement shifted and laid this afternoon. So thanks to Peter from my astro club and @AdeKing here on SGL, both fed in lots of good information and experience. Thanks chaps 😘 So all good and back on track 😅 Martin at @FLO was helpful putting the order on hold and then off hold this afternoon. He was most concerned for me, which was nice of him, very friendly. FLO as helpful and friendly as ever, thanks Martin and all the guys and girls 👍 So here is a wet square of concrete. Not a lot to show for all that graft is it.

I thought similar Jeremy, but I verbalised those thoughts, several times to be honest!

I have had a conversation with someone in my club having posted images to my astro club too. I am advised it is a Hoggin Layer and panic not, it will be OK to found on it if I pour straight away after tidying the hole up a bit. So with some remaining trepidation and a deep breath, here goes.

Water main was new 15 years ago and is the other side of the property by a good 200m from the pit. Drains also on other side of property , but we are on a treatment plant to a soakaway system in the garden, but a good 30m+ from this location.

I am in the Essex Alps, I sit about 22m above sea level. No stream nearby, but a 'sealed' Water Reservoir / Tank about 600 m away.

Very interesting report Mike, the detail keeps coming. I tried to observe on the 5th, but local conditions would not support higher magnification and I was thwarted for once. Last night was a plan to observe, but it is my virtual astro club night and I over ran so no observing done sadly. All I can say is 333x was a wow, but 500x that's amazing, now wonder you were muttering unmutterables!

I was so wrong, that layer is not solid at all!! I have taken time off work to complete the Khazi and foundations for the pier, Khazi all now done bar one or two small bits. BUT.... The hole when I jumped into it was far from solid, no water has leaked in, it's been fully covered. The Clay has turned liquid and upon investigation to a further 300mm depth is even more liquid, it literally flows as you dig at it. I have never seen soil or whatever behave this way. So a big problem? I just don't know but assume that it truly is. I have put a call out to my brothers mate who works in civils, but he is not available at present. Does anyone on here have 'real' experience of civils or similar that can advise me on the pier. I have tried to tread the base down, its liquid in reality and been open for more than an hour or two. The liquid clay / soil was running out of my hand as I photographed it. I have to say my bigger concern is the house 7m from this location, what is it sitting on, its old Victorian build, so the explanation of the many cracks the house has may lie in the ground conditions under it. All very worrying on all fronts.

Well after a couple of days 'rest' and some painful back stretch exercises that the Physio gave me a while back, I am working on the pad and Khazi again. The Khazi now just needs some shelving cutting and fitting and we are in business at last. The final panelling, battons to hold the shelves hidden inside walls and electrics done. I have some very nice hardwood shelves to go in, a very old and stored workbench top. Its been scrubbed clean and it will do the job well. Follows the use as much available material in this build. The Khazi, all in with electrics has cost me £150, which I think is very reasonable indeed. The pier and foundation is the next big job, the hole as you know is dug, the materials await the big mix and pour. But no due time on the pier yet from @FLO, but that's not an issue at the minute anyway. Very happy today indeed.

And your a Lancastrian, sounds like Yorkshire thinking that. You missed the 'Hamlet' bit out Jeremey....... 'The Hamlet Baader MaxBright DZ' as is befitting a gentleman observer such as Mr Dnight 😉

Interesting point from all on this thread as usual. This thread just feeds my want monster for a binoviewer and getting started. But sadly at present the Observing Pad is killing my funds and amount is still needed at some point. So BV is very much on the cards, but will miss the Mars extravaganza this year 😥

John is quite correct, you must ask them nicely to adjust said light away from your bedrooms and perhaps a polite ask about the timings etc. for Astronomy at the same time, but make sure the 'real' complaint is due to sleep disturbance! Then contact the Local Authority, Environmental Health Team and put in a complaint about the light into bedroom causing severe sleep disturbance. Please note my wording! Good luck with this, don't get fobbed off.

Well not a lot to show today, but a lot done. All internal batons in and wall boarded on each side internally, all frame sealing on edges done so fully watertight. Glad I have as it rained this afternoon although forecast said it wouldn’t. Had a look at the mixer and spent rest of the day sorting it out as the control box had been damaged while stored, all good now and ready to run next week for the big mix. My back is protesting vigorously so will leave alone for a few days now. Work will take care of that next week, working remote I am busier than ever, so the Astro project is a good weekend distraction. Bank holiday on Friday, so 3 day weekend on its way.

I can see why you did this, it’s what I would have done. Hope it works out well, looks like it will.