Thursday, May 07, 2009

Curiouser and curiouser

One of the houses down the road from us is owned by a Canadian family (terrier, not very nice to George).

They've done loads of work on the house and have now started on the garden, the latest thing being this 'retaining wall'. Apparently (according to a lady who knows my auntie Joan and who got it from a woman who lives a few doors down the other way) it's normal practice in Canada. Perhaps jmb and Leslie can confirm this?!

Personally I think it's an anti-terrorist measure.

16 comments:

James Higham said...

I love the way you determine the neighbour in terms of the dog. :)

NitWit1 said...

Luckie seems to get along with all dogs and a few cats (that let her near them) -- maybe a trait from her shelter days.

That is a massive barrier and not very attractive. We could build a similar barrier from the native rocks that substitute for soil here, but seems too labor intensive.

Katney said...

I only see retaining walls where there is something to "retain", such as a slope that is a bit unstable and you don't want it sliding into your patio or falling into the sidewalk.


but I'm not Canadian.

presious said...

Looks a bit creepy to me. Don't like it. How did they get them in there, with a crane? Just simply ugly...yuk

Leslie: said...

Katney's right in that retaining walls are built to "retain" the earth so there isn't a slide. I'm sure this is NOT the finished product because it's just a huge pile of rocks and nothing at all like a real retaining wall. They might be going to build a lovely garden (foral/plants) and use the rocks as decorative things. However, I do agree they're awfully huge!

Furtheron said...

Looks like a climbing wall... next winter you'll have a bunch of Sherpas guiding a load of thrill seekers roped to it.

MaryB said...

Looks kinda scary to me. Like it needs barbed wire on top of it.

jams o donnell said...

What an ill-mannered terrier they have. It certainly looks like they are doing major work

CherryPie said...

Looks like a building site to me ;-)

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Do you think the wall will keep George out?

jmb said...

Mmm, yes there are retaining walls in Canada on occasion when there is a change of level. As there are in every other country.

That looks more like a pyramid they are planning to construct out of those huge boulders, rather than a retaining wall.

Puss-in-Boots said...

The rock retaining wall could be rather attractive if it was done properly, i.e the rocks properly fitted around one another rather than just dumped as they appear to have been. There's nothing remotely artistic about that mess.

nick said...

Perhaps they're planning to build a mini Stonehenge and open it as a local tourist attraction.

jay said...

It's normal practice in Canada? First I've heard of it - not that I'm an expert! LOL!

I do know people who call terriers 'terrorists' though. Maybe the wall is there to keep him in?

Dragonstar said...

Terriers can be severely territorial (!)
I think the wall looks ugly.

Brian said...

Might be the start of a cairn to keep the terrier happy.