• At last - another calf !

    October 9, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Yes, it's finally happened - another calf - one to go. The way the remaining cow is acting, the last one shouldn’t be too far away.
    As Janette has nearly finished the fence posts, I thought I'd better get a wriggle on with my part of the job. I've run a line using fence wire.
    Of concern is the phone cable that comes across the road, under the proposed fence line and alongside the driveway. Putting a posthole on top of the cable would be a tad embarrassing. So, we need to know where exactly it is.
    The easiest and quickest way is to divine the location using a couple of bits of fence wire. For anyone wishing to give this a try, here are some guidelines.
    You'll need two lengths of wire precisely about 400, 500 or 600mm long, or whatever you've got will do. If you haven't got fence wire, coat hanger wire will do. Now bend them at right angles at exactly approximately one third along their length.
    A word of warning - like many things, it takes practise. Another word of warning - not everyone can do it. If you can do it, you'll have heaps of fun. If you can't, you'll be convinced that those who can are tricking you.
    A good way to start is to lay a garden hose on the ground with a trickle of water through it and at right angles to where you'll walk. Hold the wires, one in each fist, by the shorter part of the wire, not so tight that they can't turn, and so the longer parts are facing forward. Have them about shoulder width apart and parallel to the ground.
    You need to imagine what you're seeking, so perhaps picture a running stream in your mind. While doing this, walk slowly towards the hose. As you draw close to the hose, the wires should both move inwards and cross when above the hose. If it doesn't work straight away, keep trying and walk in from other side.
    Once proficient at this, perhaps search for the water pipes from the water meter to the house.
    If you were looking for an underground stream, there are other things you would want to know once you've located it.
    Still with the hose, walk in again, but now think of the direction of the flow of the water - the wires should both turn in the direction of the flow. Again, repeat from the other side. Walking in from the other side of a stream will give the position of the other side of it.
    If you locate a water pipe or underground stream the wires will be crossed indicating you are above it. About turn, the wires will still be crossed, walk away and when the wires have returned to the forward position your distance from the place where you turned equals the depth of your search object.
    Good hunting. Have fun. It's divine!
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