Day 30 and 31 - Barn Boys in the Trenches

Matt and Tim start the Big Dig

The poor Barn Boys have spent days in the trenches. Each time I go up to visit, I see less and less of them as they disappear deeper and deeper into the ground.  It's slow, painstaking work digging, by hand, through sandstone. Machines simply don't cut it, literally; they just ping and bounce around, barely scratching the surface.  

Hopefully, a Viccy Sandwich cake, rock cakes and a fresh supply of 'kitchen sink' cookies have helped to sugar the sandstone pill.

Sandstone cross section

'Phew. Some clay, at last'

Every now and again, they hit a welcome patch of clay, which made the going 'good to soft'.

Preparation for foundations on West Elevation

Trenches on North elevation.  Recording Studio

Inspector Walt checking Shepherd Howard's trenches.
Please note....ANOTHER BarnBoy toy arrives on site

Trenches in North Elevation. Master bed

Boss Jon dig dig digging

'Get me outa' here!'

Hat-less Matt and Smiley Tim slowly disappear

'Digging trenches by hand is getting a little dull'

 

Shepherd Howard strikes gold and finally reaches the kitchen (SE) wall foundations

The Barn Boys are almost ready to start 'stepping' the trenches, before the arrival of Mr EasyCrete and his concrete lorry.  More of that to follow. Thought I'd lost all those pictures, but thanks to photostream, I have recovered them.

Well done the Barn Boys for persevering with the hand-digging. The area now looks like the site of an archeological dig or an ancient burial ground.

I'm getting behind on my posts, due to an unforeseen, unconnected BarnGirl situation this week, hence this is a bit 'bloglite'. Will crack on.

Love
BarnGirl
xx