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December 27th 2003 to January 2nd 2004

Not the most traditional activity for the time of year but we started building - or more correctly we started demolishing and digging a damned big hole.

Equipment was delivered on the 23rd and 24th of December and consisted of two tracked diggers - one big and one BIG and two dumpers - one normal and one huge 6 wheeler of the size one normally expects in road construction - I was glad I was not going to be driving them on our wet, slippery and very slopey site.

The rough site was set out and the top soil stripped off then work began cutting into the rock - fortunately this stayed reasonably manageable sandstone type - only getting hard near the bottom of the 6m hole.

From then on work has been steady - the groundworkers we went with have been excellent - always on time - worked every day (including New Year's Day) and worked the hours - a good job the diggers have lights.  They have also been incredibly tidy and helpful - anyone looking for work done in the Herefordshire area I can 100% recommend them - check the link for Martin Colwell.

One of the major features has been snags with equipment - too wet for the large dumper the first day, tyres popping off dumpers, turning the skip of the large dumper over, small digger breaking down, dirty fuel lines but everything has been fixed pretty quick and progress resumed.  At the moment we're looking ahead of schedule rather than behind.

Must admit this has been one of the best Christmas presents ever - after working on this for so long to actually be going is both exciting and scary.