Oh how I wish I am able to just wave a magic wand, utter those magic words and effortlessly levitate and direct things to its proper place without flexing too much muscle, and more importantly, get things done in a much shorter period of time!
'Wingardium leviosa' is a fictional spell used in the Harry Potter series, together with a magic wand you are able to levitate and move things mid air towards where you want this object to be. It would have been handy if I had such capability but alas, I am (and we are all) but a mere mortal, and the words are nothing more but a product of someone else's imagination.
In here, doing it yourself, hard graft, and a generous helping of perseverance is as magical as it will ever get. Just as effective though, albeit alot slower and very, very tiring at the end of the day.
Gerhard of Bamboo and More prompted me on Facebook to post some photos of the rubble that we have removed so far. Rather than one massive mountain of chalk and subsoil, the rubble has been piled in a series of smaller heaps, spread out on certain areas of the new garden, to be compacted later on to raise the current ground level. The topsoil however were saved and will be used to fill in the raised beds currently being built.
The volume of rubble now looks much bigger than it really is (although it is alot of rubble!) but once spread around and a ground compactor has been used, it shouldn't remain as bulky as it looks now. Most of the rubble aren't in their permanent positions just yet so there's still plenty of shifting left to do in the future. It would have been handy if the magic wand did exist and I'm capable of casting this spell, but it'll be more like me muttering those two words whilst I shovel and shift the rubble then.
Overdoing it over the Weekend
I must admit I think we overdid it last weekend and we pushed our physical capabilities to the limit. With the delivery date of the cement mix for the base of the pond getting closer we've put ourselves in a little bit of a panic mode. Overall I'm pleased with our progress and what we've done at the end of the weekend, with the dig nearly completed and the final ground dimensions already demarcated. But come Monday morning we were both absolutely shattered and it trickled on till Wednesday, going on auto pilot mode both mentally and physically. Normally I still do a little bit of chipping after work but I have to listen to my body and just take it easy for a change. So there's me signing off the project for a few days and no touching of spade, pickaxe, nor shovel. Just good old fashioned gardening and planting which I find very relaxing and invigorating. Come the long weekend we'll be raring to get going again I'm sure.
Coming back from work on Monday evening, I found this on our drive...
"Wingardium leviosa!", I say in my mind but...
Oh well, looks like this will keep me busy for several evenings next week, shifting the blocks three at a time, bag of cement one at a time...
Nevermind! For all the humanly labour and non supernatural hard work the project entails, I'm sure it will be magical in the end :-)
Mark
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
Big project and know how you feel. Did quite a bit of my own last year. Really was tired by the time I carried all those pavers out back. Yours is going to look wonderful. Take care.
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Goldenray Yorkies
Best of luck! I am excited to see what the finished project will look like.
ReplyDeleteGlad it's you, not me! I get tired just looking at the pictures! Take care - just work steadily and don't overdo it!
ReplyDeleteYour earlier photos had me stepping out the pond I plan for the front yard...now you have me moaning and wondering if it is a good idea. Mind you, mine will be smaller than yours and probably just a liner with rocks and plants....But it doesn't look like you two know the meaning of moderation!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a mound of rubble! Your yard looks like a major construction site. Hats off to the pair of you for tackling something like this yourself. You will be so proud of your achievement when it's all done. I can't wait to see the next phase.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting these photos. They really put your project in perspective for me.
Gluttons for punishment, never mind I am sure it will be brilliant when finished.
ReplyDeleteYou must be exhausted if you are humping all those blocks in this heat. We've been jetwashing the patio which is quite a cooling job!
ReplyDeleteIt's Easter break here and the weather's been so nice that we're outside nearly all the time, apologies for the late replies!
ReplyDeleteThanks CollegeGardener and Cher, you know too that that it will be worth it in the end :)
HolleyGarden, feeling all recovered now, whew! We'll try our best not to do it as intense as we did last weekend :)
Hazel, you know it's a good idea so get crackin' with it. You'd be so delighted once you see the finished product and see all those fishes and plants thriving. Moderation is not always our byword, lol! :)
Gerhard, lots of rubble eh! The area looks like a proper construction site, but as they say you can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs :)
ReplyDeleteAlistair, that made me laugh! Lots of chocolate to compensate though :)
Martin, welcome back! Jetwashing is quite a nice job on a warm, 'summery' day :)
Good grief! I am lost in a mix of admiration and horror... In this weather?! Really?! Impressive rubble mountains, challenging block piles. Glad you listened to your body, at least until the new delivery. Hope you survive to show us photos of the finished pond, rather than being buried beneath it...
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