Tuesday 18th August 2026

Mike Kushy. Repeat of yesterday, several hours surface work moving spoil from heap 1 to the track. MK.

Monday 17th August 2026

 Mike Kushy. Several hours surface work moving spoil from heap 1 to the track. MK.

Saturday 15th August 2026

Mike Kushy, Alessio Sancetta and Lee Venning arrived on site at 10am. The weather was sunny and warm. We set the extractor up, then AS headed down shaft to fill buckets with MK on the winch and LV emptying. After 37 x buckets had been winched to the surface we stopped for lunch.

After lunch LV went down shaft with the large breaker. Once a further 20 x loads had been winched topside LV returned to the surface, with AS replacing him down the shaft to have a go on the breaker. Another 3 loads were winched up and then MK joined AS down shaft to make a start drilling. Unfortunately after only half a hole LV’s drill packed up (I’m going to repair it today), so we abandoned the set up and called it a day.

Depth measured at 16.15m. We all left site at 4.30pm. 6½ hours.

Total Buckets Removed x 60. Lee.

Today's load count. Photo LV.

Sunday 9th August 2026

Mike Kushy and Lee Venning set up and then cleared spoil for several hours. A total of 39 loads hauled out. When Trevor Hughes arrived Kushy left them to go to another dig. Lee and Trevor drilled holes and created more spoil.

Start of session. Photo MK.

Sunday 2nd August 2026

John Cooper, Trevor Hughes, Mike Kousiounis, Adrian Miles and Henry Miles. Hot again, 26°C on surface. John and Kushy set up then Kushy went down to start drilling. When the others arrived the surface team shifted spoil from the South side to a safer position whilst Kushy completed drilling. Four 32mm holes each charged with 1 stick. Extractor fan used again at end clearing fumes. 3 hours.

Saturday 1st August 2026

Mike Kushy and Lee Venning arrived on site at 10.45am. The weather was sunny and warm. We set the extractor up and then LV headed down to fill buckets while MK was on winch duty. After about 15 x buckets had been winched to the surface MK was joined Mikey Waterworth (MW). Once 30 x loads had been winched topside LV returned to the surface, with MW replacing him down the shaft armed with the small breaker. MW stayed underground until we reached a total of 48 buckets.

We stopped for lunch as it was 2pm already and afterwards MK went down shaft to continue work with the breaker, after a further 10 loads we called it a day.

We all left site at 3:15pm, 4 ½ hours, Lee.

Total Buckets Removed x 58

Base at end of session. Photo MK.

Loads hauled up today. Photo LV.

Monday 27th July 2026

John Cooper, Mike Kousiounis and Lee Venning, with a visit from David Morrison. John arrived about 16.45 and started setting up. Mike arrived about 17.00 and arranged the extractor fan and then descended to start drilling. Lee arrived about 17.15 and descended to assist Mike. Four 32mm holes 600mm deep drilled and charged. All equipment removed and spoil created. Extractor fan run again to remove fumes. 1½ hours. John.