7. Preparing for the 'Big Dig'

The next stage is the 'Big Dig'. A large part of the shale bank behind the old shed position has to be removed to accommodate the new house. This was due to happen this week, but the excavator operator was held up at his previous job, so it is scheduled for next Monday.

We had to do some preparation first; the bank was so overgrown it wasn't possible for Adam the builder to measure and mark the extent of the excavation (not least to do with the possibility of snakes).  So J and I turned this ...

into this ...

It was really hard work - we used a brushcutter and rakes as the area is too steep for a machine. The long grass was filled with a nasty tangling vine that made it really hard to clear the growth away. But we persisted and finally got it all cleared.

Then Adam and J were able to measure out the area to be removed - look for the star-pickets painted pink (apologies for the dodgy photos).

 This area should look very different next week!