Thursday 18 August

It has been a busy few days with some showers and lots of mud. 

Tidying the drenched site

Looking over the site from under the fig tree towards the chapel

Yesterday,Peter Coad, the architect in association with Alex Coutts, came in the morning and we checked where the fire hydrants are to go.

Formwork for the rain water tank

Putting in the form work for the lid of the water tank

The first construction on the site took place yesterday.  The big hole for the underground water tank was formed into a tank.  The workers put in the reinforcing and then dropped in a mould in sections which was then filled with more reinforcing and then concrete.  I was entranced watching how the did this after lunch yesterday when I turned to leave and tripped over a branch and fell head long into the mud.  It all happened in slow motion and I was not even aware of what was happening.  There was no lasting damage done but I was a bit bruised.  The workmen were concerned.  One told me my missus would not be happy.

Nothing daunted at 3.00pm Aloysius, Gerard, Johny and I gathered with other members of the Scenic Hills Association for a meeting cum photo shoot on the road opposite our place.  We gave interviews to the reporter from the Macarthur Chronicle to highlight our concerns about Coal Seam Gas extraction in the our locality.

Next week we have our regional chapter at which we elect new officials and set our our priorities for the next three years.  To give thanks for the past three years we had a meal together at the Catholic Club.  As happens we met people we knew there who we had married or who were parishioners.  Sadly no photos were taken.

Today  they are finishing off the tank by putting on the lid.  Johny and I were there this morning saw the formwork go on as well as the concrete supports of the lid.  Johny took the photos.  He is famous for his photos.

Maurie's office- drilling piers on the muddy site

The builders have been drilling the piers and then placing the steel reinforcement before pouring concrete into them.  They have done three sections of the building.  The site was very boggy this morning.  Shoes pick up a weight of muddy clay.

A line of piers

Maurie's muddy boots

Sculptural installation- future drains and sewer covers