We win!

It's been a long and tiring battle, which I'm pleased to announce is over...we win! The stump and iron bars are out of the garden, the mound has been flattened, new fence is in, and preparation is underway to construct the decking. 

The plan was to light a second fire around the tree in the kiln, but that wasn't necessary. The stump had been drilled full of holes to weaken it, and all iron bars cut. Adam split the rest of the wood with the aid of two log splitters and a sledgehammer.

Smoke from the fire pit.

Stummped!

So here's were we left off.

Due to the amount of rubbish we hired a 5 tonne skip, which was only just about big enough. Instead of just putting the 140 (approx) bags of soil/rubble straight into the skip, we emptied most of them to fit more in. 

It took about 1.5 hours to fill the skip. Big thanks to JK, Adam and Deb for their hard work.

The next challenge was how to tackle the remainder of the old sycamore tree (pics of the old tree), which had grown through iron railings. We built a makeshift 'kiln' and filled it with a couple of bags of coal. Here's what it looked like.

The fire roared intensely for hours and was still alight after 24 hours! Once all the rubbish had gone and the fire was at its hottest, it was time to tidy up.

The following day it was time to see the fruits of our labour and dismantle the 'kiln'.

The stump had reduced by half, maybe more, and we could now dig further down to expose beneath its mass. I think the next burn, in addition to drilling holes through the wood, will do the trick and remove the stump completely. If you look closely at the left, right and top of the trunk you can see the iron railings.

Same old, same old, except it's new!

For a look back at the saga so far, click on the links below (this will open a new window):

New for old

Secret garden

Timber!

Bag it up!

Here are the latest pics; thanks to Deb, Adam and Nenah for all their hard work. I can't take any credit for this:

Approx 210 bags filled and counting!

Bag it up!

I've been gradually bagging up soil in the garden to take to the tip. In total, 67 bags filled.

Hello...goodbye

Taken from our recent camping trip to Humble Bee Farm, Yorkshire.

Skeleton tap dance.

Christmas and New Year 2011/12

This Christmas was spent in my folks' and actually felt like Christmas for a change, what with  having Bubs properly here, opening his presents and toddling around the place.


He loved my Mum and Dad's fridge, constantly going in there to weight lift several pints of milk (at the same time!).


New Year was spent with friends in Steve and Helen's with all the kids running, falling, crying, screaming and laughing!


I've got to say that Bubs was most certainly dressed for the occasion.


We had such a lovely Chrimbo and New Year - big shout out to my Mum and Dad, and, Steve and Helen.