After many years of service the old entrance gates at the quinta have been retired.....I suspect they're even older than us!! The large hardwood support posts at either side had started to rot which made closing them a heck of a job as the gates weigh a ton. Sourcing the wood to replace the posts proved fruitless. The local wood merchants all said the hardwod would have to come from either Misiones or Brazil and even if they could get it the cost would be astronomical. So we quickly decided to forget that idea and install something much easier to obtain.
Finally after two weeks work Josie the excellent builder and his apprentice finished today. My missus idea of keeping the old gates as an ornamental feature was a great idea....the old and the new go well together.