J hit the back of the shed today - drove the tractor straight into the wooden shack!
The tractor is now called Jack. The family put names into a hat with the agreement that unless all 4 of us agreed on a name it would not be considered. Charlie held his hands firmly by his sides and refused to vote until the very last name came out. You guessed it - Jack. One day he will have to negotiate for the UN as his poker face remained in place until the last bitter moment when his choice of name appeared. Alfie did the perfect big brother role and congratualted him heartily. Gone by the wayside were my choices - Claude and Keith, dismissed were Jeff's Fergus and Bob and with 3 votes Alf nearly had a victory with Bertie and Tommy, but Chas was having none of it. Jack he was after his 20 mile slug home and Jack he is now!
Back to the smashing of the house...
We have had a weekend of little visitors.
First arrivals were Amy, Ben and Emily who we know from the caravan. Ben was treated to the tractor ride of a lifetime. To begin, Alfie and he sat in the bucket of Jack and were driven around the land, being finally lifted as high as the tree branches to pick their own leaf - who says leaves can't be special. Ben was still clasping his on the way home... They were then moved to Jack's cab and driven at quite a lick around the garden. Ben's face was frozen somewhere between fear and sheer over-the-top excitement. His mum, Jennie, was leaning more on the side of fear!
Today Brendan and Dominic came for all the fun of the farm...Dom at only 3 opted to sit in the bucket with Charlie and Alf, as Jeffers drove them low to the ground and through the long grass. Brendan hopped in the cab with Jeff. Tonight they were driven royally around the garden and delivered to the back door. At this point Jeff misjudged the side of the shed...
I won't over egg it - it is a small divot, but when you live in a shed every wooden wall is important!
As to me...
I have bumped Jeff off Jack a couple of times - it seems only fair as he has all the fun!
I did not have any work to do with the tractor...so just drove Jack round and round the garden and getting faster and faster. How brave I felt - top gear and 3rd gear...speedy has nothing on it!
My godness how empowering, and I have convinced myself that with the amount of physical effort it tkaes to use the clutch, I will never need to worry about going to the gym again.
I was laughing last Sunday as I drove around the back garden, I was power-scraping mud off the garden with my trusty tractor. So, at night I was driving Jack, ploughing my field and the next day I would be back in London discussing brand equity and data driven marketing...could my two lives be more removed from one another!
all well, happy and full of fun!!!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
A new baby
We are now the proud owners of our first tractor! A 1958 Massey Ferguson and even though he is in his 50th year he is a fine old gentleman and addition to the family. J travelled 20 miles to bring him home going no more than 7 miles an hour through the countryside and down every B road he could find. He has been named Fergie, Jack and Tommy dependent on the member of the family you are talking to, but has revolutionised moving stuff around. Life will never be the same again.
I have had my first lesson on Fergie and although I was feeling awful with the tummy bug that is doing the rounds, I was having so much fun I forgot all about the knot in my stomach and stayed on board for an hour. J was relegated to 'ganger man' and had to make do with a shovel and spade as I moved earth and broken brick around. The boys love him and on the first morning we had him were out in the front bucket in their school clothes getting lifted above the fence to wave at me in the shed. A has mastered the art of lifting the bucket up and down but C stayed on his dad's lap and pretended to drive.
we now nearly have a driveway and my car exhaust should be able to last a bit longer now as it does not have to take a daily beating across the rock filled mud.
Sunshine was out again and J and I once more took up our seats in the sun, glass of wine in hand and imagined we were on holiday.
We have (or rather Fergie the tractor has) managed to losen the old football net out from the overgrown trees and brambles and so already A and J have been out for a game of penalty shootout - needless to say A put 9 goals past his old man.
I have had my first lesson on Fergie and although I was feeling awful with the tummy bug that is doing the rounds, I was having so much fun I forgot all about the knot in my stomach and stayed on board for an hour. J was relegated to 'ganger man' and had to make do with a shovel and spade as I moved earth and broken brick around. The boys love him and on the first morning we had him were out in the front bucket in their school clothes getting lifted above the fence to wave at me in the shed. A has mastered the art of lifting the bucket up and down but C stayed on his dad's lap and pretended to drive.
we now nearly have a driveway and my car exhaust should be able to last a bit longer now as it does not have to take a daily beating across the rock filled mud.
Sunshine was out again and J and I once more took up our seats in the sun, glass of wine in hand and imagined we were on holiday.
We have (or rather Fergie the tractor has) managed to losen the old football net out from the overgrown trees and brambles and so already A and J have been out for a game of penalty shootout - needless to say A put 9 goals past his old man.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Sunshine
My goodness, what a wonderful weekend, and all down to the sun beaming down on us! Spent all day yesterday outside...either perched by the river bank with J, sat on my chair eyes shut to the sun and just relaxing, or playing raiders and tree climbing down in the woods with the boys. The sun was warm and so welcome.
We rumaged around in one of the sheds outside, which up until last week has been covered in thorns and brambles and discovered 3 old bicycles. armed with cloth, foot pump and WD40 we began putting them back into working order. J has laid half a new driveway using stones and tarmac chippings from the local recycling plant, and so A and C could pedal to their hearts content up and down outside the front of the house. A was especially delighted that his new found bike had BMX written on it and whizzed around until the chain came off. Having rediscovered cycling we got the blue one that Mighty and Grandad bought him out and challenged him to cycle through the bumpy back garden down to the woods and along the river bank. Strong legs powered him all the way down.
At 9am this morning A got in a grump and announced he was leaving home. Within 10 mins he had packed a bag(a bug catcher pack) with soft toy, crisps and snack bar and persuaded his little brother that they should move to their holiday home. Sad to see them leave of course but delighted when the new home turned out to be the den! They found some green wire and have rigged this up to a tree in an attempt to bring electricity to their camp. It is great watching a 6 and 4 year old imagination running riot. The grump lasted about a minute the game far longer.
Sat again in the sun today and had Sarah, John and the boys over for lunch. Very relaxed and calming. Just great fun all round.
We rumaged around in one of the sheds outside, which up until last week has been covered in thorns and brambles and discovered 3 old bicycles. armed with cloth, foot pump and WD40 we began putting them back into working order. J has laid half a new driveway using stones and tarmac chippings from the local recycling plant, and so A and C could pedal to their hearts content up and down outside the front of the house. A was especially delighted that his new found bike had BMX written on it and whizzed around until the chain came off. Having rediscovered cycling we got the blue one that Mighty and Grandad bought him out and challenged him to cycle through the bumpy back garden down to the woods and along the river bank. Strong legs powered him all the way down.
At 9am this morning A got in a grump and announced he was leaving home. Within 10 mins he had packed a bag(a bug catcher pack) with soft toy, crisps and snack bar and persuaded his little brother that they should move to their holiday home. Sad to see them leave of course but delighted when the new home turned out to be the den! They found some green wire and have rigged this up to a tree in an attempt to bring electricity to their camp. It is great watching a 6 and 4 year old imagination running riot. The grump lasted about a minute the game far longer.
Sat again in the sun today and had Sarah, John and the boys over for lunch. Very relaxed and calming. Just great fun all round.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
All Clear
Well as exciting as I thought it would be...last Friday I came back from dropping the boys off at school to find the track to the house packed with wagons! Well, two of them. Leading the way was the waste man, sharply followed by the drain company that I have held in such high esteem since deciding they were the saviours of our loo.
The fun and games commenced. We may have found one manhole cover, but it soon became obvious that this was not the cess pit. The truck was ready to pump out the poo, but where was the way in?
J was out armed with the petrol strimmer and taking out the cormer of the garden covered in brambles, these were deemed to be covering the way in to the mess below. After about 20 mins and the cutting demise of the blackberry bushes for next year, we found the illusive manhole cover. There is was right underneath where everyone was standing and just outside of the shed. The broken moped we have in the back of the garden was lying right on top of it.
The cess pit draining man was wonderful. In went the hose, on went the truck and 10 mins later goodbye went 1,000 litres of waste!
The drainage guys then went to work. The good news is that the pit is really well built, if not a bit small - but it can be turned efficiently - in both time and money- into a fully modern sceptic tank. We will eventually end up putting clean water back into the surrounding land and waterway once it has passed through the system they can put in.
This is all brand new to me. I am so used to using a loo or running water and not thinking about what happens to the waste product. We are also looking into rainwater capture that would mean we could use this for our grey water in the washing machine etc. There is so much you can do when you are not so connected to the rest of the town.
Fencing and driveway are now the next mission. Fencing as you know has been chosen, and we have now sourced broken tarmac that we can use to make the driveway and somewhere to turn the cars round. At the moment we can go no farther than 10m from the house without hitting quagmire and getting the car stuck. All well and happy and flushing the loo for england without worrying about the consequences!
The fun and games commenced. We may have found one manhole cover, but it soon became obvious that this was not the cess pit. The truck was ready to pump out the poo, but where was the way in?
J was out armed with the petrol strimmer and taking out the cormer of the garden covered in brambles, these were deemed to be covering the way in to the mess below. After about 20 mins and the cutting demise of the blackberry bushes for next year, we found the illusive manhole cover. There is was right underneath where everyone was standing and just outside of the shed. The broken moped we have in the back of the garden was lying right on top of it.
The cess pit draining man was wonderful. In went the hose, on went the truck and 10 mins later goodbye went 1,000 litres of waste!
The drainage guys then went to work. The good news is that the pit is really well built, if not a bit small - but it can be turned efficiently - in both time and money- into a fully modern sceptic tank. We will eventually end up putting clean water back into the surrounding land and waterway once it has passed through the system they can put in.
This is all brand new to me. I am so used to using a loo or running water and not thinking about what happens to the waste product. We are also looking into rainwater capture that would mean we could use this for our grey water in the washing machine etc. There is so much you can do when you are not so connected to the rest of the town.
Fencing and driveway are now the next mission. Fencing as you know has been chosen, and we have now sourced broken tarmac that we can use to make the driveway and somewhere to turn the cars round. At the moment we can go no farther than 10m from the house without hitting quagmire and getting the car stuck. All well and happy and flushing the loo for england without worrying about the consequences!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Is Canada reading?
Are the outlaws looking at this? If you are here you can keep up to date with the excitement and adventure of Meadowcot as we muddle our way through the mud, cesspit, animals and children!
The thing I am most looking forward to this week is a company are coming to clear out the drainage and actually tell us what we have here. We have been told it is a cesspit and have found a man hole cover, but for the life of us we cannot tell where it all leads to. They are coming to enlighten us...and something has taken hold of me as I can't wait!
The decision has to be taken as to what kind of fencing we have - rurally knarled wood to make us look like we have always been here, or more grand iron railings like they have round estates - so J's laird of the manor outfit (tweedy jacket, checked shirt and jeans - all bought for £20!) can be worn with pride as he surveys his ground.
Managed to get the boys to play in the den. Have a sneeking suspicion I may have built it for me rather than them. Packed them off with binoculars, walky talkies and food and a total bribe in the shape of a can of coke. They played for about 15 minutes - or actually as long as it took them to share the can of coke in a rather grand and grown up manner - and then they came in. I am thinking through new tactics...
The thing I am most looking forward to this week is a company are coming to clear out the drainage and actually tell us what we have here. We have been told it is a cesspit and have found a man hole cover, but for the life of us we cannot tell where it all leads to. They are coming to enlighten us...and something has taken hold of me as I can't wait!
The decision has to be taken as to what kind of fencing we have - rurally knarled wood to make us look like we have always been here, or more grand iron railings like they have round estates - so J's laird of the manor outfit (tweedy jacket, checked shirt and jeans - all bought for £20!) can be worn with pride as he surveys his ground.
Managed to get the boys to play in the den. Have a sneeking suspicion I may have built it for me rather than them. Packed them off with binoculars, walky talkies and food and a total bribe in the shape of a can of coke. They played for about 15 minutes - or actually as long as it took them to share the can of coke in a rather grand and grown up manner - and then they came in. I am thinking through new tactics...
Sunday, January 20, 2008
pigs,chickens and dens
well the rain never came! we waited and waited, watching every looming cloud for the torrential downpour that was promised, but the trenches weren't tested and the house remains warm and more importantly dry. I suppose that there is a small feeling of disappointment that all of J's hardwork with a spade has not been challenged by the elements and we will have to live and learn another day.
We have made the boys a den in the back garden, complete with chairs and area to keep the footballs. You have to have a password to enter and sitting out there last night with the torches was a wonderful game. J had to persuade them to come out and play with me in it as I was getting rather upset sitting in my masterpiece alone. We have walls, door and a shelf area. I was deperate to put in a table and even found myself picking up and old framed picture to put on the 'walls' (tree) until I remembered that I was building this for small men and the titivating would not be needed when the den became a war camp in the battle against the baddies in the back garden. Armed with torches and twigs for guns sure enough we managed to protect the den and fought our way back to the back door.
J has been hunting out pigs and chickens for us to keep and I naively thought that the fact he was leaving the web pages open by accident for me to spot was just that. It turns out he knows me rather too well and knew that I could not resist the chance to look - the choices are Kune Kune pigs and Brahma chickens...
Brahmas as I rather like to look of the Abba esque flairs they have round their feet and Kune Kune because they look like bulldogs - who says there is anything scientific in this.
We have made the boys a den in the back garden, complete with chairs and area to keep the footballs. You have to have a password to enter and sitting out there last night with the torches was a wonderful game. J had to persuade them to come out and play with me in it as I was getting rather upset sitting in my masterpiece alone. We have walls, door and a shelf area. I was deperate to put in a table and even found myself picking up and old framed picture to put on the 'walls' (tree) until I remembered that I was building this for small men and the titivating would not be needed when the den became a war camp in the battle against the baddies in the back garden. Armed with torches and twigs for guns sure enough we managed to protect the den and fought our way back to the back door.
J has been hunting out pigs and chickens for us to keep and I naively thought that the fact he was leaving the web pages open by accident for me to spot was just that. It turns out he knows me rather too well and knew that I could not resist the chance to look - the choices are Kune Kune pigs and Brahma chickens...
Brahmas as I rather like to look of the Abba esque flairs they have round their feet and Kune Kune because they look like bulldogs - who says there is anything scientific in this.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Will the rain come again?
Have now looked up over 7 different weather sites all of which announce that there will be more rain around this afternoon...We have dug trenches around the house - happily known as 'the shed' for the fact that it is reminincent of a 1970 scout hut - red wooded walls and green felt roof. After the down pours of Tuesday, which nearly floated us away, we are now waiting to see whether our attempts to make us less of an ark and more of a house will work.
The problem seems to be that when you stand in the garden you would be convinced that the land slips away from the house. Only when J started digging could he really start seeing where the lower points of the land are.
Anyway, all of this I am putting down to an adventure, the boys and the dogs seem totally unfazed and the fire is on! Warm, cosy...but dry??
The problem seems to be that when you stand in the garden you would be convinced that the land slips away from the house. Only when J started digging could he really start seeing where the lower points of the land are.
Anyway, all of this I am putting down to an adventure, the boys and the dogs seem totally unfazed and the fire is on! Warm, cosy...but dry??
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