JIMMY WATSON - His mother, Marion, teases her son about his dreams to build a large robot ant with a drawing of her son riding on the ant's back. Then it comes true.

<< CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7 - DAD BUILDS JIMMY A SHED WORKSHOP IN THE BACK GARDEN

One day when on leave, Timothy was thinking about Jimmy's project.

"Marion?"

"Yes Timothy." Marion knew that tone of voice, and braced herself.

"I've been thinking on Jimmy's project."

Oh, no. Marion thought for a minute, that her husband might have changed his mind. "Yes darling."

"That robot is going to be enormous."

It did not sound good. Tim had changed his mind. "Uh, huh."

"Where is he going to work on it. It will be way to big for his bedroom, even partially assembled."

"Uh, huh."

"Yes, and too big for a garage."

"Oh." Marion had not thought of that.

"Yes." Tim could see the sudden look of shock on Marion's face. Even trying to contain it.

There was a long silence. Marion knew it better not to say anything. Tim was also looking for any hint from Marion. A few minutes extremely awkward silence passed. Marion really wanted Jimmy to build his dream machine. But, needed her husband's full support. She did not want there to be any reservations.

Marion moved over to the kettle and switched it on. She reached for a couple of mugs.

Tim watched nervously, wondering how to break the ice.

"Would you like a cup of tea, or coffee darling."

"I could murder an Earl Grey, thank you sweetie." That was the sign that Tim needed. It signaled that his wife was open to suggestions. He loved her for those pointers.

Marion put a teabag in Tim's cup. She needed a good strong coffee.

"So, I was wondering how you might feel if I, we, built a shed in the back garden?"

"For Jimmy?"

"Yes. What do you think? It's only an idea."

"It's an exquisite idea Timothy. I thought you might be having second thoughts." Marion loved Tim for supporting their son so.

"Second thoughts. Are you crazy. It's Jimmy's best idea to date." The two embraced. Marion with a tear in the corners of her eyes. Tim with an expression of relief. He did not want to ruin Marion's garden, if she didn't cotton to the notion.

Upstairs, Jimmy was fast asleep, unaware of the big leg up, that decision just made in the kitchen would mean for him. Jimmy was utterly exhausted, and had a paper round to complete in the morning, before school.

As an artist, her son called on Marion, for painting and crafting tips. She had been rather concerned at the size of the robot her son was building. But, they both agreed, that if he got that giant hexapod working, it would be a minor miracle.

"So, where can I put the shed?"

"At the bottom of the garden, on the right. Perhaps?"

"Over your vegetable patch?"

"Yes dear."

Tim though about that for a moment, sipping his Earl Grey tea. "How big do you think. Eight feet by twelve?"

"Goodness, no. No way will that be big enough. I'd think, twelve by twenty feet, at least."

"Really, that big. You don't mind?"

"Darling, this project is really important to Jimmy, and so to us all as a family. Build, or order a shed, as big as you can fit into the garden. Really, I don't mind. I'd prefer it, actually. I can use some of it as a studio. If Jimmy doesn't mind. If that makes you feel better. Make it a wooden one. We can use it as a double garage after."

Marion smiled, as she explored the creases in Tim's furrowed brow. He looked back at Marion, and they both erupted into spontaneous laughter.

"Shush. Be quiet, Jimmy is sleeping," said Marion. And they both retired for the night, hand in hand, sneaking up the stairs like naughty children. Dodging the creaky floorboards.

"Shall we keep this a surprise."

"And pray tell, how do we achieve that?"

"No, okay a stupid idea," Tim agreed.

The next day, Jimmy set off for his paper round at six o'clock. Tim was up bright and early, about an hour later, sliding out of bed silently, leaving Marion with a relaxed look on her features. He did not kiss her, for fear she'd wake.

Down in the kitchen, Tim was still in pajamas, sketching away on a big A3 size art pad, bare foot. He started to feel the cold. So put on the kettle and found a thick woolen jumper and some fur lined boots. Mmmm. 'That's better,' he thought to himself.

Pretty soon, Tim had a drawing of where the shed would go, complete with all the shelves and a collapsible worktable. He drew in the robot hexapod to scale, realising the workshop would have to be bigger than he'd at first thought. Or, Jimmy, and himself, or Marion, would not be able to walk around the machine. Marion was right as usual. The shed would have to be at least twelve, by twenty feet.

Marion woke up to find Tim missing in action. She donned her dressing gown, and nimbly trundled down the staircase to the kitchen.

There she saw Tim engrossed in producing quite an interesting drawing.

"That's nice dear. Nice and spacious. Is that the robot to scale?" Marion brushed past Tim, kissing him on the head.

"Tea for me too, I think." Tim looked up and blew his wife a kiss.

Marion sat down, moving her chair closer to Tim's, to examine the drawing.

"I love it. Can we afford it? It's like a small log cabin."

"I'm not sure yet. But, we can plan it all out, and get in some help to bolt the walls and roof together."

Mmmm. Marion went into thinking mode. "They sell sheds and install them for you."

"Yes. I've checked them out. About fifteen to twenty thousand £pounds. And still not quite sturdy, or large enough."

"Oh dear. The workshop is more than the robot."

"Many times. But, I have an idea. I could build it myself. I'm good with wood, and have a couple of chippy friends in the village. We just need the materials at the right price."

"Are you sure Tim, do you have the time."

"I'm going to make the time. If our son wants to make a go of it, we should help him."

"I'll help," said Marion. "I've done a lot of craft design in wood. How hard can it be."

Tim knew the answer to that, but stayed his tongue, so as not to quench his wife's enthusiasm. He was grateful for the offer and support.

"If you are up for this. I'll get some timber quotes."

"Darling, I am, as you say, up for it. Show me the way."

Over the next few days, in his limited spare time, Tim sketched out designs for a workshop large enough to build and test Jimmy's giant hexapod. At first he looked online at what was available off the shelf. Some of the readymade offerings could accommodate the size of the robot, but the build quality was laughable in terms of security and insulation. With the higher build quality, basically, thicker timbers and a proper roof, came a huge increase in price.

Thus, a bespoke build was on the cards. Tim wrote down a list of wood needed, mainly 6" x "2 C24 treated timbers for wall frames and the rafters. He would skin the inside walls with exterior grade 22mm plywood, breather and feather edge the external walls over 12mm exterior ply, with insulation to building regulation specification. That would keep heating costs down.

Marion came up with installing a concrete floor, so that the unit could become a large garage when Jimmy's project was complete. She wanted an electricity supply with a separate consumer unit. A sink and an outside Loo. That came about after Tim made a joke about fitting a kitchen sink at her suggestions being over the top, and Marion did not laugh. She was being serious.

"I'll get the quotes dear, just give me your materials list."

"Are you sure Marion, I'll sort ...."

"Just give me the list Timothy, she said arm outstretched. Time is short."

Marion got quotes from Parkers, Alsford and Jewson. Jewson seemed the best value. And, the order was placed.

Tim set about marking out the concrete base. But Marion insisted on helping with the digging. Also ramming in the hard core and blind. Trenches were dug, cables, water and waste pipes laid.

Soon they were ready for the concrete truck. The used William the Concreter, from Battle. Tim had some of his friends from the garage come in one Saturday, when they wheel-barrowed the ready-mix up the drive and into the shuttered hollow in the ground. This was vibrated level to eradicate bubbles, and Tim installed a damp proof membrane between pours. The vibrator was applied to the top coat. Then one of the chaps who knew what he was doing, rough floated the surface with a power-float machine. Job done.

That was a good night down at the pub.

"We'll have to wait a week for that to harden to be on the safe side."

Meantime, Jewson delivered the C24 carcassing, all loaded onto steel trestles, via a neatly handled hydraulic arm.

"Plywood to follow Mrs Watson, as requested. All waiting at the yard."

"Thank you driver, and please thank the office team for us."

Then the fun began.

The backyard was a flurry of activity. Timothy Watson, his wife Marion, and their son Jimmy were hard at work constructing a solid workshop for the robot Dinobot. The workshop would provide a dedicated space for Jimmy to tinker with his creation, free from the distractions of the main house.

Marion, who was typically more comfortable with brushes, paints and canvas - than power tools, was surprisingly adept at using the DeWalt circular saw. Timothy had shown her how to measure and mark the timbers precisely, and she'd taken to the task with gusto.

"You've got a natural talent for this, Marion," Timothy said, watching as she cut through the wood with ease. "Be careful of splinters."

"It's fun," Marion replied, her face flushed with exertion. "I feel like a real handywoman."

Once the timbers were cut to size, Timothy and Jimmy began assembling the wooden framework, beginning with the uprights. Tim used clamps to set the first few wall timbers with a diagonal screwed to a baseplate. The base timbers were carefully marked at 12 inch centres, also fitted over a DPC.

"Can't be too careful," said Tim.

"Belt and braces," replied Marion.

They used torque wrenches and drills to secure the pieces together with timber-lock hexagonal head screws from Screwfix, following the construction drawings that Timothy had prepared.

Jimmy carried each timber to the next marks, when Tim would toe-fix the base screws through the upright into the base plate.

Marion watched with interest as her husband and son worked together. She was impressed by their efficiency and precision. "You two make a great team," she said.

"We do," Timothy replied, smiling. "It's good to have the whole family involved in this project."

As the day wore on, the workshop began to take shape. The wooden framework was sturdy and well-built, providing a solid foundation for the walls and roof. Marion was amazed at how quickly they had made progress.

"I can't believe we've gotten this far," she said, surveying their work. "This is going to be a fantastic workshop."

Timothy and Jimmy exchanged a satisfied glance. With the help of their dedicated family, they were well on their way to creating a perfect workspace for Jimmy's robotic creation.

Together, Timothy and Marion worked as a team, their movements synchronized as they assembled the workshop. The once-empty space was quickly taking shape, the wooden framework rising like a skeleton.

"I can't wait to see this finished," Marion said, stepping back to admire their progress. "It's going to be a great place for Jimmy to work on his robot."

Timothy nodded in agreement. "It's going to be a workshop worthy of a brilliant young inventor."

"I feel like a pioneer in the Wild West, said Marion. Posing with her new best friend, a DeWalt power driver.

A few days later, there was a knock on the front door. The boys were out, so Marion answered. Standing in the porch were two official looking gentlemen, brandishing identity badges.

"Can I help you gentlemen?"

"We've received complaints from neighbours that buildings works are underway, and our records indicate there may not be a valid consent in place."

"You are from the council, I take it. Wealden District Council?"

"Yes Mrs Watson."

The second man said, "might we take a look in your back garden?"

Marion had heard horror stories about council officials. Deciding it would be prudent to capture and save their images. She also made sure the CCTV in the back garden was switched on and started recording the conversation on her mobile phone.

"This way gentlemen. Might I enquire as to who has complained?"

"We're afraid we cannot reveal the identity of informants."

"Informants! Is this a criminal matter. Where are the police and your authorisations?"

"Er, we have our ID badges."

Marion had once been on a planning committee for a few months. She knew that flashing an ID was not authorisation, and these two were not being entirely truthful. They were trying to blag their way onto a site without following the proper procedure.

"Strange, we received no formal notification. This is a residential property, as you can see."

The council officers looked more than a little awkward.

"And, a garden shed or garage is a permitted development. Indeed, the enlargement of a house by a considerable amount does not need planning permission. Are you familiar with the relevant Orders?"

"Well Mrs Watson, there was some suggestion as to a commercial enterprise. It's a rather large footprint."

"How so, the work we are doing is not completed. So, how can there be any commercial use. Was that fly by the other day connected with this visit? I noticed a light aircraft circling, and then a helicopter."

Marion knew it was a try on using the pretext of citing neighbour complaints to gather information unlawfully. Most probably invented, or solicited. She was taught that during induction as a councillor. She knew that the workshop Tim and Jimmy are working on is a permitted development and not a planning issue at all, because she checked in advance. And many other houses in the locality had double garages. She suspects the local authority is spying for another agency. Perhaps to do with her husband's work?

"Come on, tell me honestly gentlemen, why are you here?"

The officers knew they'd been rumbled.

"We may have made a mistake Mrs Watson. Very sorry to have troubled you." 

And off they went. Marion closed the door, switched off the recorder on her mobile phone, and made a diary entry. Reminding herself to back up the CCTV and doorbell camera. With another reminder to mention to Tim when he was in a good mood.

It took another couple of weekends to complete the walls and insulation. Then the roof and doors, and all the wiring and lights. The workshop was truly magnificent. It even had a sink and toilet. As Marion had insisted on.

"That's a big padlock Tim."

"I found the biggest one Screwfix stocked, so that Jimmy can work in private, secure in the knowledge, his investment is safe."

"Now what about tools dear?"

"Don't know what you think, but he can use my R-Tech 255S."

"Which is?"

"Oh, ... a 250 amp welder that runs on single phase. A DC muti-purpose inverter for TIG, MIG and stick welding."

"Which is?"

"Okay, a versatile bit of kit to join all kinds of metals. Ideal for making steel frames and alloy legs. And we already have it, so no more cost."

"Will Jimmy know how to use it?

"I can teach him. He's seen me working on your beloved camper, welding in new panels and chassis parts. They don't teach that at school until much later. More of a technical college thing."

"Darling, you are wonderful."

"I know," Tim winked.

"Can you teach me too."

>> CHAPTER 8

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