My work progress
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peter: Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2012 10:34 PM
There comes a time when you have to decide what you want, its either getting work that makes you happy, or getting work that might cause you grieve. We all want to do well and earn a good wage, but not at the expense of maybe losing ones head over it. Choosing what to do is somewhat of a task on its own, what ever you tend to decide will always be, in my case anyway, the wrong one and the regrets kick in. Passing the buck seems a good option most of the time. But when you are working for yourself the buck always stops with you. So I must make a decision and soon, I think I might sleep on it. See you soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 10:44 PM
Been quite busy, quoting after a little rush of inquiries, all done now just waiting for work to come in, building a fence tomorrow after a customer passed on my details to them, nice getting work that way. Close boarded fence about five sections so not too bad. In Greenhithe near bluewater. I shall resist the temptation to do some shopping. See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Sunday, February 19, 2012 5:05 PM
Well 5 people in Gillingham, 13 people in Chatham and 4 in Sittingbourne amoung others, viewed the site in the last 24 hours, I am waiting for the rush. See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2012 8:20 PM
The time we take to decide things in life can make a huge difference to the outcome. For instance I am always honest when it comes to start dates, but I realise that saying things like, "book now for aviod dissapointment", can seem and sound like a tactic to get the order. But its true in my case, over the years I have had to book in work, and just as I do just that the work I would have like comes in, and then they cant wait for me to become available. Well there is a moral somewhere. Hope to hear from you soon! See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2012 10:58 AM
A good week, finished the paving at cuxton the customer was very pleased and will be sending me an email. The design was a simple one but these designs look good in the right area. The Oakham Pattern was used, the paving is Rutland and its only two sizes but very attractive to look at. A sloping effect on the pointing creates a nice effect. See you soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 10:37 PM
Well I got this new "builders phone" or so its called, its a samsung, its waterproof ish! dust proof ish! and shatter proof, drop it today on the patio and it was fine, the back is screwed into place so that didnt come off. So I guess its ok. Why they call it a builders phone I will never know, I am a landscaper after all. Still my last phone, which was still going ish! cost me £9.50 from Argos I had it over two years and had been drop a few times as well. But it had to go!! The moral of this story is you dont have to pay over the odds for what you want. See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 6:05 PM
Advertising is a must, word and mouth only goes so far, the cost of it though is sometimes rather silly. Companies ring me up at least once a week, saying that they can do this and they can do that, costing a fortune and none of it happening. I would have to get the tree planted that they seem to think money grows on. Today for instance, get a phone call, from a UK Directory company, they said that my search engine optimisation is up for renewal, and it will cost £149 plus vat for 18 months, sounds good I thought, but I do not remember taking it out in the first place so how can it be up for renewal. Getting old I suppose, cant remember things, checked in my bank account and paperwork, not a thing. See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Sunday, February 12, 2012 12:28 PM
Many people in the region are veiwing my website which is good news, 8 people in Gravesend in the last 24 hours, other areas as well. I am wondering how they find me, google seems to be the normal way, I was wondering how many people use Bing as a way of searching, microsofts Bing is becoming a force or perhaps it is has always been that way. I am going to give it a try and put an advert on it and see the response I get. See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Saturday, February 11, 2012 10:58 PM
Our Patios and Decking are always the right choice, we only use locally sourced materials. Well the motto has proved to be a hit, visitor numbers are up, in the last week I have had over 1250 people look at my site, which is great news. We are waiting for the rush, been held back a little because of the snow I guess, but this week coming warmer weathe is on its way. The time has come to advertise as usual, but this is costly word and mouth works for me but that goes only so far. See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Thursday, February 09, 2012 5:37 PM
Had a very productive day today, all went to plan. Need some more sand for the paving we are laying, but all went well. Cuxton has still got a fair amount of snow but it got up to 8 degrees on the paving today so that helped the setting. Will be taking pictures of it soon see you all Soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Wednesday, February 08, 2012 9:34 PM
Well the snow and cold weather is still with us, we have been laying some paving this week, using a 4 : 1 mix and some frostproofer and rapid hardener chemicle, this works so that the cement hardens, its not so affected by the cold weather, it will stand down to minus 8, and the frostproofer in it works well. The customer is very pleased with us turning up in such cold weather, making us hot drinks to keep us going. See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Monday, February 06, 2012 5:13 PM
Got the snow plough out, thats the broom to you and me, at cuxton ready to lay slabs, hopefully, got the chemicles to help the concrete to set so all going to plan, brushed off the area to be paved of snow. Everywhere looks so good when the snow is around, but we just cant cope with snow can we. Schools shut, trains delayed and more. He I go, I remember when my dad was a school caretaker in chatham, 1963 was the year, which was one of the worse wointers on record for snow, drifting so high. I went with him on this day which was a sunday, so no school, when we got to the gate we had to dig our way into the playground and then into the boiler room. After what seemed to be ages we got into the boiler room which was lovely and warm, the boiler ran on coal, so my dad had to keep it alight, shovelling the coal onto the hatch made the warm air go for a while but once the coal started to catch it soon made the whole area lovely. Then we had to find our way home, no please bear in mind, that, my dad could not drive, there was deep snow, and, my dad had lost part of his leg in the war so walking was ok, at the best of times, but with this snow around made it very hard for him. We had fun though, and I went to school on Monday, and the boiler at my dads school was firing up nicely. Another generation then I think, the likes we will probably not see or hear of again. These days schools are shut for just a small amount of ice, good job its not 1963 again, they would be shut for a very long time. See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Sunday, February 05, 2012 10:39 PM
Snowed in at the moment, hopefully will all gone by tuesday. We have been creating a patio in Cuxton, type 1 base laid before the snow. Will have to use some rapid hardener to put into the cement, to make it set a little quicker. When we start back. See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Saturday, February 04, 2012 9:07 PM
Saturday turned out to be a good day, went to my granddaughters school concert, she is 4 bless her. Took her shopping afterwards and gain some item in the trolley. Went to see a garden scheme in Hempstead, really glad I did as it is a lovely scheme that is required, hope to get the work. It is going to snow tonight, or so the weather men say, hope its not too bad. We shall see in the morning, a stream of white I guess. But reports say that early next week is going to be a little milder. See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 6:17 PM
We have just finished a shingle drive for a customer in strood, the other day we had a delivery of the type 1 roadstone and other items, about three tonnes in all. Whilst we were preparing the ground using a hired digger, we came across an old manhole cover, under which was a disused drain, which created a hole about 6 to 7 feet deep, as we were taking up old tarmac we filled the hole with this material and other hardcore, after making sure that the drain was not in use of course. When the delivery turned up we said to the driver please be careful of this area as we have not made it firm enough yet, well you can guess what happened, yes the truck got stuck in the hole, the front wheel was well and truly deep into it. After some attempts to lift it, it was decided that my van would be the answer to help pull the truck out. Now my van is only a scudo, not the type of vehicle to go pulling a 7.5 tonne truck out. Well I was very proud of my little old thing, it pulled the truck out and got it on its way. Fiat scudo the new JCB. The hole is now firm to drive over. See you all soon!!! |
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peter: Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2012 8:37 PM
Sunday evening again, two quotes done this weekend both for decking, hope to hear from them soon. As I did the decking cleaner the other day, I thought I might repost this for stains on the patio. Read on!! Here is another great tip for cleaning your patio this time. This was given, and I saw the results by one of my customers recently.
If you have the metal type of table and chairs, the iron ones, and the weather has left a rust stain on your patio, then this does work.
A plastic bottle of Household Ammonia, this is not bleach, will lift the stain right off. Used neat on the stain and rub the slabs gently to remove the rust stain. Then leave to dry and rinse off.
See you all soon!!! |
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peter: Posted on Saturday, January 28, 2012 9:16 PM
Went to Pembury today, to quote for a Deck to be built. The customer had an eight month old boxer puppy, very friendly. Hope to get the work as its a simple flat deck with lights, also a special feature in the middle of one side. A bench with two flower beds made from the deck boards. The bench needs to be able to store items in complete with a lid to open. should be good when finished. See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 8:32 PM
  All done at Chatham, laying a driveway now in strood. The decking and fence in the chatham garden and the slate scree. Gives a garden a lift, from what was an unusable plot into a family friendly garden ready for the summer. |
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peter: Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2012 8:41 PM
Quoting all done, hope to hear a response soon. See you all soon!!! |
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peter: Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2012 11:10 AM
Sunday morning, again, weather here in medway looks good at the moment, preparing some garden quotes as usual. There is a new way of treating your deck if its got a bit weathered. I have said this before in an earlier blog but I thought I might post it again. Before you go rushing to the local DIY store to buy the deck cleaner give this a try. Pour one gallon of clean water into a clean bucket, add one eighth of a gallon of household bleach, the cheap one is fine, then add one quarter of a cup full of washing up liquid again the cheap one is fine, and mix together. The bleach will clean the boards and the washing up liqiud will tackle the dirt. This is the hard bit, use a scrubbing brush or a hard broom, the brush is better, and firmly scrub the boards to remove the dirt. Its only once every two to three years so no hardship. Wash off with clean water every fourth board to stop it drying out. If you do allow the boards to dry before the washing off then you might have to scrub them lightly again as the dirt will solidify on top. See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Saturday, January 21, 2012 5:49 PM
well my blog is very popular thank you all for taking the time to read it. Hope its not too boring. It got over 3000 views in just 24 hours. Fantastic. I could not belive it either but the system program says just that. Thank you!! We are still in Chatham at the moment, building yet another lovely deck for a couple who are expecting a little one. Decking is such a great product for all the family, a safe play area for the children to play. Great for entertaining, great for relaxing on, a secure surround especially if handrails are installed, all in all its a great place to be. A family in walderslade have said that they cant keep thier little boy of it, he likes playing with his cars well into the early evening. Wonderful time for all the family. See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2012 10:06 PM
The Chatham garden is taking shape, fence is all done, this one is panels with concrete posts. The decking is almost finished, which just leaves the area to lay and spread the Slate chippings. Will take a picture of this one. See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Monday, January 16, 2012 10:47 PM
Working local for about a week nice to be local. Creating a garden in Boundary Road Chatham Building a fence using panels and concrete posts, a timber deck and slate scree on the rest of the plot. Everything has to come through the house. Ok so far except the 6ft panels would not go through the back door, its a small door. Anyhow using 5ft panels and gracel boards now, adaptability I think its called, All the rest got through, the long lengths of decking and the 4 x 2 timber, but the panels!! Well!! see you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Thursday, January 12, 2012 9:12 PM
The work at Bexley has finushed or it will be tomorrow Friday. Phase 1 of the scheme at least. Phase two is basically the rest of the plot, and will start around the spring. Several items are planned/ See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 8:08 PM
MB has been going for a few years now and has seen and created some lovely gardens. Its always a great thrill when we see the finished scheme even after this time. Question though, what would you do if someone charge you twice for the same job. Silly I know, but I have just received and email from a lady and gentleman locally to me. They have asked me for a rough idea of what a patio and a deck would cost. Normally I like to view the garden and discuss exactly what is required so that I can give a firm quotation. But they have been charged by a local company, to what amounts to be double the going rate, well at least an average price anyway. The deck was around 20 sqm and the patio, using one size slab, was around 25 sqm. No for that you would normally expect to pay, using us of course, about £1200 for the deck and about £1500 for the patio. Of course it all depends upon conditions and locally, so it could be cheaper than I have said. But they were charged a total of £6524 pounds to do the work. Rather too much I think. The couple in their senior years were certainly taken for a ride, I wish I could name and shame but that would backfire on MB Gardening Landscaping. They thank me for my input and said they will try to get some money back. I do wish them well!!! See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Monday, January 09, 2012 8:33 PM
I am giving a 20 per cent discount on Patios and decking, until the end of feb 2012 give us a call, see us on Medway Guides facebook page. Only limited spaces because of time. Get in first for this great offer. See you soon!!! |
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peter: Posted on Sunday, January 08, 2012 8:01 PM
Christmas what Christmas, the next one I suppose, time goes so quick. Here we are nearly half way through the first month. Getting ready for the coming week, laying a new patio in Bexley. A little tip if you have a south facing garden, and have decking, wait until the sun goes down, or late afternoon before cleaning it, this will allow the water to penetrate the timber before it gets evaporated. I know this sounds like commmon sense, but the dirt will not lift next time if its allowed to dry off too quick. See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Sunday, January 08, 2012 11:05 AM
Sunday a day of rest, for some of us anyway, got two quotes to do, one for fencing, the other for a patio, or should I say a dog run. Looking good for the start of the new year, at least now I can take my van into the Low Emissions Zone after registering it. At one point they thought my van could take 3.5tonnes, its only a a scudo, still all sorted now. See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Friday, January 06, 2012 10:28 PM
What a day, finished digging out the patio footings phew!! still got the fence post and rails up and cemented into the ground. Had a rather interesting day with a local rubbish clearance firm in Bexley. You had to be there trust me!! Ready now for the sleepers to be installed, feathered edge boards to fix and then the type one road stone to lay. All on Monday. See you all soon!!! |
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peter: Posted on Tuesday, January 03, 2012 9:13 PM
Back to work tomorrow, after the wet and windy weather of today. Hope the garden in Bexley is not too wind swept. See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Tuesday, January 03, 2012 2:49 PM
Well that was a mornings weather, the sun has come out at last. Got two enquiries and one order, great start. Hopefully getting another enquiry thanks to my Neice Emmalene. See you all soon!!! |
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peter: Posted on Tuesday, January 03, 2012 9:23 AM
Well what a day, we have had to give up on it. Too wet for what we have to do, tomorrow seems ok. Building a fence in this weather is not a good idea, the wind would blow it down before the cement is set. See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Monday, January 02, 2012 10:18 AM
A good start to the new year got an enquiry today, regarding a patio. Winter rates are in force so get in quick. See you all soon!!! |
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peter: Posted on Sunday, January 01, 2012 11:34 AM
Well here we go 2012 is here, great!! all new year resolutions are made, broken by tomorrow I expect. But, if there is one you made about the garden give us a call. All rates until end of February will be at winter ones, another deal from your local specialist. See you all soon!!! |
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peter: Posted on Friday, December 30, 2011 7:27 PM
Its Friday, mind you I have not been to work this so I am wondering why I am so happy its friday. Well I have been busy, as said before constructing a new website for 2012. This weekend will be light relief for me, no shopping. Except for tracking down a new TV as the old one is playing up, I say old its only 7 years old, still nothing seems to last long these days, and the fridge freezer is not too happy either. One thing you can be sure of though, our products will last, Decking, Patios and fencing. See you all soon!!! |
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peter: Posted on Friday, December 30, 2011 10:25 AM
Hi all, have planned the new look to the site, some extra pages, and new features. I am working on it over this weekend, hope you all like it. This time of year is a great time to plan things, its a time when you sort the garden out and find what you like to have done for the spring, Decking is a feature that will enhance any garden. And of course the cold weather does not effect it. We are laying a patio in Bexley next week. And finishing off the fence there as well. I am looking forward to the new year, hope you are all well. See you all soon!!! |
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peter: Posted on Tuesday, December 27, 2011 3:41 PM
As with this time of year the anti climax is kicked in, all the fuss of the two days and now not a lot happening, hence writing this. I am looking forward to getting back to work, but at the same time enjoying the time off, recharge the batteries. Hope you all have a great Christmas, and wish you a happy new year. See you all soon!!! |
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peter: Posted on Saturday, December 24, 2011 1:01 PM
Happy Christmas to all my customers throughout 2011, hope you have a great new year. It has been a great year, working right up until Friday 23rd, and have acheived many things. We have had repeated business and many new clients. Most of them local but also further afield. Bexley is the latest one and we have to go back after the break on the 3rd Jan 2012 to carry on. We have bookings until about early February. Please be safe and healthy over Christmas and hope to see you all in the new year. Watch out for the new improved website, new selected pages, more pictures and a new quest book. See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Wednesday, December 21, 2011 10:15 PM
Job going well in bexley, had a delivery today of the fence pieces to make a close boarded type fence. Took down three fence panels and shredded 90 per cent of the three trees we cut down and got the roots out, one of them was rather large. Got another delivery of the customers slabs tomorrow. All 112 of them. See you all soon!!! |
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peter: Posted on Monday, December 19, 2011 9:56 PM
What a day, went to Bexley cut down two trees and dug out a row of shrubs. All went well until I was told that I was in the low emmisions zone and that my vehicle as from the 3rd Jan 2012 will not comply. Happy days, came home spent about 90 mins on the phone to various people still non the wiser. Waiting for a phone call tomorrow from a nice lady who I hope will tell me that my vehicle does comply. If not its a bloody long walk. !!! |
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peter: Posted on Sunday, December 18, 2011 8:58 PM
Well I am off to Bexley tomorrow, Monday, to start a new scheme, its some paving, a small deck and fencing. And not forgetting cutting down three trees and getting the roots out. See you all soon!!! |
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peter: Posted on Sunday, December 18, 2011 11:32 AM
Well The holiday is almost upon us, as if we did not know, it has, thanks to all of you, been a great year and signs are that 2012 will be a year where we all reflect on the past years and look forward to getting back into shape including the country. All of us at MB have been working hard to give everyone the garden they deserve, and with the feedback we received I would say we have done just that. Our commitment to garden landscaping has not and will not deminish and we look forward to hearing from you in 2012. May I take this point to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. Thank you for your continued support. See you all soon!!! |
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peter: Posted on Tuesday, December 13, 2011 10:22 PM
Had a good day today finished with the hired digger, with the rain last night it made the ground very soft and slushy, in fact some of the soil picked up would not leave the diggers bucket, it was just stuck there. Made a good improvement and now have to leave the ground to rest until around February to carry on, by that time it would have settled and more likely to be easier to level. Fresh topsoil will then be applied. Other work can be started sooner. Just back in Walderslade to finish off the deck. See you all soon!!! |
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peter: Posted on Monday, December 12, 2011 11:00 PM
Used a digger again today, this time is was fior clearing away built up soil, the worse type for digging by spade and shovel, Heavy clay and flint, the hired digger took it in its stride. Also dug out several tree stumps with it as well. As said in previous blogs well worth the money, and very good on diesel as well, spent all day and still loads in the tank. All it needs is a space of 1m wide to gain access to the garden. I would take a picture but when you have seen soil before you have seen soil, if you catch my drift. Tonight is very windy out there, a good test for the fence we have built in Strood, gust up to 60 miles per hour. See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Sunday, December 11, 2011 7:11 PM
I tell you now is a great time to plan ahead for next years garden schemes, no really, not only are the gardens at their worse so you can see what needs doing, but because nothing is growing its a great time to have the area dug up ready. Planning ahead is half the battle, to tackle that spot now will reap dividends. It will work out cheaper in the long run. See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Sunday, December 11, 2011 11:03 AM
Not a very great day out there at the moment raining quite hard. Very quite Sunday morning, should hear the church bells soon though. Still we do need the rain, but could it stop tomorrow when we are working, got another digger coming and it makes all the difference on a dry day. See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2011 10:14 PM
Its great to be busy but I find myself running out of time to keep everyone happy this side of Christmas. The turf suppliers will not be able to deliver the turf until next wednesday, the digger that a customer was going to hire and get a friend to drive is not going to happen so we have to do it, well it looks that way, and then we have to bexley and start a job booked for the 19th december. Happy days. !! still I would only moan if I have no work so I ought to be thank you, which I am totally See you soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2011 10:27 PM
Doing quite well at strood, got 10 posts and rails up yesterday, and the feathered edge boards on today, also the gate installed. So all doing ok. Going to be about another fours days I think to finish. See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Monday, December 05, 2011 10:51 PM
Many people have wondered what MB stands for, well it is Medway Bespoke, we build and lay your garden to any idea, any sketch or measurements you have. Working wioth you all the way to build your family garden. So there you have it, MB Medway Bespoke remember the name. See you all soon!! |
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peter: Posted on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 10:39 PM
The hired digger went back today done all the work we can with it. Great time saver. Getting the first phase done by friday I would say, then onto to phase two the fence all 31.5m of it better get digging those post holes. See you all soon!! |
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