Watty's Awakening

PennysIntoPounds

If you still have an ancient (i.e. preferable) laptop or tv with a disc slot somewhere you might be able to play CDs on that

WelshmansDaughter

Oh yeah you can buy drives for computers or laptops to play them

Watty1

As ever some great ideas on here. Thank you.

On another thread I discovered one can hire shredders and a quick look on line have found this can be done locally so that will be the solution to what three years ago maybe was the bonfire heap. PPH used to store wood for the log burner behind the barn and I have had someone clear that area and cut the wood up but he never finished the job and just "vanished" and the pile remained. Last year VNM pulled some log material off the bonfire pile and we chopped it up but what is left now is just a pile of old branches and scrap. We always thought we would burn it but it is very close to my riding arena and I am worried about sparks. So the plan between now and the spring will be to shred the lot and then kill off the weeds and reseed the area adding an extra chunk of grazing land to the field.

That goes on long term plan. The garden fence has been sprayed so it now looks in better condition, braced where it was very unstable and two hoses have been hung. Obviously can't use hoses due to hose pipe ban but can now fill watering cans and don't have to carry water so far.

Yet again water has been turned off just outside the hamlet. We have had water delivered so I assume it is likely ours will be turned off soon. I can only imagine that delivering water must put extra stress on the system. We have had 12 litres delivered which is not going to be enough for the horses so I've filled water containers I used to use when took them to shows and I imagine that people locally must be filling baths (I have not done this but I can see the logic, I've just kept water back to tide me over for the horses as they do drink a lot in this heat).

Plans for weekend are to do some work in the office then continue to poo pick one of the resting fields.

Cherryfudge

A good idea to lay in a stock when you have animals as well as yourselves to cater for. 12 litres really isn't very much at all - unless they are planning for just a short while. It's quite scary to hear of water going off and I imagine its a nightmare for farmers.

Watty1

Most places go off for about 4 days - they seem to be trying to rotate where they cut the supply off. The local farmers with livestock can apply for a bowser but horses are classified as "pets" and therefore it is the owners responsibility to supply water. I have two water butts in the fields full, so although the water is filthy in one (I would have drained it as the field is now resting) I have opted to keep it full "in case"

greenbee

I've got hoses running out of the bathroom window so I can decant the contents of the bath into the rainwater collection system that waters the veg plot. TBH the veg plot is a losing battle at the moment as even with the irrigation system it is very dry and I haven't had the time to sort it out. But there is at least SOME water getting to it… even if it's my dirty bathwater! I'm sure the horses won't want to drink bathwater, but it might be worth seeing whether you can acquire some old IBCs or those giant juice bottles and store more water in future. I suspect this may happen again!

Watty1

yes, we have been thinking about how to store water as I think this will continue at least until the rain starts or the heatwave breaks. The local farmers have bowsers if they have livestock and friends out of area will let me fill up there if we get really stuck so I'm less concerned and more irritated by a system so fundamentally unable to cope when the last two winters have had a lot of rain. Seems most of the water comes from underground. hey ho. It is just striking how hard it is for the south east to cope with weather extremes.

WelshmansDaughter

https://www.galbraithgroup.com/property/abn250096-mill-of-auchernach-strathdon-aberdeenshire-ab36-8uj/

Watty1

Wow, isn't that property stunning. I imagine keeping that walled garden would be a labour of love but gorgeous. (Actually many years ago I had livery on a private farm that had a stunning walled garden that was used as a field and my horse had it as his paddock, it was a fabulous paddock!)

It also has running water I see, which is a step up from here. We have running water "at times" which is probably because the authority apparently has to pay compensation if it is off for over 24 hours, so, if one has water for a short while the clock resets. (I found this out yesterday whilst having the usual £5 afternoon church cream tea).

The last cream tea of the summer was enjoyed and I donated extra to the church funds as a thank you for the three lovely afternoons there. It really is a very special village, church and group of people.

Watty1

Running water properly restored. Made us really aware of just how much we take it for granted.