Saturday 15th August

A report from the pen of our western correspondent, Jes Mania.........

Today we were not expecting a large gang after last weeks cast of thousands. However 8 worthy individuals were at base by 8am.

An immediate job required a small gang to be dispatched to Ropley to attend to some running repairs on the point road into the yard. Always a very key location. So this left Ian J and Adrian C to walk to Alresford and Keith H and Bill to go to Alton. Once the Ropley crew returned to base, the 4 of them, Eddie, Martin W, Ian R, and John returned to the task of fishplate oiling. Now on the home leg on the M&FM to Ropley section, the boys had a great day and did over half a mile, some 53 joints worth of work. 

John is poised for action with the L.A.F.F Mk.3
(Lubricant Applicator For Fishplates) as Martin slackens off
the nuts.

Meanwhile the other 4 proceeded to the site of the next hut, The Grosvenor, to clear the immediate area around the hut to give us space to work. They also finished digging the hole for the foundations of the chimney and placed the shuttering for the concrete, which will hopefully be cast next week. By the end of the day the oiling gang were through Soak cutting and joined them at the site.

Ian strimming at the hut site. Somewhere in there is
Keith chainsawing.

Only a bit further to go Bill, honest! The hole for the
chimney foundation nears completion.

We all were pleased with the day's works, returning to base to enjoy Mrs Wood's Banana and Date cake. Very good indeed it was, thank you and another one next month would go very well with our end of day mug of tea (We can't wait that long! Please can we have another one next Saturday- Ed).