Well I was very surprised to see that most things that I planted before leaving are still living, thriving even. What I did not expect was to see the utter carnage of my bird bath, it’s in bits and looks as if it has been caught in some traumatic event. There are a few things strewn around the garden that makes me think that some of the animals or birds have had a bit of a party.

The top has come loose and the base is fractured and I don’t think that any amount of glue will fix this.

The other surprise was the water tank. Rivets have given way and the water has disappeared. According to Mick, he heard a loud bang and when he went outside the water was pouring out like a mini fountain from the side of the tank. Inside the tank there is bracing which has given way. The tank has been low in water for some time and I did notice that one of the rivets was leaking slightly, however when I was away there was a massive storm and the tank has filled up very quickly and the pressure has been too much and then it went bang!

The other side has buckled slightly too. Now to replace this size of thank will cost about $1400 which I don’t have and so I need a new solution and I think I have found it with this.

I should be able to pick something like this up for under a $100 and they hold 1000 litres, so if I can get at least two I will be back in business. I think that it will be way too difficult to repair the tank and also too expensive.

The tap on the tank is open and the hose is in the garden and so all that lovely rain water is now being directly fed back into the soil.