Tuesday 31 May 2016

Long, lazy weekend...

Monday was a Bank Holiday over here.


Some people like to have a nice long, lazy weekend, relaxing in the early summer sun, soaking up a beer or two.


Others like to treat it as the time to do some major work on the garden, getting it ready for summer.  It is a traditional time for planting up those final flowers, digging ponds, fixing decking and arches, etc.


This makes it a busy time for A&E departments, of course.


On Saturday we moved Mr Chuffington into the front garden, which is more wild than the back garden.  The change in environment is very dramatic from him, as he used to be on a paved area with much less interesting stuff to do.  He seems to be having real fun with it, rummaging around under bushes and in the grass, and marking his territory. 


So, on Sunday morning we bit the bullet and set about digging another, bigger pond for the fish.  The big fish (including Lonesome George) will move into this one while the smaller pond becomes a nursery pond if they spawn again.  Last year they had babies and we took some indoors for safety, but they gradually died.  After we lost the last four the tank was cleaned and refreshed.  We bought three more fish, which died within days.  With this final defeat, we have decided to go strictly outdoors for our fish.


The new pond quickly took shape, and on Monday we bought the liner, fitted it and filled the pond with fresh water.  We will be giving the new pond a couple of weeks to settle (and will be moving some water across from the old pond so that it gets some life in it) before we move George and Co across.


Had a moment when I thought I would be on my way to A&E.  I was loading clods of earth into a hand truck to be moved to the front garden when I took a step backwards.  Only my foot caught on something, causing me to just topple over backwards.  Luckily I landed OK, suffering nothing more than a small graze on my back and a bruise on one buttock.  Nothing a nice hot bath couldn't fix.

7 comments:

ShadowRun300 said...

Sounds like you had a very productive day on your Bank Holiday. Mr. Chuffington seems to like his new digs, and I'm guessing the fish will too.
It was a holiday weekend for us here as well, but I worked. Someone has to run the hotel everyone wants to stay in while they celebrate Memorial Day. My weekend begins tomorrow, and it's been well deserved.
Looking forward to seeing pics of your new pond!

Rock Chef said...

ShadowRun - Yes, pics will follow soon! Enjoy your "weekend"!

Abby said...

What fun projects! I bet Mr. Chuffington loves his new home, but I'm still thinking a Mrs. Chuffington would make it even nicer :)

I'm glad your medical emergency was just of the hot bath variety. I still have two indoor fish that absolutely refuse to die. Want them?

Tee said...

I can't wait to see the new pond! I've always wanted one, but my hubby doesn't, and I'm too lazy to do it myself.

I think we need a new picture of Mr. Chuffington too!

Riot Kitty said...

Glad you didn't end up in the ER! I love hearing the continued adventures of Mr. Chuffington. I think it would be a neat kid's book, actually.

Unknown said...

You dig yourself a fishpond?! I never knew anyone here who dig their own fish pond. (unless you go commercial and use gcbs and tractors to dig a huge pond).

Take care of yourself RC.

Shammickite said...

One of my friends has a fish pond in her garden and she has a multitude of baby goldfish hatched this spring, and has been offering them to the local petshop. She even asked me if I wanted one (or twenty) but I gracefully declined.
I'm glad that Mr C has survived the winter, and I hope he enjoys his new surroundings.