I laid some tiles outside today.....

[Norman Verona]

Yesterday and today I set some terracotta tiles down on the path from the side of the house where the cars are parked to the new front door,

 

They are all over the place, all sloping one way or another and not very even.

 

Just to explain before I post some pictures.

 

I was asked by a couple we know if I could go round to theirs to dig out the asphalt gravel laid by the builders on their patio area. The area was about 7 x 4 metres. I duly assisted, (well did most of) the digging out. A few days later we are sitting in his kitchen when the next door neighbour, a retired builder, spends an hour shuttering the area. I ask how much he's charging. 600€ is the answer. I say it sounds expensive but suppose it may be OK with the concrete. "Oh, no, he's not supplying the concrete, the chap opposite is getting that (he drives a mixer wagon for Lafarge). I show surprise and ask how much he's paying for the concrete, 3 cubic metres. He's letting me have that cheap, it's only 1,800€ A fool and his money are soon parted. If you ask how he got it in the first place, he was left a 1/3rd million by an aunt in the USA he'd never met. This was about 4 years ago. Another freind was there at the time and he, being a retired builder (English) defended the prices. I just laughed. Then it dawned on me that they wanted him to lay the tiles after the concrete had set. He was going to charge fancy money and was pleased the French were ripping Tom off. I didn't get paid for the 3 days digging though......

 

I only tell that as I haven't had a concrete base laid, the tiles have just been laid on top of the hardcore and gravel.

 

Plan is to finish the house by the weekend and then next week get some more sand in and get the rest of the "patio" tiled with the thousands of terracotta tiles we were left by previous owner.