Thursday 19 March 2009

Another day another drama,

It was another nice sunshine day so off we went ready for the garden.

Well until about lunch time.

Now with us not moving any more the troubled issue of storage had been raised. Easiest way can be a body off an old truck which gives you 18 x 7 for not a huge some of money. Now, this being West Wales where Manyana is considered a frantic concept. My local truck breaker man has been saying he will get a truck body sorted "next week" for several weeks. Early this week he had the right thing and mention made that he would phone me back that day with a price. So of course three days later (this morning) ha came back with a price and I agreed.

Money on the table changed the political map, he "might" be round today. Let me know I said.

Home and rushed round moving things, a fire engine parked up in September charged up and moved, trailer hitched behind Citroen and moved, flat bed moved up to the top field. A piece of ground currently in fire wood re designated - shed. All done, that's OK then.

Phone rings, he would be there in half an hour.

So now it was a race into the bank to get cash.

Got back in the nick of time, met the man with the lorry and a body on the back.

"Hmm, that's a big truck" I thought.

Then it was back to the house, "that's a bloody big truck" I thought.

Top of the drive and "this is going to be tight" I thought.

"No, this is not going to be happening"

Hmmm

Plan B.

1500kg of body might bend the roof bars on the Xantia...

Bit big to stick on the wheelbarrow for the last 1500 metres to the house.

Not going to happen then.

"Aha" we thought, we could cut across next doors field.

Should really ask but the old boy farmers are pretty good boys, gambled that a couple of cases of beer would solve any problems with them (usually works).

Opened the gate to the field - nope the truck wasn't going in there either.

Plan Z, up the top of the mountain and turn round. Reverse into field 1 then open field two, drive in, down to our land, through the gate across the field into the car park - every one a winner.

Of course we have had weather recently. The ground is a weee bit damp.

Got to the first gate and - no chance.

We were not even looking at that far too wet.

Back to plan A, well not the original plan A, just that after Z you go back to A.

It was over the hedge into our land and leave it till tomorrow to work out how to move it from there.

Tight into the hedge then, lift the body off and over the hedge. As easy as that.

Well no.

1500 kg's dangling off a hiab arm is not the best news you had this week.

Putting a pitiful wood pad underneath the foot of the ground arm away we went.

A thought inducing few minutes followed - that's another word for a big lump of metal swaying on the end of an arm, with the leg of the Hiab sinking steadily into the floor.

"If it starts to roll, run" said the driver.

Did he think I was daft?

If that thing even looked like rolling, he would be watching me through a telescope....

Luckily it all turned out OK and we got him out of the field without recourse to a chain.

Which of course was perfect timing as in the middle of this lot the children were all collected from school.

Now all we have to do is move it over the field....

R

1 comment:

Tina said...

sounds great fun...interested and witig with baited breath for the next installment!
We have managed to have a fair few visiting vehicles stuck in the mud...the cess pit man was not amused...the oil tanker man thought it was a great excuse for a coffee and the fresh baked cakes...so glad of helpful farmers around to save the day!
hugs