Today I learned how to pull staples from fencing.

I began to dismantle my old rabbit pens in order to make space for my new chicken yard, but as I hope to reuse the fencing in other areas I had to remove it intact. Thus the pulling of staples.

It is a relatively simple job requiring only two tools: a hammer and a pair of fencing pliers.


You put the, er, pointy bit of the pliers in behind the staple and then try to drive it in deeper with the hammer.


It takes a lot of banging.


But eventually you drive it in deep enough to pop out the staple. It's very satisfying when it happens, but it takes an awful lot of effort.


And if sometimes you get a bit frustrated and resort to snipping the wire rather than pulling out the staple, well, if you don't tell then neither will I...


I am not very handy and I think I would make a very poor labourer as I have a tendency to get distracted. I'm likely to wander off and investigate funny growths of moss.


Or prod at rather large eight-legged beasties. I thought this fellow was dead at first put it turned out he was just a bit dopey from cold.


It's a good thing I don't try to make my living at building things; I'm really not at all good at it. But I certainly manage keep myself amused.