The Hollow Blog: A busy weekend

This weekend we finally got the old four wheel drive ute started and decided as the ground was so dry (due to no rain) we would take advantage and do a few jobs that we didn't think we would be able to get done until much later on in the year. The first was to take the old Galv tank up to our fence line at the back of the property and set it up as Geoff is going to build a ram pump into it over Summer.. This will give us a gravity feed water supply to the troughs and garden.

The cows watched with great interest from their little pallet shelter.

We got it off the ute with ease, left it there and headed back to do our next job...........

So dry. This area here is usually an absolute quagmire of sludgy mud that all the animals hate. Even driving the heavy ute through did no damage except a few tyre tracks.

Next job was moving the Camping Wagon!!!!

As we had to tow this one though the Hay Paddock we decided to push it down the drive ourselves so we didn't have to try and manoeuvre it and the ute through the gateway. l pushed it and Geoff steered from the front.

Don't feel bad! This isn't as bad as it looks!!!!! It was sort of downhill and l had just stopped pushing and ran out to get a photo before it rolled to a halt.

In came the ute and with dogs inside the cab and out, me running in front to get the driest path through the paddock and open the gates, off we went!

And this is me running ahead to open and close the gate into the next paddock. l seem to recall doing a fair bit of running that day!

Through the next gate to its final resting place. Note Geoff's ingenuous buffer bag to stop the wagon rolling forwards and hitting the ute (it was only hooked on with a chain) It's a bag of sheep wool and worked a treat in the dips of the gateways!

After some serious pushing and pulling we finally got it pretty much where we wanted it. We have to dig out the front wheels a bit to get it level but it's not too bad at all how it is.

Big strong draft horse came up to say hello once it was all in place.............

We then headed off to have lunch then back up to the tank to get that finished off!!

Note large heavy Shire horse stuffing his face in the background as we carried all the timber up to the back paddock for the base of the tank..........(sigh)

About four trips back to the house later to get all the things we forgot...!! (like the saw and more timber for unexpected woops and doops) we finally got the base down.

Then we tipped the tank onto it. The plan had been to put a few inches of water in the bottom as we were expecting strong winds the next day. The transfer pump wouldn't start for love or money (or cursing!!) so we eventually secured it down with pickets and strapping to hold it until we could get some water in.

It was a bit of a worry leaving the tank in charge of the cows given their love of sucking and chewing everything! Poppy assured me they would leave it alone and NOT undo the straps so it would blow away! How could we not believe a face like this??

We ended our day taking the goats and the dogs for a walk down to the Rivulet to give the goats a feed on the fresh new Willow shoots which they just love.