Renewal

Finally, the renewal process on the front court of our house is finished.  It began with the felling of two giant pine trees which dominated the property.  One of them was dead, choked by an all-pervading ivy.  The other, bigger one (it was taller than the house by some way), had started to lean.  If it came down on the house during a storm the damage would have been irreparable.  Having left the roots to start the rotting process, it was time to haul them out.  That process took several hours yesterday, and in the process we discovered, beneath a steel-reinforced concrete cover, what looked very much like a well.  It was beautifully constructed from stone, and sludgy water some way down it was giving off steam - being warmer than the air temperature.  On closer inspection it turned out to be a soakaway - with a pipe leading into it from the gutters and downpipes on the west side of the house.  (See my extra today).  We replaced the concrete cover, leaving the pit accessible through a small round hole which we will cover with some sort of large garden ornament.  The rest of the ground was levelled and cleanly chipped.  It all feels very open and "propre" now, providing a lovely approach to the house, as well as parking for visitors.