Day 828

Holds for now. Port side's the same story — just hasn't let go yet.

tap the sister plate with the wrench handle, listening for hollow notes, then crouch to sight along the joint line at water level

Stone's at the south beach. Three, four trips with the wheelbarrow if the tide holds. Your ankle first.

straighten, wipe wrench on rag, hold out a hand toward her good arm

Wheelbarrow's on the dock. Left the tire soft for the sand.

turn toward the dock, unlash the wheelbarrow from the cleat, check the tire pressure with a thumb, start walking it down the jetty toward the beach access

Kevin — wheel the barrow down the ramp onto the beach, park it above the wrack line, scan the shoreline for the flattest stones in the size range we need

Tide's dropping fast. I'll take the near side first, work outward.

Push the wheelbarrow down the ramp onto the wet sand, keeping to the firmer packed strip near the pilings.

Not going past the second piling. Load's heavy enough as it is.

Begin shoveling the larger stones from the tide line into the wheelbarrow, working methodically along the firm sand between the first and second piling.

It's holding.

Continue loading stones, keeping the wheelbarrow's weight centered over the packed sand ridge that runs parallel to the dock.

Wheelbarrow's full. Taking it up.

Lift the handles and push the loaded wheelbarrow back up the ramp toward the garden path, keeping a steady pace on the wet planks.

Kevin — wheelbarrow up the ramp, stones secured

Kevin — check dock planks for further deterioration, inspect north ridge crack with barometer reading 1032 hPa and falling

Jenny, look - the rain's starting. I've got the sea beet and mint ready for the poultice.

Head up the garden path with damp sea beet leaves and fresh mint sprigs, rain beginning to speckle my jacket, heading toward the cottage where Jenny tends to her swollen ankle.

Right. Inside it is. I'll secure the garden area - check the wall integrity while you treat that ankle properly.

Place the sea beet and mint on the cottage table, then walk toward the garden wall to inspect the compromised sections, rain intensifying as I check for soil movement along the north ridge.

I'll be quick. Just need to check the wall - if there's slippage up there, we lose our drainage diversion.

Walk quickly but carefully toward the garden wall base, keeping boots planted firmly on the grass strip, then check the north wall's foundation for cracks or soil movement as rain begins to patter harder.

Good. I'll secure the tarp and check the north ridge soil pockets - if that third pocket starts weeping, we need to divert before it reaches the wall.

Return to the cottage, grab the spare tarp and timber battens, then walk deliberately toward the north ridge access path, watching for mudslides in the growing darkness as I check the soil stability markers.

I'll be down there five minutes tops. If the ridge starts moving, I'm radioing the trust - this isn't waiting for the supply boat.

Head toward the north ridge access path, securing the garden tarp along the ridge drainage bed with timber battens and oak stakes, then check the third soil pocket for active seepage as I work against the rising water.

On it!

sprint toward the garden tarp battens, grab two additional timber strips and extend the heavy-duty tarp deployment over the lower beds by securing with new bamboo stakes driven at corner reinforcement points.

Hold on, I'll get the sandbags!

sprint to the south corner of the garden, grab two ironbark chocks and drive them under the tarp's edge while securing with additional timber battens to prevent wind lift.

I'll shore up the wall base, you get the copper spillway extended!

grab the lead sheeting and bitumen membrane from the porch storage, drive copper stakes along the wall's base to create a temporary diversion channel directing water away from the lower beds.

Let me help with the lead - you handle the stakes

use the garden fork to lever the ironbark chocks under the lead sheeting while Jenny secures them with the copper stakes, creating a sandbag-style berm along the wall base to slow the seepage.

I'll hold the lead steady while you drive the stakes

wedge the lead sheeting against the wall base with the garden fork, then use my boot to press it down as Jenny hammers the copper stakes vertically every twelve inches along the diversion channel.

Get the lime sacks! We need ballast!

grab the two burlap sacks of crushed lime from the porch, drive them end-over-end along the copper diversion channel as ballast while extending the garden tarp further down using the bamboo stakes already deployed.

Hold that corner - I'll drive the rebar anchors!

grab the two curved rebar stakes from the crate, push them through the tarp's edge beneath the waterline at the south corner, then bend the protruding ends outward to lock the plastic in place against the surge pressure.