It's that fence again! Toft Gate: 17-05-2016

The email from James, announcing that this week's task was to be back at Toft Gate, shattered the false sense of security that had developed in NCVs who had struggled to split open bare bedrock with a metal spike 3 long weeks ago. The fencing job was not, of course, complete.We had just blocked out its painful memories, but, in spite of knowing what lay ahead, 11 NCVs joined forces for yet another attack. The bedrock would be split asunder. Those fence posts would be inserted. The rails would have something to be nailed to. 

The morning didn't start well when we realised that a number of posts, so securely put in last time, were now, thanks to the recent dry weather, wobbling around in their post holes. Calamity!! Some had to be lifted out and re-done, others wedged with more rock pieces. Any new ones had to be put into much bigger holes than usual and then backfilled with rock. 

The first spike of the day is deployed.

Here we see spike action in stereo while 
Nick leans on his spade (a very demanding job).

Take that you beastly bedrock.

It's no good - I'll just have to get air to my knees.

Further along the fence John and Jan tried to 
set a railing into a straining post to straighten the fence line.

Down at the bottom end the railing team got busy with the second rail. 
Sally thinks hard to remember how to knock in a nail
 whilst Laura finds out that this fence is no push over.
And who's that bending over - answers on a post card!

Coffee and lunch in a sunny spot.

Osian felt that he deserved a rest after all that spiking.

Holes had to be VERY deep.

 This rather unpleasant looking heap turned 
out to be a wonderful source of rocks.

The rocks were then re-cycled as post hole filler.

An NCV falls to his knees, weeping - a beaten man.
Nick - you can do this thing. Don't give up now!

In the end progress was made, with a number of additional posts in a solidly vertical state. Particular progress was made with the railings. However - as you may suspect - more posts still await insertion.

Yes - you can see we've been working here today.

Ros E.