Saturday 30th March 2024

John Cooper, Pete Hann and Nigel Graham. John and Nigel did one double mix whilst Pete descended to see what needed doing. The mix was split over 3 buckets as usual which John ferried down as required. At the start Pete had been digging clatch out of the floor to stash behind the rock John had been cementing in last Wednesday. Once sufficient floor had been cleared Pete started to build up the wall on the left, the intention being to support the left hand wall so the big block in the middle could be removed. John assisted Pete by getting the rocks from the top stacking space together with smaller bits as required. Once Pete had started on the third bucket John ascended with the two empty buckets to get a second double mix underway. Once this was ready two thirds was loaded into the two buckets which John took down. Retrieving the third bucket this was sent up to Nigel to load and then sent down to John. Once Pete had used up two buckets from the second mix John took them out and escorted Nigel down as far as the final drop. A very useful cementing session. No photos. 3½ hours. John.

Wednesday 27th March 2024

John Cooper, Trevor Hughes, Dave Morrison (Tuska) and Wayne Starsmore. John started a mix whilst Wayne went down with his drill to start breaking up boulders. By the time John had put the mix in the buckets Wayne was back with his drill saying there nothing safe to drill. The first bucket was taken in and John decided to cement in a boulder on the right hand side before the current end. Trevor came down, had a good look round and agreed with John’s strategy. The second and third buckets were used up on the same boulder but more will be required. Tuska came along to haul but was told the rock was needed for walling and the clatch couldn’t be moved whilst walling was in progress. Both John’s and Trevor’s drills never left the surface! The end does look interesting but not safe at present. No draught tonight. Sleet on surface. 2 hours. John.