Sunday 20th September 2026

John Cooper, Xiao Jin, Mike Kousiounis (Kushy) and Lee Venning. Warm and dry today, 20°C. Kushy down to start with loading buckets. After 45 sent up he came out and John went down with breaker. Stopped at 62 loads hauled out for the day. Lee then down using electron ladder as the extendable ladder had been left insecurely perched! Drilled 5 holes then replaced by Mike to do the final one. Depth measured. Extendable ladder removed and charge set up and fired once electron ladder removed. There is now no in situ ladder to the bottom! 5 hours. John.

Today's loads hauled out. Photo LV.

Wednesday 16th September 2026

John Cooper, Trevor Hughes and Mike Kushy. MK got to site at 1500 and started to set up. When JC arrived MK went down and drilled holes 32x500mm. Pretty horrid state at the dig face with a puddle full of 3 dead mice, hundreds of insects and a toad. It was too noisy to communicate (with the big genny running) so when Mike came out after 5 holes Trevor made him go back down and drill a 6th! TH joined MK down the bottom. TH set up with MK providing assistance, JC helped with winching tools. One toad was rescued before the very good noise. Left for 1700. New drill works well until the last couple of inches on the bit, not quite powerful enough but will do for now. Mike.