Digging and loading

Ah yes, I had my Royal fill yesterday - a tight throat at times choked up with emotion, tears, smiles and laughter, as I watched Her Majesty in the Thames Pageant.  My roots have been satisfied - for now.  Even though I was born there over 50 years ago, and have been back a few times, I am a very proud Brit :)  Her Majesty is one heck of a woman - not only for holding her position of responsibility and fulfilling her duty for over 60 years, but for standing for 3-odd hours yesterday, in the pouring rain!  At 88 - amazing!  I couldn't do it at my age.


But, back to our eco-journey in South Africa.


The whole purpose of our last trip to the farm was to allow the digger/loader entry to the property in order for it to dig the foundations.  I had to sacrifice my new washing line as it had be placed in exactly the position marked by the architect for the garage.  Grrrrrrrr!

The digger loader made short work of the foundation holes - damn, we need one of those machines - permanently LOL


RMan then decided that my nagging had finally been too much, and he asked the driver to scoop out some of the alien Black Wattles which had taken up residence in the spot where a previous load of building sand had been dumped.  It's all very well saying we need shade for those hot summer days, but when that quest results in completely blocking our view of Traddouw Pass and generates a feeling of being hemmed in, then I reckon it's pointless.

Overcrowded self-seeded trees

Carefully, carefully - loosen the roots...

Effortless tree removal with the digger / loader

... a gentle scoop here, and gentle scoop there, and then toddle off to the fence between our neighbour and us to relocate the newly up-rooted trees.  

The relocated tree site

I hope they take.  Time will tell.  Two Black Wattles were left in front of the house, and one next to the grey water reed bed.  Until the other trees we have planted grow enough to fulfill their function, the Black Wattles will remain.  When we cut them down a couple of years in the future, they will become very important firewood :)

When we left for the farm on the Friday lunchtime, it was pouring with rain - and it poured most of the way.  Recalling the wet, soggy clay mess of my veggies patch last year in August as the beds were being prepared, I asked RMan to stop at the local Co-Op in order to see if they had any wellies in stock.  I mean, what is a farmer's wife if she hasn't got any wellies?

A pair of Wayne's Wellies for RMan,
and a pair for me :)

We were in luck!  And, although they only had black wellies, wellies is wellies - no? :)  A pair for RMan and a pair for me.  At R54.00 (£4.09 / US$6.28) a pair - I reckon they have to be the bargain of the century.  But, not only that, we finally found something that is Made in South Africa - a low transport footprint!  Now - eat your heart out, China :)

Wayne Wellies, Made in South Africa.
They even have Wayne's V.A.T. number printed
on them LOL

RMan looks very dashing in his new wellies.

I reckon RMan looks quite sexy in
his new Wellies LOL

He didn't do the dirty work that I did that weekend, so he didn't use his.  But I did.  Don't tell him that as they get covered in more and more wet clay, the wellies get heavier and heavier - so much so that just walking becomes a chore in itself LOL.  Never mind the contorted, inelegant walk that develops as a result!


But, the clean trouser bottoms and socks are worth the extra exercise my legs are going to get!  And every time I need to nip inside to make a cup of tea, taking the wellies off is a breeze!


Happy Days :)