Another warm and dry day, another session starting at the Swansea Canal Centre but today most of us had one, and only one, thing on our minds – Weed!

But first, Phil, Lance, Bob and Mike F completed the concrete repair started last week. One deft flick of the brush by Lance and the job was done.

Everyone else hauled irises from the cut below Pont John. Gordon in “Nellie” and John Gr in his kayak pulled up the greenery and the rest of us – Sue, Sharon, Dai, Bert, Phil, Chris and Andy – yanked it out. We left the weed to dry out and to allow the creepy-crawlies to slither back in to the water. We will remove it next week.

Andy and Dave took a break from weed removal to cut back alder saplings growing from the bank and overhanging the canal.

Tea was taken accompanied by Welsh cakes and a sensational Victoria sponge baked by Jan. Duncan popped in for a chat.

After tea, iris removal continued with Gordon in “Nellie” and the rest of us on the bank. Back-breaking work but well worth it. When we started work last Tuesday, this stretch of the canal was completely choked but now there is hardly an iris to be seen. There’s a long way to go to get to the Buried Lock, but we’ll get there – eventually!

We all went home wet and muddy and exhausted but we can reflect on a massive achievement.