Flying solo

*Robin*

Good morning World, :hello:

Thanks for popping in, Sparky and Missrlr. :T

..Feels like a long time since yours truly was last here - apologies to everyone.
Two reasons:
A. End of the month - internet is crawling..
B. You remember the Nest's crumbling walls which several strong men promised to fix in exchange for hard cash / van borrowing?

Well, it became apparent that another large chunk was making it's way to chaotic freedom - rocks moved 10cms in a day leaving a sinister dark hole where the edge of the grass used to be.. The potential cascade was threatening CD's favourite path and a bank of bee-friendly flowers (and perhaps, the security of our Nest itself as this wall is less than two metres away).

On the same day rocks' movement was noted, Side-Kick turned up - alone - he apologised for not having time to re-build the wall, as he bid CD and self farewell. SK let slip that DS3 has a new love-interest, which came as a great surprise (but explains why both SK and self have seen little of Divo Three recently).

DS1 is back at work on his current project so it wouldn't have been fair to ask him to fly over for the sake of Mum's wobbly wall.
Plumber also has a new high-maintenance GF so not available, which left only one alternative: Muggins.

First; cut a platform into the cliff, below the wall. Then, perching on this 15cms wide ledge, remove wobbling rocks one at a time and throw them up onto the path. In front of the fissure, the wall was so unstable that yours truly was obliged to lean on it - to prevent an avalanche - quite frightening because had the base moved too, it would've been game over; not much chance of surviving a five metre tumble onto solid rock, beneath a ton or so of loose stones!

Luckily the bottom course held solid, thank goodness.
In many ways it was a bluddy stupid thing to do - pushing karma?
There was a price; three horrendous, long attacks of cramp in both arms and legs despite devouring every banana in the fruit bowl and taking a double dose of the supplements which are supposed to prevent it. Had to devise a weird sleeping chair to keep legs straight, and wrap towels round each arm to stop those bending as I doze off - restricting blood flow brings on more cramp when one's spoons are in overdraft.

During ten minute bursts the work creeps on, and there are now thirty-two bucket-loads of shale back-fill cluttering up the patio (in sacks - don't own thirty-two buckets, lol). CD has to thread her way through piles of rock littering her path, and I must rattle since m' TENS machine's second and last battery expired.

Which brings us to yesterday evening. A logistics problem: Need at least four huge stones to repair the foundations; found some in DH's rock pile, but they're about fifty metres and twenty-three steps below the wall. Managed to roll over the smallest of the four - once - could go no further, and definitely no chance of lifting it.

Will DS3 redeem himself and save the day? Let you know later..

Can't think about anything else until this is sorted out so hope it happens quickly because financial matters are pressing, alarm bells ringing..

Good luck with the pumpkins, Sparky - d'you know any decent recipes, or are you thinking of Halloween decorations?
..Don't think we've had any since the kids outgrew carving 'em (pumpkin soup for the third night running, anyone? :rotfl:).

Missrlr - how are you? Is the leg getting better (do hope so!)? You are often in my thoughts..
Am pleased with van's new tyres; happy to hear you have confidence in the brand, as will need another pair fairly soon.

Spends: Van insurance - £490 (up 0.08€ on last year's premium - sounds pricey but is FC, any driver, includes glass & breakdown cover, and am insured FC to drive anyone else's Spanish road-legal vehicle).
'Phone creds - £17
Groceries - £8

Bubblesmum

*Robin* wrote: »

which left only one alternative: Muggins.

First; cut a platform into the cliff, below the wall. Then, perching on this 15cms wide ledge, remove wobbling rocks one at a time and throw them up onto the path. In front of the fissure, the wall was so unstable that yours truly was obliged to lean on it - to prevent an avalanche - quite frightening because had the base moved too, it would've been game over; not much chance of surviving a five metre tumble onto solid rock, beneath a ton or so of loose stones!

Luckily the bottom course held solid, thank goodness.
In many ways it was a bluddy stupid thing to do - pushing karma?
There was a price; three horrendous, long attacks of cramp in both arms and legs despite devouring every banana in the fruit bowl and taking a double dose of the supplements which are supposed to prevent it. Had to devise a weird sleeping chair to keep legs straight, and wrap towels round each arm to stop those bending as I doze off - restricting blood flow brings on more cramp when one's spoons are in overdraft.

During ten minute bursts the work creeps on, and there are now thirty-two bucket-loads of shale back-fill cluttering up the patio (in sacks - don't own thirty-two buckets, lol). CD has to thread her way through piles of rock littering her path, and I must rattle since m' TENS machine's second and last battery expired.

Which brings us to yesterday evening. A logistics problem: Need at least four huge stones to repair the foundations; found some in DH's rock pile, but they're about fifty metres and twenty-three steps below the wall. Managed to roll over the smallest of the four - once - could go no further, and definitely no chance of lifting it.

I feel like my BF who rolls her eyes in exasperation when I do something that perhaps really is not very advisable to my health .... So I'm passing that thought on to you.... I hope DS3 has come to the rescue.....

It's a miserable wet autumn day here.... So hope the sun is warming your day there....

please-let-me-be-lucky

Robin!!!! You are naughty (and brave!) for attempting all that alone. Please take care and get help as soon as possible. Love interest or no, a promise is a promise!! Xx

mcculloch29

My goodness.... I know fortune favours the brave Robin, but blimey, that was definitely pushing the limits. Thank goodness all was well. The stupidest thing I've done was when DS was being deliberately non-co-operative a few years back and refusing to get the Christmas decorations out of the loft. With knacked arthritic hip and u.s. balance due to cerebral palsy, I stood on the top of the stepladder, on the part that actually forms a carrying 'handle', in order to reach everything. Including something that he had claimed wasn't there the previous year, as he wouldn't make the extra effort to reach it. It was an extremely stupid thing to do, but the expression on DS's face was worth seeing. (He got the decs down last year and will this year.)

missrlr

Oh my life, ROBIN honestly did you think? At all? <turns off mother mode>
Please please don't try any more shenanigans with walls and rocks and such like. we worry (collectively) enough here in the UK to mount a rescue Robin expedition if necessary (we can muster a charger to canter there surely?) but your sporadic posting means we might be a bit late!
Hope you have done no lasting damage and can get the TENS machine sorted too!

grannyx2

Oh Robin!!!!

X

*Robin*

Hello Diary and Dear MSE Mates, :hello:

Yes you are all right to tell me off, but as McCulloch said, sometimes one has to do something risky to make a point..

It worked.
Divo Three did show up, raging and cursing; he felt so ill with "pneumonia" how dare I "guilt trip" him into wall-building when he hadn't even had breakfast?

Offered toast or muesli; no thanks! ..But then DS ate the toast I'd made for m'self before addressing more profanities at the section of wall Muggins had already rebuilt.

Observed him; good colour - no fever, normal respiration, no audible rattle, plenty of energy.. He did have a slight cough, sounded like a mild URT infection - handed over Echinacea which he accepted before starting to - literally - chuck around huge boulders.

It was a battle. DS once spent a summer helping build 'proper' dry stone walls in Yorkshire, but the technique isn't perfect for a one-sided retaining wall, which requires a different weight distribution - ancient engineering degree trumps Yorkshire experience
Managed to dissuade Divo Three from dismantling my repairs and concentrate on setting in decent founds for the section I was stuck at; he replaced half a dozen huge rocks and laid another course on top before saying there was no decent stone left - cue more blue language.

After three hours we'd both had enough. Divo Three fried up then devoured loads of garlic and root ginger with all the leftovers he could find in the fridge, plus DS2's packet of spring rolls from the freezer (big favour that was - they're too 'processed' for yours truly to enjoy ).

Thank goodness, the meal improved DS3's mood and we were able to converse in a civilised fashion before he departed.

Since then, the wall has grown. Am finding happy places for most of the rocks DS rejected, and amazingly, the sacks of backfill are disappearing behind 'em. It helps that I don't give a d*mn whether each stone is presenting it's 'best face' forward - which presumably was a requirement of DS' titled Yorkshire employer - am just concerned it's weight is correctly positioned for maximum strength and stability.

Meanwhile Divo Four called; THEY are issuing dire threats..

Brightspark87

Hi Robin

You are lucky Divo 3 came - glad you are getting there with the wall!

Pumpkin receipes - hundreds! I adore them. I use them like butternut squash. Soup, risotto, roasted, mashed, you name it! My fav is with anchovies in a risotto with sage. Truly scrummy and cheap!

How are you feeling? x

Sun_Addict

Thank goodness you are ok after your rock escapade Robin. Glad DS3 turned up in the end even if he did have man flu. You shouldn't really attempt jobs like that yourself but I know you are only trying to be independent - I would be the same to be honest! Behave yourself

missrlr

Ok I accept the methodology IN THEORY was sound
It's practical execution I still have issues with.

Thank goodness Divo3 pulled fingers out of butt and sorted SOMEWHAT of the necessary. Next time message and threaten first please!?!

Glad wall is back ok ish

And DO NOT have a repeat performance please?

Re THEM erm much as it sounds a lot do consider a professional to avoid being arrested when you come home or for others ...... Being blunt. ..... Dealing with affairs of state in the future ..........

Now be a big girl andpick up the phone and sort.

<nice boot up bum>