More of the Tribulations

Just had my tea when I noticed a missed call from Cheryl -who runs our bar and may other things- On calling back, I was greeted with the news that we had had a break in at the club -this just about ten days since the score box was done. Oh the Joy! Off I go down to find out whats gone and what needs doing.

They had thrown a brick through the window, glass all over nice.

This is where the flat screened television had been fastened. Gone along with other bits and pieces. We decided to get a company in to board up for us as we were going to have to put a claim in and I am not sure we had materials in stock to have done it.

Here comes help -man with a van.

Quick measure up and away we go. Sorry I haven't got any photos of the police I am not sure it legal.

I now will have to be at the ground tomorrow to meet the SOCOs.

 It never rains but it pours

Maybe I will get round to posting some grounds stuff soon.

Odd Jobs

This week again has been one of little activity on the grass Monday I collected some brush frames from the fabricator's and took them to the galvanisers and spent the rest of the day with the Sparky as last post. Tuesday Wednesday at BTMS exhibition, Thursday painting and today collecting frames from galvanisers.

Yard at the galvanise frames to pay for and collect.

Galvanised frames back at ground awaiting Phil from Brushes North West to come and collect.

A pallet full of sparkling frames, just to remind you these frames go to the factory are assembled and have brushes fit then out to the customers.

When I was at the exhibition at Harrogate I ordered two new sets of tines for my groundsman spiking machine -you can see them in the above photo. While I was waiting for Phil I thought I would start fitting them.

Old very worn tines.

Look at the difference.

Always use oil or Copper Slip on the bolts and tine sockets it saves time and problems when you have to get them out.

The business end of the machine.



When I started to take out the tines I could see that the rubber bushes that hold the tine holder were split on two of the heads, so I got straight on the phone to Groundsman Industries and ordered a set of three I recon the third will not be far off worn out so I will replace them all at the same time.

Phil from Brushes North West brought me re-bristled brush for my Sisis Auto Rota rake, so fitting that and the new rubber brushes are jobs for next week if we don't have a foot of snow by then I understand it may be on its way Boo.

Zipp the Sparky

Sorry no posts for a few days, you have missed nothing due to weather and having to do other things I have not been down to ground for a while. This week as you groundsman will know is Harrogate Week BTME (British Turf Management Exhibition) the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association annual exhibition where I go and just dream if I could only win the lottery. So I will be there on Tuesday and Wednesday any chance of much action on the ground are very low again this week.

This is Zipp the sparky he came down to the ground to fit security lights to the score box after our break in a few days ago.

My job was to hold the ladder, well when we started it was a nice sunny day but by the time Zipp had got up the ladder it was freezing cold and pouring down with sleety rain. I wasn't a happy bunny standing at the bottom just holding an aluminium ladder in that weather is no fun. Zipp took this photo of me when he came down part way through.

Back in side fixing the trunking.

Drilling the other side wall.

Scorers elevated view of the ground.

Looking toward the clubhouse from the score box.

Job done both working as they should be, thank you Zipp.

Meeting

Today I am having a meeting with Nick Gladstone from Hurrell's my seed supplier I am sure he is to deliver bad news, as you groundsmen will be aware grass seed prices are on a serious rise. I will have to decide -do I now start having it bagged in 20Kgs as most seed houses do- that will make price comparison easier. Then do I continue to pay top price for cultivars up near the top of the STRI list? Maybe I should offer a mix of the best and a more cost effective mix.

Interesting times I will keep you informed.
Thinking about grass. below are some photos of a small trial I did with different seeds I use.

This is the sort of thing I get up to -these photo's were taken back in October last year the one on the right is 100% Colosseum cold season Perennial Rye grass the one on the left is my best cricket square mix of last season (Cachemire Carnac and Sauvignon) the Colosseum is slightly broader leaf but much greener. Sorry forgot to say they were both sown on the same day in cricket loam.

The one on the left is Colosseum not only darker slightly broader leaf and more vigorous

  I found this an interesting little trial.

Latest "T" shirt print, image Bill Bowes now with Bodyline printed below not sure where I am going with this.

Interlude

 I in some ways wasted a good day Saturday -from a weather point of view that is. As some of you will know apart from cricket, art plays a big part in my life, so I tried not to let Fridays happenings get me down by taking my mind off things cricket and working on my art for some of Saturday -although I must say cricket was not far from my mind. Below is what I produced.

I made this sketch of Bill Bowes- his club was Kirkstall Educational- black and white in felt tip pen it is about A4 in size.

I then reversed the image and transferred it to a lino block and cut out the parts I wanted to stay white above is the block.

I then inked the block with acrylic paint, turned it over on to a sheet of paper rubbed the back and transferred -printed- the image which is above. I didn't put enough paint on as you can see areas that should have printed were a little patchy so I made another print below. 

Second proof a little too much now. 

I inked the block for a third time but this time I printed onto an old working tee shirt above is the result. I now have a Tee shirt with Bill Bowes on the back. Nice!

Here you can see the whole tee shirt with the print of Bill Bowes on the back I can print as many of these as I want now. I hope you have enjoyed this short interlude.

Friday the 13th

Wednesday night I went to the IOG January meeting which included the AGM -yet again a top turn out around 40 guys turned up. Our speaker for the night was John Bentley who has played both codes of Rugby at the very top level, his talk was brilliant full of passion and very entertaining at the same time very enjoyable.

John Bentley -"Bentos" as he is known. Looks like he has just been asked a tough question.

The branch award was also made on the evening here is Ian Mather-Brewster presenting it to Bill Marshall of the T&A. Bill often gets branch meetings and events publicised in the paper and I am sure that that helps

-along with Rods efforts- to get the numbers at meeting that we do, well deserved.

When I arrived at the club late morning today this is what I found the staple from the score box door sawn and forced off . Yes another bloody break in, the door was closed so I dreaded opening it to see what would have gone.

Here is the staple that had been sawn and forced off.

Where the rusty patch and the box on the floor is used to stand my air compressor, that I use to blow down machinery and blow tyres up. Sadly that's what they took I don't think anything else has gone. They have just taken a small general item that can be sold in the local pub. Its not what they take but its the damage they do physically and mentally -because believe you me it is really deflating when it happens to you. So the rest of the day was spent with the police and repairing the hasp and staple getting new pad locks and fitting. I have called this blog Trials and Tribulations  and today was both. Having got the job sorted I went off home  unlocked the door and went in only to hear the burglar alarm piping - now we have recently had it repaired and Anne has changed the code- so yes you've got it the alarm starts blasting out -I had been told the number but I am very very old now and foregot it. Quickly on the phone to Anne but she is not good with her mobile and the battery was flat, however I raked my brain and recalled the number entered it and the alarm stopped Yes! sorted. I made myself a cup of coffee, logged on to the computer and was about to upload today's photo's when a knock come on the door and there were three policemen. Some one in the street had rung the police because the alarm had gone off and the light was still flashing at the front of the house - how am I to know that the alarm needed resetting.
Not that I am superstitious but it is

Friday the 13th.

Time to lock the door and have a tot of  good malt whiskey. 

Working on my own square -at last.

At last today I got a chance to get something done on my own square. I started by raking, this is to try get all the leaves that have got into the base of the sward out.

I used the my Sisis four foot rake on the back of my little tractor. It was a little wet at the bottom end of square- you can wait for ever and not get anything done if you wait for ideal conditions- some times you just have to make it happen.

Here you can see some of the leaves the rake has lifted out.

Apart from lifting the leaves it also pulled out dead grass from the base and presented the living grass better for mowing.

Another view.

I only have a small rotary mower about 16 or 17 inches so it took a while to mow.

All mown most of the leaves and rubbish picked up now.

You will need to enlarge this but on top of the houses -over the road from the ground- sit a row of pigeons

They think I am going to seed but I have news for them no free food today, I am not getting the seed out so fly off to Headingley Stadium they can afford more seed than me.

I gave it a brush which actually lifted some more leaves I think they will blow away now that they are on the surface.

Just a couple more views of the finished job and that's what I achieved today on the ground. You may be thinking that it wouldn't take long to do what I have just shown you and in fairness it took about 4 hours but please remember I am only part time at this job I cant earn a living at it so first thing and again later in the day I had to go off and do other things.

No Prizes

No prize for guessing what Ive been doing today -yes more spiking. Today it was at Wilsden high up above the Aire valley almost in Bronte Country or maybe it is in Bronte Country. I have been working at Wilsden now for about 7or 8 years and every time I go I can tell you it is an overcoat colder then down in the valley and it didn't let me down today. 

Looks bleak doesn't it?

Just got the spiking machine out to the middle.

Look how long the outfield has got. I understand from Raymond the groundsman that it has been very wet in these parts -so with only volunteers to do the job- if there has not been a dry weekend when he is available it doesn't get done. I am sure that it is the same with many a local club -too much to do by too few.

The clubhouse and scorebox.

Getting on with the job.

This is why you should not leave a germination sheet on too long. It pulls the grass elongating it and making it week so when you take the sheet off it cant survive the harsh conditions so turns tail and dies. This area will not grow back without reseeding so Raymond put some seed down the spike holes I had just made it has more chance of growing there than it has in the bag. If some of it grows out of the spike holes -and I think there is a fair chance it will- then you have started your repairs and given an further new seedlings some protection. I think the best thing from here is to roll some more seed into the surface when spring rolling. That way it will be in contact with the soil for moisture and harder for the birds to peck out I have done this in February in the past and it germinated so all is not lost.

Here is a close up of the area I forgot to say it is on the shortened junior pitch at the edge of the square.

Looking over the road and across to the other side of the Aire Valley.
Tomorrow I hope to get some work done on my ground maybe a change from the old spiking routine looking at the forecast it looks like we are going to get some rain overnight so lets hope things are not too wet when I get down to the ground.