I decided against the old film, so feel quite pleased that I’ve managed to motivate myself to remove old mortar. Well, some of it. I’d guess I’ve removed around a quarter, from ground level. The remaining three quarters may be something of a challenge.

I’ve been reading-up on pointing stonework and it seems that the surveyor’s report (of nine years ago) was right. The protruding mortar, while decorative, was allowing water to settle and:
1. Collect behind the surface mortar
2. Erode the face of the stone

So I’m trying to convince myself that I’m doing the right thing. Despite finding things like this.

I can almost fit my hand inside that hole. Worse, there appears to be a cavity of sorts. Fortunately, it doesn’t seem as bad as the one I found in the rear wall a couple of years ago.

I’m now sitting in the sunshine in the garden, with a well earned beer. The strawberries are doing well, to the extent that I needed to hunt out another couple of old recycling bins to cope with the shoots. So we should have lots next summer.

Our strawberry containers now represent a large part of the northeast; Sunderland, Stockton and Gateshead. I’ll possibly have to source from other areas now.