Project - Happy Pigs!! (Pt 1)

Saturday the 19th of November 2011 was a warmish sunny day, much like many Autumn days in the lovely friendly village of Cherkovo ..... then the whirlwind hit ...... Penko our fantastic neighbour is in the village for a few days and, despite not being required until Spring 2012, it is vital that the 'new' pigsty is built this weekend.

Fred Karno's army gathered, 

let the project commence!

A chance discussion with Penko (left with specs) over numerous glasses of rakia (Ракия - local moonshine) accompanied by much salad, concluded with my fabulous neighbour offering the use of his (former) pigsty ....... it just needed to be re-built, an unintentional hood-winking methinks.

Penko spent the previous day, with his son, clearing years of collected 'useful things' ranging from wooden pallets, 56 gal oil drums and washing machine parts to allow construction to begin.  Nasko (above in red) and I spent a little time at the wood yard bartering for timber.  Work started at around 9.30, there's only one 8 in my day these days, and the battle of will's commenced.  

I wanted my way, Penko his and all Nasko could say was "you two a pain in the a*!%" and "there's too many bosses" .... I got my way and we had a pretty successful day all in all.  The main peers were concreted in for strength, reclaimed thick floor boards formed the walls and new timber extended the existing joists.  A gate, also reclaimed, installed in the side to aid mucking out and to help direct our free range pigs to the front of the house and the village 'green'.  

All in all a satisfying first day of construction, and as dusk fell the only work remaining was the need for a little roof felt, a few tiles, a bit of brick laying to finish the wall, a little welding to 'fill' the gaps in the metal gate and to clear the decks of debris .... all to be saved for another day, and one boss!!

Day 2 to follow ........................