AND

Two of the remaining three girl puppies, learning to do some gardening without any supervision. AND having taken up the worst of the grassed area at the back door, the farmer has exposed the awesomely beautiful top of the outdoor well (there is also a similar well inside this house - eek). Probably 200 years old, the top bricks form a perfect half sphere. The depth of the water inside is 7ft, and from one side to the other is at least twelve feet. It is as black as soot inside the well, and it makes my stomach churn when I lean over the rim and peer into its midnight depths. The water is clean enough for tropical fish and contains a multitudinous population of daphnia(?)which my goldfish thoroughly enjoy. Wondering if it is safe to try and make a feature of the top of the well, or keep it safely sealed with the large slab that has covered it these last 50 years. My Dad convinced it might collapse underneath an unwary visitor, and would like it hidden away again for the next 100 years. A dilemma. Wouldn't get brickwork like that now, that's for sure, and has stood the test of time indomitably. The indoor well sits safely below a quarry tiled floor, sealed with a large sandstone slab, which has a huge iron ring bolted into the centre. When lifted out with block and tackle the apature reveals an equally scary sight of black, oily depths. Living in a watery wonderland!