August 2025

     While I was waiting for a plumber to come and install our greywater system, I decided that it would be a good idea to dig a trench to bury the pipe which sends the overflow water from the rainwater tank.

This would be helpful as any excess water from the full tank would be diverted over to the side of the hill, away from the greywater absorption area. This would help the greywater system function properly in times of high rainfall. Putting the pipe under the ground was a good idea because that would mean that I could easily mow right over the top of the filled in trench, with no trip hazards. The protection of the pipe from sunlight would mean that the pipe would last much longer too, as it would not degrade as quickly.

Initially I thought this job would take only a day or two, but then I realised that there already was a pipe that I had previously buried in the ground. This was the pipe which takes water from the tank to the house. I had to dig even deeper so that the new pipe would go underneath the old pipe. Then I had to dig deeper along the entire trench so that the water would be able to drain away with gravity.

I was making good progress but then I ran into a Very Large Rock. This rock was too big to dig out. I tried the shovel. I tried the crowbar. I tried the mattock. I tried prying up the rock and throwing dozens of smaller rocks underneath it. Nothing worked. I tried every day for weeks. No success.

Then one day Josh had a spare moment and could give me some assistance. Within a matter of seconds, he simply pulled the giant rock out and rolled it away.

To this day, I still haven't filled in that trench all the way.