Working Week 2005 May 28 - June 5

A brief report by Chris Grimmet - watch this space for the photos!

For the second year in succession, the Working Week failed to populate the SWCC sponsored bed in Morriston, which was perhaps just as well because it was already occupied following the events of the first weekend. Work started on the Saturday, as we had a mini digger on hire for the weekend only, but everything came to an abrupt halt mid-afternoon with the Smithy rescue. The party scheduled for the Saturday night was postponed, and the rescuers ended up eating the party food anyway. With a good outcome from the rescue and the casualty safely despatched by air ambulance to Swansea by late afternoon on the Sunday, there was just time to fit in the party that night.

With all the extra bodies dispersed again, the Working Week participants got under way in earnest on the Monday, although some work had already been started on Sunday when it became clear that nobody was going to be 'recycled' into OFD. The biggest task was the first phase to stabilise the Stump. This entailed digging a trench around the property and installation of a drainage trench to prevent damp getting into the building. The other area of concern was the collapsing windows. A total of eleven of these had new lintels fitted and were then boarded up securely with weatherproof (or should I say weather resistant) timbering.

Up the hill, work was done on behalf of the Penwyllt Water Users Association, to maintain the supply of water to its members, the Club being included in these. A lack of people, the rescue and some poor weather meant that the work was not completed and another session filling gabions to limit further river erosion will be needed before the rains come.

Back at the cottages, more work was done to upgrade the facilities in the bedrooms. The old metal bunks in the front No.9 bedroom were replaced with wooden ones similar to those in No.10. In the No.8 bedroom, the work of several years has now been completed, returning the room to its former glory. The brickwork and fireplace were finished although another coating of floor varnish is due before too long.. Any occupants leaving their bunks during the night for whatever reason will now have to avoid catching their nether parts on the tea mug supports that have been installed to the edge of the bed frames. Just as many of those who have occupied the married bedrooms have dispersed themselves to other parts of the cottages, we have laid a new vinyl floor in both the front and the back. Some work remains to finish off the skirting boards, but otherwise, these rooms have now been completely overhauled and hopefully should need little attention for a few years.

Continuing the plan for progressive replacement of windows that has been under way for several years, the now traditional five double glazed units were put in as replacements for older single glazed windows. This now virtually completes the double glazing programme with the exception of the showers block, the future plans for which are still under discussion.

The usual painting jobs were done in the heavy use areas and an attempt was made to restrict the growth of various moulds in the No.7 corridor by using fungicidal paint. With a good supply of steam flowing out of the kitchen then condensing on the walls as endless pots of rice and pasta are boiled to death, the mould will probably win. There are plans suggested to strip this wall of its plaster and rendering, returning it to the original stone blockwork as in the dining room.

Outside, more flagstones were laid, this time up as far as No.8 so that there is now a continuous set of slabs all along the front of the Club. Adjacent to the dumper truck shed and outside building stores, an extra utility shed was constructed.

Despite the fact that we could have used a few more people, most of the major jobs were completed or nearly so. The organisers would like to thank everyone who took part, especially those for whom a week away from work is not just their holiday, but represents a real loss of earnings doing their normal work. Noteworthy of mention are those who were marooned over at the Stump for the majority of the time and had the whole job finished on schedule despite the difficulties of working over there.

Lastly, mention must go to the Dragons who not only excelled at keeping everyone fed and watered but also fitted in extra catering for ca. 150 people during the rescue and even managed to leave enough food behind to feed those who stayed on until the Sunday to do all the clearing up.