Inert complete bridle path east of Bailey bridge. Yellow pump falls ill. 19th September 2023

The glorious weather we have had of late came to a spectacular end on Sunday night/early Monday morning. A thunder storm, accompanied by heavy rain, that went on for hours.

Remnants of hurricanes continue to track across the south of England, with high winds, low temperatures, a possibility of ground frost and heavy rain hitting the area from Wednesday 20th; before calm and warmth return.

Despite the dark, dank, heavily overcast conditions, with the odd sweeping burst of drizzle driven by high winds, I dragged myself down to Manor farm to see how Inert have progressed. Much to my surprise, I found the section of south bridle path east of the Bailey bridge had been completed! Has someone put a rocket up Inert and told them to get a move on? Or have I been overly unfair and pessimistic about the pace at which Inert have been moving? Who knows, but I prefer the Saturn V hypothesis.

Well, I say completed. In reality it is more or less completed. The very eastern section ends abruptly, about 15m shy of the existing bridle and foot paths. Now, there were some Inert management types, buzzing around the area (in their natty Defender MKII, with a proper, working person's paint job - not the daft, pastel wrap around travesties liked by the Chelsea tractor hooray henry brigade), and they drove down the newly created eastern section of the south bridle path. I can only assume they went for a look see and pow wow completing the confluence of all the various paths.

Prior to their jolly jaunt along the bridle path, they were clustered around the yellow pump, which was feeling decidedly ill. They started the pump, at one point, and it sounded awful. Think, ball bearings clattering around the drum of a tumble dryer or washing machine. The digger operator and maxi dump truck were doing what anyone would do in this situation, stand with hands in pockets, well away from management types; then go off to Chandlers farm, as it was time for tea break.

About the only other thing Inert appear to have done is put a skim coating of top soil along some of the south shore of Manor lake extension. I don't know if the plan is to apply a skim coat across the whole of Manor lake extension, but if they do so then it is basically good bye to Little Ringed Plovers.

Inert may have been up to plenty of other tasks on Manor farm, but without forensic evidence I cannot say. I also have no idea if they have started actual construction of the north bridle path i.e. digging its footings. I can't get onto the site during work hours.

Of course, if the pump is dead or too unwell to work (and thus the Digger operator can't work digging out ballast), the simplest action to take is to dispatch him to dig the trench for the north bridle path.

I'm in two minds about popping down Saturday morning. Firstly, it's going to be cold - possibility of ground frost. Secondly, it might be foggy - deluge of rain followed by cold = fog. Thirdly, sunrise is at 7:00am, which puts me uncomfortably close to when Inert start Saturday work.

Oh, Nishimura survived its perihelion around the sun. It might be visible over the coming weeks, especially from Australia, but as with its inbound journey, it never really gets much above the horizon. Plus it will be fainter.