No wheels on my wagon...

Turned out to be another long day!

Started with trying to re-attach the modified (rear) axle although it was clear from the start that at very best it would hold the 100 meter journey to it's final location. I now understand why the builder of the shed had never tried moving it.

The shed is amazingly heavy which is good in that the walls and roof are double walled and insulated. However unless I can find a suitable chassis/axle combination, something like a boat trailer or stripped caravan chassis, the shed will not be moving, not even if the winter weather and impending start of advent did make me wonder if I could use the shed to open a Christmas Market and sell Glühwein and roast chestnuts (over even goose with chesnut stuffing??).

So spent most of the morning lying on the damp ground but eventually got the axle done. Removed the worthless jockey wheel which I am sure will find a better use elsewhere. Then set about the electrics, internal fittings and the walk up (gooste step up) ramp. Have ordered an automatic door mechanism similar to the one we use for the chickens which opens at sunrise and closes at sunset (or according to a time controller). Only problem is that the geese (unlike the chickens) don't go indoors at dusk which is a nuisance if one is away. Will have to try training them.

Eventually hitched it up to the tractor for the journey - all went well while on the straight and firm ground. The last few meters needed a sharp turn n muddy grass and sure enough one wheel gave way. An hour or so of gtting it fixed and finally got it in position and with lots of work got it settled on stone blocks. Sometime in the distant future will need to do a major review but for now it should be OK so long as we don't have a severe wind storm:

Long dark by the time I tried enticing the geese in to their new quarters. Finally managed it and am very pleased to have them in much more suitable housing. After all the work, the idea of slaughtering them for the Christmas roast is rapidly being reviewed.

On a very different note, today was voting day in the county. A "peoples referendum" on the land around the local Memmingen airport. Anyone here can call for a referendum on anything if he can get enough signatures - thats how the Bavarian smoking ban happened (strongest in Germany), Munich/Garmish citizens turned down bidding for the winter olympics, building of 3rd Munich airport runway stopped.

As a Union Burger (European Union citizen) I was allowed to vote as I can in most elections except that for the German national parliament. In this case I really didn't know which way to vote and so abstained even though I would normally say one has a duty to vote (especailly if one then wants to later complain!)

Memmingen Airport is one of the best in the world. 30 meters from aircraft to car park, security check queue maximum one person in front of you. Destinations limited but then Dublin & London are the only two I need. Naturally the airport runs at a huge financial loss paid for by us taxpayers. However the vote was on the land attached to the airport (ex military base), the airport (terminal/runway etc) itself is not included. The city of Memmingen and our county want to buy the land so that they can determine how it will be developed. The opponents say it's another financial blackhole and environmental disaster. On the one hand anything that helps with jobs, community, services is to be welcome but should local government be the major player and risk taker? I don't think that there is a (relative) environmental issue.

Maybe I should contact the British Embassy to see if I can get back my right to vote in British parliamentary elections and referendums. Won't be long before the Scottish and Bavarian people vote to unify and set up a "League of People in Kilts & Lederhosen".