Hey, I'm back!

After a bit of a break, here we are again. That is, the reports have had a bit of a break, owing to a slight shortage of webspace, plus I didn't think anyone was actually that interested, but surprise, surprise, I've had quite a few people saying that they used to enjoy reading these reports (!) so I've made some more space, and I intend to go back to regular reporting again.

Well, the summer is over, autumn is nearly upon us, and we have been told to gather in West Challow, round the back of the Village Hall, where the villagers kindly allow us to park. First job: lots of gossip and catching up with news. Second job: unload the van. Oh look, a gate.

There's no point resisting the obvious - here's Jim, leaning on a gate!

Half an hour later, after we'd all taken a turn at leaning on the gate, we carried it across the field along with a big square post, a lot of half-round posts, a post hole digger and two barrows full of sundry tools. I have a feeling that we're going to be digging post holes.

And yes! We dug a huge hole - well, Malcy did most of the work, but I haven't got a photo of that bit - and inserted the large square post, from which we could hang the gate. Bob ("Avast behind!") is checking the position of the hinges while everyone stands and watches, apart from Alastair who is, of course, pulling a face at me. Ah, just like old times!

'Ere, it's a bit crooked, Bob?

Don't be silly, we've only got one hinge in place.

Roy taps it with the short-handled sledgehammer, just to make sure.

Ah, lovely fit. This gate is part of the not-yet-opened Permissive Path that will run beside the canal between Silver Lane to the west, and Childrey Wharf to the east. We're having to fence off the landowner's private pond, to prevent walkers from trespassing, so this gate will direct them out into the field, ready for the next section.

If you observe in the centre of the picture, there is an upright wooden post fixed to the new gatepost - this is to carry the electric fencing over the gate, allowing walkers underneath it without having to duck. Unless they are exceptionally tall. We tried it out on Chinnor John, as he's the tallest amongst us, and it seemed to be fine.

Meanwhile, Jim has had enough and is starting an unofficial tea-break.

After lunch, a small bunch of us are sent eastwards, to clear around some stumps that are going to be ground out later on this week. Mike, Malcy and I are joined by Jill, wife of James, who has come along instead of him, bringing her nephew and godson (just one youngster!) and a bag of sweeties. We like Jill! Here she is, slaving away with a slasher, and putting rather more effort into it than we ever got out of James.......

Malcy chips away round a smallish stump in the middle of the path:

...and ten minutes later, look! The proud owner of a disinterred stump! Well, that didn't put up much of a fight, did it? Let's move on to the other one.

Ah..... this could be more of a problem! Vic looks on, wondering if there's anything edible hidden amongst the roots.

Perhaps we'll leave this stump for the stump-grinding machine......

Meanwhile, here's Roy with the Toytown Mower.(he! he!)

Roy concentrates on his steering while Chinnor John says to Bob "Shouldn't we be in front of him with a red flag?"

The net result of the day: one self-closing gate, several stumps cleared and ready for grinding, and a large amount of soon-to-be-permissive path neatly mown. Not bad, eh?