Thursday 31 May 2012

Water works

While we were in Paris, the Comunidad de Regantes de Montenegro (basically our water company owned by the residents of Montenegro)  had a meeting to sort out if, when and how the fuente, deposito and acequias should be repaired.  The fuente runs via an open acequia into the deposito, and although it's very nice to see the running water, there is a lot of leakage and subsequently lots of soggy ground - and mint beds!  But not efficient use of water.  The deposito leaks as well and recently it has been overflowing  onto the GR7 footpath.   It used to fill up overnight so you always had a full deposito of water on your watering day but not recently.  Also some of the acequia tubos are cracked and leak.......

With a lack of winter rain down here and I assume a similar lack of snow up high,  it's likely that we'll have less running water in the summer months so the decision was taken to get on with the repairs asap.  

Land has been cleared of brambles,  overhanging branches cut back, the fuente has a new concrete base, acequias have been dug out and tubos laid in the channels,  the running water has been diverted so the deposito can dry out and - well, that's next weeks job. 

The weather is in one way I suppose ideal for working in - sunshine all day - but it's been in the high 20's and this afternoon it hit 30.5 on our terrace.  End of May / beginning of June also sees the horseflies coming out and they love the dampness of the fuente and deposito.  I really don't envy the 2 guys who are up there doing this work at this time of the year.  I know they are getting paid but still, it can't be pleasant. 

Down here in the garden we are starting early and finishing late.  This morning I planted out some sprouting potatoes that were lurking in the kitchen, and also some calabaza - like orange marrows - in the space left in the cucumber bed.  John started some outside things but as we got towards 11am and 27° he decided to finish off later on - like now.  8.30pm and 27 again, but this time the sun has gone behind the hill so it's getting cooler - slowly. 





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