We've Reached Base Camp

No we haven't suddenly found ourselves on a mountaineering expedition to climb the north face of Everest, however at the start of a new pond build it does seem that you put in an immense amount of work and effort with nothing significant to show for it - just plans, revamped plans and more plans. Plus a multitude of bits and pieces of equipment you've assembled together but packed away until the moment comes when you'll finally need them. I'm sure those people that venture out to conquer Everest and other monumental peaks must feel the same way, until that is they finally reach Base Camp when suddenly the overwhelming sense of "now we're getting somewhere" finally hits home and the reality of all the planning and getting ready is actually coming to fruition. If that's the case, then last Saturday morning we finally reached Base Camp with our new pond build!

Start of the day

 The ready mix concrete from Sandsfield's at Elvington was due to arrive some time around 10.00am. The team of volunteers (or were they coerced) gathered for 09.30am just in case the came a little earlier than expected. Wifey had already been busy and had lined the wheel barrows up ready for the off and had also placed a large piece of old pond liner on the drive, just in case we ran out of waiting time and the remaining mix would have to be dumped.

Bang on 10.00am and the mix arrived. After re-positioning the truck we were ready and under starters orders. Yours truly jumped into the whole, well i say jumped .... it was more of a fall but with a little style, then eagerly awaited the first barrow full. After a few loads it was a quick change with Richard adopting spreading duties as barrow after barrow full of concrete found its way into the hole (and the eye) whist on occasions the barrow nearly followed ..... yes into the eye as well as the hole!

To say it was fast & furious (there's a film there somewhere - with pimped up wheel barrows) .... anyway it would be an understatement. In fact i've no idea at all how long it actually took to fill the hole or how many barrows it involved .... quite a few looking at the red faces that kept appearing from behind a tipped up wheel barrow as another load of concrete entered the hole & eyes. The whole thing was a bit of a blur until the sense of not being pebble dashed finally got through to the brain and we realised that everyone was stood watching and waiting for the master class of levelling to begin. After being given some excellent advice from the driver whilst he was eating his second bacon butty, we set about the task at hand under the watchful eye of everyone!

After some good solid tamping down we finally made our way out the end of the pond exiting via what's going to eventually be the filter house. The Concreting Crew then got stuck into some well deserved bacon & sausage butties along with a well earned cuppa. By 12.00 midday the pond base was complete & levelled, the bacon & sausage butties annihilated and the Concreting Crew all heading home .... to collapse probably.

Base Camp Reached

 A massive thank you to the members of the East Yorkshire Koi Society that gave up their own time to come and help us complete this part of our new pond build project. Their help was invaluable and resulted in a daunting task made easy through their efforts.

Now for the role of honour:-

• Chrissie - For sweet talking the driver and bribing him with coffee and bacon butties, plus feeding and watering all the other hungry & thirsty faces after all their hard work!

• EYKS Members - Mike, Roger, Richard and Roy (the Concreting Crew) for their sheer hard work in getting the concrete from truck to in hole (and eyes don't forget) in such a small time frame and with very little spillage - simply awesome!

• Grandad - The senior member of the Concreting Crew!

• Keiran (our son) - For helping Chrissie bribe the driver - with his sweets.

• Wifey - For helping out with absolutely everything!

The Concreting Crew