Poseidon’s Oven
Part Two
Having got the slab down Pete worried about the weather,
until the cement was quite hard and dry. Summer is traditionally a wet season
and sure enough, showers were expected. I don’t think he slept comfortably
because his baby was in danger of
getting wet before it was ready. During the day some light rain fell on top of
the canvas he’d laid to protect it, and after examining it from all sides he re-laid
the canvas for the evening
It was necessary to give the concrete a week to harden
before it could be ready for the next stage. Finally, progress could continue
and the inside section of the oven-proper commenced. Pete poured over the
instructions with anxiety and I gave silent support. This was a time when I
could not even give him the benefit of my advice, but the fact that I was there
and was positive in attitude seemed to help.
The next stage was to arrange concrete blocks around the
inside of the slab about 6 inches in from the edge of the slab. Four rows of blocks
were stacked before he started pouring concrete in to fill the inside hollows.
We watched the shape taking part with excitement, and we weren’t even up to the
cooking section yet.
In the photo you can notice a square section inserted near
the bottom of the right-hand side. That is paper deliberately inserted over the
top of ordinary bricks temporarily in place to create an opening for an ash
box.
This section of bricks will form the base that supports the
actual cooking oven. These bricks will stay in place now and the next step is
to build a wooden frame inside of this section to support formwork which
supports the wet concrete base of the oven floor.
Note on top of this base it is obvious where the new cement
will be poured.
Not a day went by when he didn’t work on the oven, and I
doubt he slept soundly for the whole year that it was under construction, such
was his enthusiasm.
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