Firstly, thanks for the words of encouragement. I'm far from discouraged (aside from the weather and lack of time!) and I'm largely enjoying it immensely. Even the relatively simple act of collecting and moving timbers is good fun.
Next... a couple more things I've learnt.
11) If your timber is being delivered to site (and especially if you have a narrow and troublesome site), be sure to plan very carefully exactly where you want your timber stacked and which order you will want them in. And also, how you're going to get them out of the pile. Access to both sides is incredibly useful. Shame I don't really have that!
12) Plan your storage for cut timbers. Outside is fine, but they need to be covered and your system for covering them needs to not cause you problems for unloading. Obviously this only aplies if you don't have a large hanger where you can work!
Lastly, to answer a few specific comments.
@TIMBEAL: Thanks for the video link. That setup is exactly what I'd like, and exactly what I don't have! :-) As for the knots, I'm getting pretty good at avoiding them, but the timbers we've got don't allow total avoidance.
@bmike: My previous home construction work involved welding bike frames. Stick welding and brazing. Another good line of work for random stupid injuries (just because the metal doesn't still look hot, doesn't mean that it isn't!).
@frwinks: There is a proviso to organic house building. Ours is very much an organic project, beginning as a plan to buy a kit frame and erect it ourselves, and having evolved to a simple bolted half-lap frame to finally coming full circle to a timber frame, but this time, home-made. The issue is that you have to remember that decisions made which applied to one plan, don't necessarily apply to all others. So the 2-3 weeks that had been allowed for cutting the frame (more than enough time for the simple half-lap joints) are a little tight when it comes to getting fast enough with square rule to build a complete frame.
The principle thought that keeps me going at the minute (and helps keep me from going completely insane) is that once it's done, I can truely say "I built this!". And that makes me smile. :-)
