I enjoyed my stay in Scotland with Tony and Jude so much I stayed an extra day which meant I could help them with the construction of their magical Norwegian garden seat.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/groundworks-TJmay16.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-3375" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/groundworks-TJmay16-300x225.jpg" alt="groundworks-T&amp;J(may16)" width="300" height="225" /></a>The first task was to spread out 2 tonnes of substrate so we could get the ground level. It went down surprisingly quickly and before lunch we were ready to start lifting the seat parts into place.

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<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/2sections-TJmay16.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-3374 alignleft" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/2sections-TJmay16-300x225.jpg" alt="2sections-T&amp;J(may16)" width="300" height="225" /></a> Bearing in mind that each section is made from solid whisky barrel slats each piece is very heavy and we struggled to get them lined up and level but with a bit of pushing and heaving we managed the first two sections so that they were self-supporting.

And so it was time for one of Jude's superb lunches...

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/complete-seat-TJmay16.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-3373" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/complete-seat-TJmay16-300x225.jpg" alt="complete-seat-T&amp;J(may16)" width="300" height="225" /></a>

The last few sections were a lot easier to lift but the levels were harder to achieve. We had to try several times before they became solidly placed on the gravel.

It is a magnificent piece of garden architecture and will give excellent shelter from the wind as well as superb views of the setting sun.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/seat-rear-TJmay16.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-3372 alignleft" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/seat-rear-TJmay16-300x225.jpg" alt="seat-rear-T&amp;J(may16)" width="300" height="225" /></a>When seen from the back you can see where the barrel bands used to hold the barrel together.

The seat slats still need to be fitted and I've been promised a photo of the completed seat.
My journey back from Scotland started at 8 am in the damp and though the Highlands it just got wetter. Four and one half hours later as I was pulling into the Carlisle services on the M6 the rain had stopped. After a quick pit stop that included a M&amp;S sandwich I was on my way again. I stopped in the drive at home at 15:45 having covered 450 miles - certainly a record for me but then it's the first time I've ever done it. Despite feeling like a zombie I somehow found the motivation (Jane was in my head) to put a wash into the machine and walk around Tesco for the essentials.

And as for Maisie (I didn't come home to an empty house) - she was well looked after by the neighbours but I think she missed me a little because she spent most of the early evening sitting on my lap and purring very, very loudly.