Tuesday 25th November 2025

John Cooper and Adrian Vanderplank. Took John’s drill and 2m of 12gm cord. At the soakaway John drilled 4 x 10mm diameter, 500mm deep holes in the left hand wall. Adrian then selected 3 of them for the cord. The charge was fired from the surface but no fumes seen whilst packing up. 7°C, sunny but windy on surface. There was a “nice” stream flowing today making working conditions rather wet. The two flakes on the right hand wall didn't look to be securely attached and, if they haven't been shaken off, could probably be crowbarred off. 1 hour. John.

Tuesday 18th November 2025

John Cooper, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank, Jude Vanderplank and Barry Wilkinson. Cold, 5°C on surface, and rain shower as we changed and started work. Kate and Jude at the Soakaway, Adrian on the Naughty Step and Barry and John on the surface. The intention is to check out the opposite direction from the current way down ie in the Soakaway direction. 20 loads of clatch and cobbles were hauled out today, much of it debris from the past digging efforts. 1½ hours. John.

Thursday 13th November 2025

John Cooper, Nigel Graham, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Still warm but getting wetter every day. Adrian at the bottom of Pensioners’ Pot capping the step to give more room to work. Jude above him, Kate above her and John at the top stacking the rocks that were sent up. A very good outwards draught today with the capping fumes racing out. That meant it was cold being under the drips! Probably the last session for the year. Two dead karabiners from the hauling ropes brought out to be replaced next time we go in. There is still some spoil at the bottom that could be removed but too wet for cement work now. 1½ hours. John.

Thursday 6th November 2025

John Cooper, Kate Lawrence, Wayne Starsmore, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Clearance session today. All the rocks at the bottom of Father Duckmas shaft were moved up in stages, initially to the top of Father Duckmas, then to the Tunnel, then to the bottom of the entrance shaft and finally 13 rather heavier loads reached the surface. Still fairly dry and warm, 14°C on the surface, and not too drippy underground. 2½ hours. John.