A savvy Project Manager will always build a contingency into their costings; a little latitude to account for … the unexpected.
Mission creep, and all that.
Unfortunately, where our new Rum Bridge Fisheries site is concerned, my contingency may have been a tad … incautious.
Having been advised by UK Power Networks that the average cost, for a new connection, is around the £6k mark, I allowed – with characteristic smugness – a princely if circumspect £12k.
So, no nasty surprises for us, hey?
And, as it transpires, £12k would easily have accounted for the required labour and bits and pieces needed to take a feed from the high voltage cables, which run directly across the back (soon-to-be Specimen Carp) lake.
But for one thing: the need for a new substation – cost, approximately £800,000.
Oh, how we laughed.
As ever, there’s a Plan B. But it’s not a great Plan B.
It is to excavate half the village – including our neighbours’ beautifully landscaped garden. Which, let’s face it, may not endear us to them where future planning applications are concerned.
Thus it is, we will be joining the growing ranks of eco-mentalists who, of necessity or principal, are going offgrid.
That’s not to say we’ll be spending our evening sharpening spears, and fashioning clothing from otter pelts (though I have considered this).
Rather, we are exploring the many alternative energy sources which are fast becoming ‘mainstream’.
And one or two which aren’t.
Hydropower, for example, which involves converting energy from flowing water – in our case, feeders between the ponds and out into the river – by means of a small turbine.
Since our lakes are springfed, and located on three levels, we may – we hope – be able to generate sufficient leccy to nuke a ready-meal or two.
Which is good. Because, dense woodland isn’t exactly the ideal environment for solar – our Plan C.
Hey ho.
As the saying goes: when life gives you lemons…
Make G&Ts.
