I met Fencer Phil back in May. He came to look over our fencing job, and after walking around my proposed fence-lines, suggested re-routing them to form a layout closer to something a proper farmer might plan. ‘Let’s put your gate near these trees where it’s less muddy’, ‘How about we make this all one big paddock, and you can divide it up later if you need to’. He’d clearly done this before.
And he was clearly pretty good at it if demand is anything to go by. He’d agreed to come back in about eight weeks to start the job. I texted a few times; early August, late August, and then (starting to feel desperate) in late September. But it wasn’t until 13 October that this monster rumbled onto the farmlet.
Phil’s not mucking around.
Complete with warning sign.
As if!
Once they got started Phil’s lads worked hard. At the end of the first day half of the posts were in. By day three we had wires, and by the end of the week splendid eight wire fencing, with one hot (electrified) wire, and gates. Not to mention the picturesque stile which gives us access to the lemon tree.
Stile with carrot weed.
The rapid progress wasn’t without excitement. On day two the post-driver smashed a fence post through the alkathene water pipe that feeds our troughs. Out of 344m of fence line, somehow this particular post managed to hit the one 25mm of ground over a water pipe. Nothing like being in full control of your own water supply at moments like this I thought, as the water gushed and the Forbearing Husband sprinted down to turn off the stream pump.
Never thought I’d be so excited by a fence.
On the plus side, we had been puzzling about where the water pipe and electric fence feed went after running to the end of the big woodshed and disappearing into the ground. Phil’s boys found both with one hit, as well as inadvertently positioning a post in just the right place for the hot wire connection. Fortunately, having figured out alkathene pipe repair last year when we were plagued by pump issues, I took a quick trip into Mitre 10 for parts, and we were home and hosed (pun intended).
A happy pony enjoys her new paddock.
Now the ponies can enjoy the grassy delights of The Meadow, and us humans can sleep secure in the knowledge that we won’t be woken by hoofbeats at 2am. It feels good to get another project crossed off the 2016 list. Our pockets are considerably lighter, but then so are our hearts.
Thanks Phil, great job!
Well done!!
Nothing like a good row of posts and wire😊
It is very satisfying!
who holds the record for holding the hot wire the longest?
We’ve had no takers for that challenge yet. Will you be the first?
Ooh I do like a stile. How lovely with all the pretty carrot weed flowers. I know, not a proper farm type’s reply:) Golly you earned yr light hearts! and F.H. loves a good sprint round the section so all good experiences – just once anyway. Well done oh stylish ones!
Thank you. We hope you will bring your stylish self to visit our stile soon. A good place for a family photo I think. xxx
I can see the peach bottom materialising as that pony munches. Go Summer, get that Meadow under control!
The peach bottom is well underway, as you observed.
Loving your updates Chrissy B! I have so much trouble just keeping my little suburban lawn and vege patch under control.
Well control is not something we have much of around here. Ordered chaos, yes. Control, not so much! Come and visit and see all our weeds, it’ll make you feel good about your garden.