Friday 3 September 2010

THE NEW POND


One of the major jobs we vowed to do over the summer holidays was to put in a new pond. The old one had sprung a leak and often overflowed during heavy rain and it was so big, the water had nowhere to go and flooded the garden. On many a stormy day had we been out there pumping water from the pond. It was time for a change.

The last time I attempted this job was with my very good friend Goran. When he visited last (see below) he observed the old pond was on it's last legs and I could smell the fear as he thought that once again he was going to get roped in to help. (or was the smell of fear actually the stinky pond itself?) Anyway we resolved to replace the not so indestructable liner with a moulded plastic one, much smaller allowing Trish to get stuck into a bit of landscaping. This would mean the VERY large hole where the old pond lay would have to be filled in around the new one. To achieve this fill we broke up hardcore and then filled the surrounding area with sand. (38 bags) and gravel (8 bags). This after removing the old liner with it's smelly, stagnant water.


Needless to say Trish got really stuck into the job while I served as her assistant. I got to do the breaking, cutting, chopping and the lifting. She got to do a bit of that as well and all the bits which I could never have done, the landscaping. We sawed down an invasive tree and removed a very stubborn stump. It took best part of three days. That TV programme Ground Force, where they transform a whole garden in the same amount of time just HAS to be bullshit. Anyway the finished result is really pucker. The fish and frogs who were disturbed like their new environment and our neighbours can once again be lulled to sleep with the sound of the water fountain gently trickling.



Monday 30 August 2010

SWENGLAND LAND


A typical sight on the Goteborg archipelago

WHAT A GREAT WEEKEND! JD and I left for Goteborg last Wednesday evening, a rather smaller number of us that usual, due to work and Test Match commitments for Andy and Carl who will be coming out with me next October. As usual, the object of the trip is to meet our Swedish manager friends who take part in The Swengland League, a fantasy football competition which is in it's 15th year. We also present any awards won by Swedish managers during the previous season. Rustan is the Swedish Chairman and it is he who organises things.
Presentations usually take place on Saturday afternoon at a bar venue where live Premiership matches are being shown on TV.

Rustan tries Berra's Man U. Quiz.

Of course, the trip has plenty of time available to pursue other interests such as sight seeing and music.For those readers who have never been to Goteborg, it is a port on the west coast of Sweden. I lived there for three years and for the life of me I can't tell you why I ever returned for it is a place of calm and culture.

This time, JD and I visited the island of Branno in the Goteborg archipelago which featured recently in the Observer travel section as a great place to visit for the price of a bus ticket. This is true. For £2.45 you can take a tram to the coast and then catch a ferry out to any of the islands served. Some islands are bigger than others, all steeped in history and more importantly devoid of traffic bar mopeds and bicycles.

The two stooges on Branno

This followed a trip to the 'other side' of the Goteborg harbour, which is undergoing a serious regeneration, project reaching fruition in 2020. Again, unlike this god forsaken land, Sweden has a vision of the future which is designed to benefit the citizens and improve their quality of life.

Live music at Galliano

Much good food was eaten and much good drinks were drunk. As usual thanks to Rustan, Anders and Anna who fed us and entertained us. JD was even treated to a round of golf at the prestigious Hills golf course which he thoroughly enjoyed.

Anders gets a surprise award


Yet again Rustan wins the trophy and 100SKR for
the Chairman's Challenge