Day nineteen of the ten day job.

I was woken this morning by an earthquake.

It wasn’t actually an earthquake but I can guarantee you that a seismometer in the gaff would have gone ballistic. I checked outside and sure enough the lane was filled with massive machinery, about twenty blokes in rain gear [it’s pissing down] raking asphalt and a large roller trundling around causing all the heavy massive vibrations. So the top, and final layer is down and we have a new lane!

While I was out there I got chatting to the Gaffer and I congratulated him on taking only nineteen days to do a tend day job. He corrected me – it was supposed to be a five day job. Nevertheless I congratulated him on a good job. People like to feel appreciated.

I went out again a little while ago. They have vanished, leaving their machinery blocking the place. I assume they’re going to come back and collect it all as it looks expensive, and anyway no one can drive out pn the new lane if they leave it there.

I have to admire their work. There are several new manhole covers and a few drainage grates. Already rainwater is making large puddles on the new surface while the drainage grates all remain well above water levels. They may be good at smooth surfaces but they apparently know fuck all about hydrodynamics. And my entrance gate is flooded as usual.

I see they have been messing with my new and redundant water meter. The blue pipe that came out of the ground and ended in my hedge is gone. It has been replaced by a black one which still goes nowhere. Also they have asphalted over the meter itself so that is now well buried and part of history. There isn’t even an X to mark the spot.

I’m going to miss the excitement.