SwimGym with Karola.

In the Louis Vuitton Challengers Final, a brilliant race from the Kiwis against the Brits this morning, on the TV at the gym. From 27 seconds behind to winning by 31 seconds.

I had a dental appointment in Hastings this morning, Karola one with her audiologist in Napier. Afterwards, Bangle still with me in the Landrover, I did the Friday shop. Then took Bangle for a walk round the orchard.

Karola arrived home in plenty of time to receive the chimney sweep who cleaned the cottage flue in under 15 minutes – there were two sweeps.

Brian Cope asked if I could help him move some river stones he’d bought – he’s making a large gabion to protect their patio from the wind and needs to ferret through the pile of river gravel to select the largest stones for the visible outside facing on his gabion. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabion>. Brian wanted to borrow me and a tractor to turn the stone pile. Instead I lent him the old tractor. I also suggested he might have some work for Byron, our precariate tree man, and he agreed.

Worked on the fence in the afternoon, crimped the strained up wires and stapled most of the posts before Henare dropped in for a coffee. I lent him my chainsaw leggings as he wants to use my old chainsaw that he’s resurrected at work in the orchards. Apparently he can earn a lot more if he uses a chainsaw for pruning, another fellow is making twice what the others do simply by using a chainsaw – same price per row but much quicker to prune a row. Henare has obtained helmet etc but no leggings so was asking about how much they were and where I got mine. He’s working tomorrow, Saturday, so I suggested he borrow my leggings for the day; he can return them when he comes round on Sunday to finish putting in the big strainer post near the wooden gate into the Front paddock.

Oak Avenue Weather:-2℃—14℃ 0.1mm rain [72.8]