It is odd to think how much store we put in milestone numbers, which of themselves mean very little - after all, does the 1,000,000th customer bring anything that the previous 999,999 did not? Of course not, they are just another customer. But with smiles all round, we're still going to be pleased that the hydro plant has made it to 100 Mega Watt Hours, thanks to the rather determined rain we've been having lately.
Cleaning the screen through the wet season has been relatively easy, which is a relief. On the other hand, since the hydro party, which was reported fairly widely in the press (which was nice), we had some problems with the bottom bearing. When I say that we had some problems, I mean that the entire bearing unit had to be replaced. It is thought by the experts on our installation team to have been of faulty construction, however we shall see... if it happens again we shall know if there is a more fundamental problem. Fingers are very firmly crossed.
Whilst we have been making power thanks to the rain, the Iford Arts season has been suffering from this bout of British drizzle. It would, however, take quite a tempest to dampen the spirits of a stoical English audience watching Mozart's comic opera Die Entfürung aus dem Serail. Thankfully all the performances are in the cloister, under cover, and Bill Bankes-Jones production brings a delightful warmth to the story. On the 22nd June the sun graced us with its presence, reminding us of the golden light which bathes the valley on a beautiful evening (before clouds promptly returned for the rest of the week!).
The Seraglio princesses and their security guards take the scenic route to the cloister (June 22nd):
