Saturday 28th January 2023

John Cooper, Nigel Graham, Pete Hann and Adrian Vanderplank. Double mix of cement today. Pete took the first third in whilst Adrian cut off an offending bit of metal at the Naughty Step and John did the second mix. Reciprocating saw then returned to the surface and the other two thirds of the mix sent down to the Naughty Step. John then descended and lowered them down to Adrian at the bottom of the entrance shaft. Adrian and John then ferried the cement on down. By the time Adrian reached Pete he had pretty well used up the first bucket of cement. He was using rocks from the floor to build the retaining wall. By the time he started on the third bucket he had used up the nice ones so a few more were lowered down to him. Not quite so drippy today. Probably need a double mix again next week. 2 hours. John.

Saturday 21st January 2023

John Cooper, Pete Hann, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Decided a proper assessment was required. Jude took a prodding stick to the bottom and had a look. John then took over and kicked a few rocks which fell down the hole in the floor. A couple of loads of clatch sent up then Pete went in to inspect the base of next week’s walling. Finally, Adrian went in and took a few photos. Decided a double mix of cement would be taken in next week and used to prop up the right-hand slope using an upside-down pyramid boulder as the base. 1½ hours. John.

Heavy rain and “ Stalidrops”! Photo by AV

Heavy rain and “ Stalidrops”! Photo by AV

Heavy rain and “ Stalidrops”! Photo by AV

Thursday 19th January 2023

John Cooper, Wayne Starsmore, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Started with Adrian and Jude at the soakaway moving the spoil up a few feet then Adrian moved on up to the Naughty Step. Meanwhile John and Wayne froze on the surface before 14 loads were hauled to leave everywhere clear. 1 hour. John.

Saturday 14th January 2023

John Cooper, Pete Hann and Jude Vanderplank. Despite the heavy rain over the past few days there was no pond around the entrance and no waterfall down the entrance shaft so we were forced underground. Double mix of cement prepared, fairly dry mix as it was expected there would be lots of drips acquired on the way in. Pete used the first 2 mixes and when given the third one the floor dropped from under him so he wasn’t quite as careful using the final load! 1½ hours. John.

Saturday 7th January 2023

John Cooper, Nigel Graham, Wayne Starsmore, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Spoil hauled up from the bottom stacking space at 184m OD to the ledge at 196m then on up to the Tunnel before a final haul to the bottom of the Entrance Shaft. 20 + 20 + 17 loads. Decided we would leave the spoil there as an easy introduction for Barry on Thursday afternoon (and I forgot to put a pully in when I picked up a ladder). 2 drippy hours. John.