More Stone Progress

Following Friday's wall progress; today saw more work  on the steps.  It's a pretty painstaking process laying paving stones economically and fitting the shapes together whilst at the same time trying to show the best facing edges and ensuring the upper surfaces are as flat as possible to minimise puddling.  They have to be built few at a time as they need to set hard allowing them to be stood on to build them up higher.  It's taking far longer than I imagined and work continued after dark - courtesy of Al's inspection light!  After pointing, Chris brushes the mortar before it sets hard in order to reduce its slick appearance.  It blends in with the stone better and looks much 'softer' on the eye.  We have only 2 steps to finish before starting on preparations for the studio terrace.  So far, the weather had been on our side but tomorrow is looking decidedly worrying!