How a Disaster was turned into a Triumph!

Disaster!
Today was going to be about planting potatoes…

It started off with digging the chosen patch in preparation for the sowing of the seed potatoes.

Towards the end of the dig, the spade hit something rather tough…

It turned out to be the water pipe which leads from the spring well on the hill above the cottage, down across my land towards the back of Bealtaine.

Oh dear!

(The Rhubarb this morning.)

An emergency trip was made to Ballyfarnon, a village about three miles away, where there is a local hardware store.
The connector was bought to mend the pipe.

At this point, a brainwave had caught up with the disaster…why not use this opportunity to connect a tap to the tunnel?

Why, every summer the carrying of buckets of water to the tunnel from the cottage was time-consuming to say the least! This was a golden opportunity, as the broken pipe was just a couple of metres away from the tunnel…so, the necessary components were duly purchased!

One of my five brothers, Hugh, was visiting from Omagh, so the expertise was there and willing to help!

Hugh and I returned with the gear and set about the task…
A channel was dug to release the water, which by this time had the potato patch looking more like a rice-paddy field!

After almost eight years of carrying water to the tunnel, I am delighted with my inside tap!

As you can see the Rhubarb is coming up really fast and will be ready for harvesting in the next 10 days or so. One of the joyous tastes of Spring…a Rhubarb Crumble and egg custard!

Although this morning is dull and grey, the garden is illuminated with colour…blossom, buds and leaves, like this Photinia near the apple trees closest to the cottage. Good shelter and colour!

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