Year's end

31.12.2011

It is now the last day of the year. My main feeling is that it has gone very quickly. It is a pity it has ended on such a difficult note but let us hope things are better in 2012. Our hay has been cut at Judy’s property down the road. I suspect that it will be baled and ready for carting on new years day. We are expecting stinking hot weather then and possibly a change afterwards.

Why does hay always happen at the worst possible time? Really this is a totally stupid time to have Xmas if you live in Australia. I guess we are stuck with New Year but my Xmas is gradually shifting to mid winter when I have time to deal with it. This might be the year I just go whole hog and accept the inevitable.

It actually feels a bit odd not building all day. Yesterday I went back to work and began to teach myself to bag walls. I have started in the laundry because I need to set up the sink in there so the plumbing can be done. I also measured up the wood needed for the vanity tops where we have basins. Edd repaired the mower, which was tangled up with wire again and did some slashing with the tractor. I found a huge snake on the lawn in the morning so we want to make sure we can see it coming.

The first of our tomatoes are going red but our biggest crop is from the runner beans. I have already blanched and frozen two bags, as there are more than we can eat. The straw berries are doing well too, but we are able to eat all that grow. The garden is also a riot of flowers despite total neglect. The red-hot pokers are on fire this year and the agapanthus makes a good contrast. The arum lilies have died back and now the Canna lilies are having their turn.

The jacaranda trees are beautiful as always and our little crepe myrtle looks all ready to bloom. Peaches, plums and apples are ripening and we even have limes on the new trees this year. There are lots of pomegranates and figs and the grape fruit are huge. We have also started eating the cheese we made from Donna, the cow’s, milk. I covered it with yellow wax and it has stayed lovely and creamy. I am really pleased with how it turned out.

The chooks are gradually recovering from the fox attack. The chook in isolation is eating and drinking well but still a bit unsteady on her feet. I have weaned Dot’s kids onto bottles and the other five kids have grown huge. Last years goatlings have filled out on the abundant grass and are fat and glossy. We still have not shorn the sheep but hay seems first on the agenda.

A memorable Xmas

26.12.2011

We did it! Our usual Xmas eve meal took place the in our new house. It was a perfect evening. The day had been hot but we kept the double glazed sliding doors shut and the house stayed lovely and cool. Bo brought over a seafood feast with crayfish, oysters and fantastic scallops. I cooked a turkey and everyone contributed to deserts and side dishes. Even the salad

Bo brought over was a good enough meal by its self!
It had taken a super human effort to get to this stage. Richard had worked flat out to complete the rendering in the kitchen working late into the last evening. Edd and I put the first layer of paint onto the ceiling in the kitchen and then Josh helped us transport chairs, tables, rugs a bed and pot plants so we could make the place like a home.

We even got down the Xmas tree and decorated it with new bobbles that were the right colour. We covered three Bunning’s tables with a long cloth of Xmas design and dressed the table with green candles and table napkins. We were stuck with plastic glasses and chairs but at least everything matched. Edd strung up a rope of coloured lights and everything looked fantastic.

We catered for 18 people but at the last minute Simon felt too ill to come. Peter and Thea brought over Peter’s mother and their daughter so we had several generations represented which was what we wanted.

When everyone had stuffed themselves with too much food and the younger generations had got rid of excess energy swimming in the dam we settled down to produce music. Al had his ukulele and Pia, Bo, India and the rest passed round guitars. Bo sang a love song she had written for Simon that reduced Wayne to tears and sounded as if a visiting angel had joined us.

Everyone agreed that the house was just what we wanted and ideal for our way of life. All together it was just right as a start for life in our new home.

Xmas day was on a different wavelength and demonstrated all the faults in our present accommodation. The day started off stinking hot and the water in the tank rang out. There was also a power cut but just after we had finally got onto the power company to report a problem the power came back on so we had to go through the whole report process again to cancel our first communication.

By this time Bo had phoned us and was taking Simon back to hospital because he was so bad. Edd shot off into Yarra Glen to mind her kids and I tackled the milking and other farm work before starting the cleaning up process. Bo asked us if we would take the kids over to Warby for their Xmas meal so

There was a delay getting back to the farm because three fire engines were dealing with a fire on the embankment half way down the road. The fire was caused by a problem at and electricity pole so when we got home there was no power again. This is a disaster in the donga, as it means no toilet, water, lights or anything else.

It was getting late, and it was far to hot in the donga, so I decided that a good approach would be to do the milking early on the theory that if you have to milk by hand it is easier not to do it in the dark. I had just set everything up when the thunder storm that had been rolling around all day moved up a gear and sent down a massive burst of hail stones.
Some of the stones were an inch in diameter and not the sort of thing that allowed anyone to go anywhere. I did not know it but other places were much worse off. Al and Pia both got their cars pelted with golf ball sized missiles at Yarra Glen and

Bo, who was driving a heavily drugged Simon back from, hospital had to take their van right into their brewery. She reckoned that the stones were lemon sized down there. I am not sure this is an exaggeration either, people in the city found some cricket ball sized!

Amazingly, just as the hailstones stopped the power came back on so I rapidly milked the goats and fed animals. Then the heavens opened and torrential rain drowned everything. Water was going into the tank so fast that it was leaping back out over the edge like the Niagara Falls. The gutter on the shed failed to cope and spewed a curtain of water down just by the entrance of the donga so that there was no choice but to get soaked when we tried to get in.

The thunder was still crashing away and Flynn abandoned his guard dog duties and hid trembling in the shower. We are rather dependent on Flynn to let us know if anyone is around but on a night like this it did not seem a problem. There was still no running water so I came to the conclusion that an early night was called for. The toilet on the veranda had the floor flooded and it could not be flushed, but it was too wet to worry about this and I ducked in there and left the door open so I could see where not to stand. I nearly jumped out of my skin when a large man loomed up out of the dark right in front of me.
He had been dining down the road with friends and turned up towards Craig instead of back towards Yarra Glen when he left.

Apart from the fact the road was just about washed away the creek up in the bush was flooded and he had got his gar bogged there. Edd has to turn out again in the storm with the tractor and struggle for ages to get him out! He could not even have a shower when he got in all muddy. I did not offer to help. I had had enough of Xmas day by that time!

good and bad

20.12.2011

BUILDING NEWS

So far no one has slowed up for Xmas. Frank’s mob are hooling around on big machinery moving vast quantities of earth at unbelievable speeds. The air pipes are in and the soil is now level with the roof. We tried to order the scoria that goes under the soil on the roof but there is none just now. The big trench behind the house has totally gone and everything looks different. The big pile of soil stored by the road and the pile behind the house are now used up and they are starting on the soil stored below the dam.

In doors I am still grouting, but Tom and helpers have put in the new kitchen. It is made of chunky origan and looks very neat and solid. The wood is a bit pink and we might end up having to tone that down if it looks wrong with the cream stove. I went off to buy handles today and had a lucky find in a bargain store with handles a dollar or less each!

The coloured glass went in to the window tops yesterday and looks great. Most of the other glass is now in but the infill to one door was the wrong size and so are some of the louvers. I guess we will have to wait until after the holidays to get that done now.

OTHER NEWS

Yesterday was draining. I spent the day in Box Hill hospital with Bo whilst Simon went in for surgery. My main function was to make regular trips to our cars and replenish the parking tickets. On the map there was a car park but when I got there it was full of bulldozers and no use to us.

I felt so worried and upset myself that I did not feel as if I could actually be much support to Bo or anyone. Simon was brought back to the ward just before 4pm so we had a very long wait. The operation went well and he is now back home. Sadly he is in a lot of pain but he can talk very quietly. At least it is all over quickly and they do not have to worry about that bit anymore.  India has been helping Bo by looking after her kids whilst she was with Simon, and Wayne has been there too. Everyone is trying to help with delivering beer and the brewery is still churning out produce.

However, none of us are on top of the Xmas work. This is the first year ever that I have not been organised. My main objective is to get the hall floor grouted so that we have somewhere for our party.

The good news this week is that Josh has passed all his exams and is now an audiologist. He still needs to do some work on his research project before he completes his masters qualification. His tutor has still not contacted him about the draft he put in so he is just doing the work as best he can and sending it in at the due date, tomorrow. The other good thing was that when Al came over at the week end we had our first meal in the new house. It was so relaxing! We could all sit round a table in comfort and watch the kids build a raft for the dam. It is only when at last we can do a simple thing like this that we realize how hard the last years have really been.

Can I take a rain check on Xmas?

17.12.2011

Saturday again. Edd is at the market hopefully exchanging our produce for other edibles. We have been far too busy to go shopping and everything in our vegetable garden is eaten at the first possible opportunity. (I grabbed some runner beans today and noticed that there was another lettuce available for tonight.)

We are all so tired. Edd and I have to start physical work about 7am and continue on our feet until 9 or 10 at night. That is why I like the grouting job, I can do it sitting down and the house is a much better temperature than the donga. People say we should take time off and relax, but how? When we have nowhere we can even sit in comfort.

Simon goes into hospital for his operation on Monday and we really cannot think of much else. I keep making silly mistakes like pouring the kids milk into the washing up bucket instead of their feeder and my worst error was not closing the chook pen door well enough. The fox arrived mid day and we spent the afternoon trying to catch frightened hens hiding under plants all over the garden. Some of course were lost and one is in an isolation pen seriously injured.

The house is going under ground well and the earth is within a meter of the roof now. At last we begin to get an idea of how well it will fit back into the paddock. My main worry is the lack of glass. The birds are still getting in through the missing panels and I am worried that they will shit all down my newly plastered walls.

burial starts

15.12.20011

BUILDING NEWS

Frank arrived early this morning and the back fill of the house began. It was amazing to watch the huge machines work within inches of the walls moving vast amounts of earth really carefully. I was surprised at how much they got done in just one day.

They have even got the first layer of polystyrene insulation foam in. They dug a trench for this after they had filled the earth in and just slotted it down.
Better still all the rubbish at the front of the house was carefully sorted and the real waste trucked behind the house for burial.

Richard also arrived early and has worked hard on the rendering. Edd and Josh got up at the crack of dawn and moved all the stuff from behind the house so Frank mobs could start and guess what? I did more grouting.
Just when it looked as if everything was going to plan we noticed that the glaziers had not showed up. This is really bad news. Why not? They left yesterday complaining madly that Yarra Glen had run out of meat pies but surely people do not stop work over that!

After a few phone calls the boss man turns up with his poor wife instead of the labour team, but by this time the day is nearly over and it is really hot. They did get some of the front panels in but the coloured glass and the rest of the double glass were in the too hard basket. We think we have extracted a promise to come back on Monday but it looks very dodgy.

OTHER NEWS

I have lost all interest in the aesthetic side of our building project, and can now only think of features that make it liveable as soon as possible. Our thoughts are dominated by worries about our family and really nothing else counts for much. How does one deal with these times? Is it better to aim at distraction or just acknowledge the situation as it really is? I suppose that I see my role as being on standby for whatever is needed. Other than that we must work as hard as possible on the house, which will give us the resources to be more helpful.

On a lighter side, Josh has found a magnificent growth of luminous fungi on the big gum tree stump. We all trouped out for a viewing last night and a neighbour with a good camera took photos. Josh had taken some shots the night before but we all felt they could be better.


14.12.2011

BUILDING NEWS

Today the glass started to go in. A team of guys arrived in the morning and unloaded the glass and then some stayed on to put it in. they were a bit of a Laurel and Hardy act at each other all day. Richard, Edd, Josh Steve and I helped when needed but mostly got quietly on with our own jobs.

I began work on the snug floor because no one really needed to go in there and Josh took his turn at the waterproofing. It was a good job he did because Frank’s gang arrived this afternoon and announced that they will start earth moving tomorrow.

Some big machinery arrived tonight so they are obviously in earnest.
Richard has nearly rendered almost all the kitchen wall and Edd helped Steve put in the laundry doorframe and the last of the architraves. Things really are changing now and it is hard to keep up with all that is needed.

OTHER NEWS

Yesterday the chook run door opened and the chooks got out. Unfortunately the fox noticed before we did and several are missing. Josh and I picked up stragglers all day. The buff Orpington was badly injured so she is on her own in an old beer drum where she may or may not recover but is at least safe from being pecked to death by her former friends. Chickens have no empathy for any of their mates who show weakness.

I moved the sheep out of the earth moving area. This was an easy job because when they saw me they followed me to the gate and went through of their own accord once I got it open. We also need to move the buck but that is harder as he has a sort of shelter that has to move with him. Then there is the fence! We probably should have moved that too. Oh well, we still have two hours of daylight.

I am rather relieved that the hours will soon start to shorten again. The sun now sets over Mt Everard but in mid winter it sets to the right of our own hill, which is a huge difference. We tend to work outside until dark so by the time the hour changes we are pretty worn out by all the extra activity.

a black cloud approaches

12.12.2011

BUILDING NEWS

The plasterers were back to complete their work today and it was Edd’s turn on the waterproofing. I went to Healesville to meet Tom who is making the kitchen to consult about colour finishes. The cupboard doors are recycled oregon but I want them lightly limed so that they do not go really dark.

OTHER NEWS

I feel very helpless tonight as today brought bad news. Life can be so unfair at times.

11.12.11

BUILDING NEWS

The plaster on the ceilings is nearly finished. One more day’s work they reckon, and then sanding when it has had time to dry properly. Now that we have ceilings, keeping out damp is essential. With the threat of rain I spent Friday at the top of the scaffold water proofing outside on the west wall. Edd waterproofed the east wing on Thursday, and Josh did work on the west wing the day before. It is a horrid job and none of us is game to do two days running.

The good news is that even though it rained most of last night the inside of the house stayed dry and the ceiling was fine. I admit to rushing down there first thing this morning to check!

Steve worked on the architraves for the sliding doors this afternoon and with his, Al’s and Josh’s help we loaded the heavy wood stove onto the back of the tractor and manhandled it into the house. The glass goes in on Wednesday so we needed to bring it in the easy way through the front window rather than the door at the side. We should get the gas stove in the same way too but we were running out of time today.

Al discussed the driveway with us and I explained how I wanted a turning circle at the end with a carport and paths to the door. Al said a twelve-meter circle diameter was needed and we worked out where this should go. We need to think of these things now before the earth moving gang arrives because it affects where the water runs drains go.

OTHER NEWS

We discovered that a feral cat had kittens under the hay in the shed. The hay is held off the earth floor on pallets so they could have a huge hidden play area. This did not put off Josh who hurled hay bales in every direction and eventually caught the fugitives. There were two kittens, one pale grey stripped and one with dark spots and stripes. They were pretty wild so we put them with food and milk in a big empty drum.

When Al’s kids came today the kittens were rescued from the pit and handled until they became tame. They really were very cute and attractive so the kids, (having assured us that mum had agreed) took them home with them. That solves the cat problem for the time being, at least as far as the farm is concerned but they may be returned tomorrow because I found out later that someone was not being factual about what mum said!.

Apart from cats our other big worry is Simon who is still sick. I am so glad our windows are going in this week, as it is one step nearer to moving into a home where looking after grands kids is possible. Simon may need an operation so I need to be ready to drop everything and go into childcare mode.

plastering

8.12.11

BUILDING NEWS

Today was unexpectedly entertaining. The plasterers brought stilts and strode up and down the house fixing the joints between the plasterboards. One guy had had extensive tats and definitely looked good enough for a circus! I was despatched to Lilydale to collect base coat mix but I managed to do another mix of floor grout in the afternoon and did not miss all the fun.

Josh has been grabbed for work at Bo’s restaurant so Edd is going on with the wing walls waterproof coating. Richard came but could not get much done with all the other activity where he needed to work. The plasterboard is now up in all the front rooms and some of the back passage, it makes the place seem much lighter.

The house is a cool place to work as the sun hardly gets inside this time of year. I did notice an arch of light in the snug room about lunchtime that came from the curved front windows. It was not direct sun and to tell the truth I am not totally sure what it was. Our glass is going in the windows next week so maybe we will get colour reflections in strange places, who knows.

OTHER NEWS

Al is back from his trip to Lao. We have spoken to him but not face to face yet. He sounds a lot more relaxed than he was when he left. He seems to have had a real adventure. Edd spoke to Wayne on the phone too. He says he has had lots of work and been very busy so hopefully no big dramas there.

My garden is still neglected but we are getting lots of lovely strawberries and even a few raspberries and blueberries for our breakfast. The tomatoes are now setting fruit and the lettuces are large enough to eat. I have almost filled the small raised bed ready for zucchinis but I need Edd to move some earth for me with Skiddy before I plant anything.

Dot’s little doe kids are growing but have a lot of catching up to do before they are strong enough to go in with the rest of the years youngsters. They are soft gold colours and I am rather glad that she never got to her new home and have them there. Dot has always been a favourite goat so having one of her daughters that looks very like her is nice.

Difficult times

6.12.11

BUILDING NEWS

There are definite signs that everyone has begun a mad bolt to finish and get things done before the Xmas break. We are having a difficult time keeping up with all that is going on.
Last week Gary and Andrew put the final touches to the actual structural work when they put the bricks onto the parapet. Luckily we managed to find just enough by raiding the last of the bricks we rescued from the old house. As these ones did not have to bear weight we could use those that we had classified as seconds. In some strange way fetching them from the house and using them seemed incredibly symbolic. Some how it signalled the move from the ruins to the new place as our family abode.

Richard also began the rendering and has now done all front arches in two days. He then got chased away by the team of plastering people who came here at some ungodly hour yesterday to start putting in the ceilings. They demanded that we clear everything out of the building and give them a clear run. This sounded like a really good excuse for me to have a break from grouting so I did a mad dash into Ringwood to my favourite hairdresser, Zoe, and she sorted me out.
Once again the plasterers arrived early today and seemed intent on working simultaneously in as many rooms as possible.

Rather reluctantly they agreed to put up the insulation as they went which left Edd free to complete his air pipe work. Luckily Josh arrived home and his extra height and long skinny arms were just what was needed. He sorted out Edd’s problems but his thoughts are off at a tangent designing a special light system that kicks in automatically if the power goes out. He carefully explained the details to me but I lack even the basic knowledge to understand more than the concept.

The ceiling went up in the end bedroom very quickly because long boards curved straight from the back wall to the front over the wood frame. The flat ceilinged rooms took a bit longer because the suspended metal braces needed to go in first. One of the men does this with the aid of a laser levelling devise and the rest follow behind. They plan to start the curved main room ceiling today whilst he is framing the east end of the back passage. The East passage is already done!

I imagine the plastering of joins will also start tomorrow. My job was to buy a role of black plastic from Yarra Glen to cover the pavers and protect them from any plaster drops. It is useless for me to think of grouting today too. I need a rest but I was doing rather well over the weekend and have almost completed work on the large kitchen floor area.

Meanwhile, Tom our cabinetmaker has injured his back and is out of action this week. He really wanted to get our kitchen in but the wall it is to go one has not been rendered so this delay is not a problem. The window glass is another matter! There is some talk of it going in on Friday! As I said it is all going a bit too fast.

OTHER NEWS

I thought I was doing really well getting my hair done, the chook food collected and the shopping done yesterday and still being in time to go out with Bo’s parents in law for dinner. I ruined my efforts at looking civilized by getting speared in the eye by a sharp twig as I dived under the oak tree to pick up a heavy bit of wood. Now I have an eye full of blood and anti biotic drops and look as worst for wear as always!

After the meal last night I drove to the hospital and read a novel until someone had time to check it out which is how I managed to get the drops early this morning and miss out on most of the nights sleeping time. It is sore but not too bad and at least I was sensible enough to spear the white of my eye not the seeing bit.

Thank goodness Josh is home. He got his work into uni by the correct time, fitted in the ethno botanical conference with his Queensland university friends and is now giving us much needed help. Al should be home this week too. I have found pictures on face book of the completed pizza oven in Lao, and bread it has baked.

Simon has had yet another huge order for his beer but he also crashed the van trying to avoid a dog and is suffering from some ghastly throat complaint. Bo has her restaurant breaking all previous records and also looks about to drop. I am sure that Wayne will be in drama too but he has not seen fit to involve us at present. Our mob are going through tough times.

Monday, Monday

29.11.11

BUILDING NEWS

Mondays always seem totally hectic. Everyone turns up all ready to roll and we are flat out making sure they have everything they need. Today we had Andrew, Larry and Phillip working on the roof putting the bricks on the top of the parapet. Gary began laying the last of the pavers in the solar buffer zone and Ayden ran around being everyone’s labourer. The stonework is now complete and the feature wall is magnificent and even has rings hanging from chains to tie up prisoners (or plants).

Richard turned up to set things up for doing the internal render and we had special expensive sand delivered, white cement and more lime for him to work with. Steve came back and put up shelf brackets and strengthening ties in the ceiling woodwork and Edd (when he got the chance) put in more of the ventilation system. I grouted another section of floor and fenced it off with discarded wiring spools to try and stop everyone walking on it until it had a chance to set.

The ground has begun to dry out after the heavy rain at the weekend. Healesville was flooded again with River Street living up to its name. It was over 30 degrees today and the house walls dried up enough for Phillip to be able to do more waterproofing.

We have run out of the final coat and need to order more to complete the job. The ceiling plasterer said he would be here but has not shoed up yet and we are not complaining because we have not put in all the air tubes. We have ordered more pipe and it should arrive tomorrow so this can be done.

OTHER NEWS

If it is not freezing cold and pouring with rain the temperature shoots up and life in the donga becomes impossible. We are happy to keep working on the new house for totally over the top hours because it is already a better place to be than up here. The good news is that Josh arrived back from Perth safely having managed the journey in two and a half days.

The bad news is that he has to get some work in for uni tomorrow and so he is not exactly good company. Edd is pretty stressed out about the building too so I am living in one room with two stressed men. Luckily Josh has decamped to Bo’s place tonight so she can try and help him with his writing. He has done all the work but finds condensing what he has discovered into a written form almost impossible.

Bo also cooked us all dinner as she guessed that it would be too hot to eat here. I am extremely lucky to have such a kind, thoughtful, hard working daughter. Especially one who lives so close! Al is still away on holiday but I have found photos of him on facebook building pizza ovens!

more rain

26.11.11

BUILDING NEWS

Oh dear, it is pouring with rain again. The water is still getting down the chimney and there is still one leak at the flashing on the solar room roof. Josh’s donga is also leaking and his bed is wet but our donga is miraculously dry. I am so over rain. Frank is ready to bury the house, but we must have dry soil, so this will not be happening just yet. Maybe it will be dry enough on Thursday or Friday.

The stone on the chimneys looks great and we think we have enough stone left to complete the feature wall inside. Gary then plans to put the capping bricks on the parapet and pave the rest of the floor. I am getting better at grouting and am now working on the large kitchen living room. I have made the path across the room to get the stoves in and now I will work on the rest of that room as it is taking the most wear.

Edd spent yesterday doing the waterproofing on the wing walls. It takes him a long time with his sore hand. We wish Josh was here to help. He is on the journey back from Perth and is now somewhere uncontactable on the Nullarbor. I worry about him doing this long drive alone and will be much relieved when we can get him on his mobile again.

Sioux is coming tomorrow to plan her strategy for doing the rendering on the internal walls. Edd still has the air ducting to put in so this could be a busy weekend.

OTHER NEWS

Moira had dinner with us at Bo’s restaurant on Thursday night and told us how distressing interviewing some of the fire victims has become. The more the researchers look at what is happening the clearer it becomes that the problem does not just go away after three years. Some families are breaking up under the stresses and some people are still lacking any clear vision of how they should reconstruct their lives.

We know that the farm is in a total mess but at least we have a new home that is nearly ready to look forward to. How to tackle the other issues is harder. On Thursday we got a busload of kids that we were not expecting from the high school. We have enjoyed having the kids here but we need to do something that generates an income if we are ever to be able to put the rest of the farm right.

Actually it is amazing how much can be done with a tractor and slasher, but we really need to start soon before everywhere gets totally over grown. My garden is now smothered in weeds but like the farm I am having to ignore it in order to focus on getting the house built.

stone work

full speed ahead

24.11.11

BUILDING NEWS

Where on earth did this week go? I can’t believe that it is Friday tomorrow! We have had lots of workers this week. Gary arrived on Monday with a team of extra workers. I was happy to see that these included my friends younger son, Andrew, who I have know since he was a baby. He has done lots of work for us over the years but his main job is in landscape design so he is good with the stonework. The stone team also included Larry, who I have not met before and Andrews apprentice, Ayden.

Pat and helper came to work on the wiring and one of the plumbers worked with Edd yesterday trying to fix the solar panels, Trying being the operative word because the stands we were given in Dandenong last Saturday did not fit the panels. Even

Stevo came back to finish the wood framing he had put up and set places for the lights.
I carried on with my usual grouting but this was hard because all the workers brought their dogs to work with them. I am not happy about this but as I really like the work they are doing and want it done fast it is probably better not to make a fuss.

The stonework outside at the front is now complete and today everyone is up on the roof putting stone round the chimneys. They have also started a feature wall inside the solar buffer zone that looks fantastic. They decided to do the wall before paving the last floor section in case the stone messes up the pavers. I am now grouting a path from the to the kitchen back wall so that we can bring the stoves in.

Edd has now brought the air pipes and we need to get them up in the ceilings as soon as possible. The plasterers say they will be here Monday or possibly tomorrow and it needs to be done before they get here. The drainage cell to go outside also arrived yesterday so now all that is needed is a bit of waterproofing on the back of the wing walls and then we are ready to bury the house! Things really are moving fast now.

OTHER NEWS

Moira visited us again this week and interviewed me again as part of her fire trauma research project. I actually found it very hard this time. It is well over a year since we last did this and I have got used to the new shape of our life so that it is now our normal. I just do not have time to think about the past. As we get close to having a house again I do sometimes think of all the things we don’t have to put in it.

I miss silly things like a big smooth rock that lived by the door. It shattered in the fire to reveal that it was made of quartzite but we could not tell this before as it had been polished in the creek until it glistened. How sad also that all the artwork I had done over my lifetime is gone and of course I will miss the amazing antique furniture my family in the UK gave us.

a dip into colour

19.11.11

BUILDING NEWS

Saturday has come round very fast this week. It is a wet day so we are planning to go down to Dandenong and pick up the rest of the water system from Pivot. I have fed the animals and done the milking but Edd is still not back from the market.

Yesterday got quite hot but I was able to start grouting at by the front entrance. We need to have a path grouted from the door to the kitchen so that we can bring the heavy stoves in without damaging the pavers. I have still a bit of a way to go on this project!

One uplifting thing was that the rug I had ordered on line arrived and we like it. I have found a wonderful web site with an endless supply of rugs from antique Persian to kids Disney. They seemed so cheap that I was a bit dubious so I waited until one came on sale that I fancied and tested them out. Rather to my surprise the delivery was prompt and the rug amazing! The temptation for more adventurous buys increases. At least I have a start to planning the colours in the living room now.

Colours are one of my great loves. I dream about wool shops with every colour combination imaginable and get very excited when I find new combinations that please me. The challenge now is to paint a picture that will go with my rug. In reality I had better just keep building. There is still a lot to do and we need to keep at it if we are to get to a non-building stage.

After three years of effort to rebuild the house shed and fences we have forgotten what a different life was like. We are sore, exhausted and just long to be able to relax and think about something else.

OTHER NEWS

It was 37 degrees in here again last night but Peter and Thea came over and we cooked a BBQ tea in the ruins. It all worked out well because the storm did not come in until our meal was over and then it brought cooler weather so we got a good night’s sleep.

I am very excited because Josh is heading home from Perth next week. We have really missed him and his plants need some attention. I try my best with his collection of orchids and cacti but they do need more TLC as the weather heats up.

We have strawberries fruiting large delicious fruit in the big pots and India picket a large bucket of mulberries on Friday. Our grape fruit are huge this year with all the rain and the peaches apples and plums are forming. The loquats seem to be having a low production year but they are badly fire damaged so probably need their energy for survival. The old oak tree by the house is looking much healthier and has grown new branches to replace the old burnt ones that are gradually falling off.

Bo has started writing songs and singing with her guitar again. We are all thrilled and love her work. I do prefer that sort of music to most opera though I admit that some duets can be very beautiful.

pass the buck day

16.11.11

BUILDING NEWS

This week is crazy. We have so much going on that it is hard getting my head round it. Gary is amazing. He just keeps working at a steady pace and lets everything else flow around him. He now has a helper and together they are hammering the sandstone into shape and slowly disappearing the concrete blocks. Edd is totally thrilled. He thinks it looks exactly as he wanted.

I am more interested in what is going on inside the house where the plumbing and wiring is also being done. The termite barrier guy apologised for the barrier falling off and he is back today reapplying the orange stuff. Edd and Craig are trying to organise the drainage cell that forms the layer over the termite stuff. I just carry on with the grouting. It is quite a nice job because it is cool and fresh in the house. The builders complain our donga is too hot at lunchtime! It is not even 30 degrees then so we think this is odd.

By evening today the back of the house was once again orange with termite protection and the basics of the hydronic system are plumbed in and tested. The head tank is now in one of the chimneys and the skinny plumber was inserted into the chimney to get all the pipes through the bond deck. Pat has wires looped everywhere and some walls have socket fittings in place.

OTHER NEWS

Yesterday there were two more agendas going on as well as the building. David H came over and built made two new above ground vegetable beds and goat keepers from North of us and South of us met here so we could exchange buck kids. I was rather worried about the latter.

My farm management is not at its peak this year whilst we have been concentrating on the house building. The goats are looking reasonably fat and healthy and have their feet trimmed but our fences and sheds are very make shift with baler twine being a prominent feature! We have brought bucks from both couples before and I was worried that they would not think our set up was up to scratch.

The Banjo, the Pinerock buck kid that was brought down for us is a lovely little boy. He has been shown and won ribbons so we are very lucky to have him. He is white but is not from Saanen parents so he could throw any colour kids. Whilst the buck swap was occurring David managed to sort out the grow beds so I now have the basis of a big new area to grow food which is fantastic.

We thought yesterday was pretty full on, but it was even more so today when another group from Eaton came to do volunteer work. We had a very messy area behind Josh’s donga that was full of fallen trees, wire, and a tangle of weeds and long grass.

By tonight these wonderful people had the area all cleared and everything sorted. The trees are sawn up and added to woodpiles. The wire is back on the old concrete brewery floor and the rubbish is down on the burning pile. I feel much happier now about snakes who have just lost their hiding places.

life is one long build

13.11.11

Sunday and we are back building again. Stevo is here and I am just about ready to start the day’s grouting session. Strangely my knees are fine but my hands are wearing out fast. A storm is gathering and I have had to waste time getting in the barley we were drying in the sun and hanging out the washing in the hope it dries before the rain arrives.

Steve says he will help me build the funny shaped bathroom which is fantastic. At present it is all pre-plastering work. None of us can agree on when the plasterers said they would start. Stevo and I are worried it might be this week but Edd thinks the following one. The wall rendering definitely could start next week so I am working on relevant floors.

12.11.2011

BUILDING NEWS

It is Saturday, but work continues. I am grouting the bathroom floor and Edd and Stevo have put the flashing on the back of the solar zone roof. The idea is to get everything ready so that the ceilings can be plastered. Also with this dead line in mind we had an invasion of plumbers and electricians at the end of last week. Everything looks very messy but there is hope that order will emerge once these tasks are complete.

I am still on the search for suitable lights and that sort of thing. I had a hot tiring day looking at shops last week without much to show for my efforts. My big purchase boiled down to two cushions and a tea towel! This is part of my research into suitable colours. The other good thing was that I saw tables in a café that are like the one we have ordered for the kitchen and I really thought they looked good.

We also had the termite barrier put up but it was not done with much thought and some of it washed off when evening came and we had a storm.

OTHER NEWS

I am still struggling to treat goat’s feet problems. Edd used to do feet but his broken hand made this impossible so I have had to take over. I am slowly winning and now only two still have problems. I really need to get the horses in and have their feet done again. This wet year has caused their feet to grow fast too. I am finding that a rasp is easier to use on the goats than the clippers. I see on the net that some people use an angle grinder. On the other hand the goats are now looking well fed and glossy. They shed their winter coats fairly early this year.

The mulberry trees are covered with fruit but sadly I have no time to make jam. I am spending every day from 8 in the morning to 6 at night working on our new house. Then I have to come in and cook tea before doing the milking and even feeds. We are too tired when we eventually get to bed even to read books.

Thunderstorm stops work

8.11.2011

BUILDING NEWS

We woke today to a thunderstorm and heavy rain. It even managed to get into the toilet and make the seat damp. Not a good way to start any day! On the positive side all our builders stayed somewhere better and we had a chance to go out and tackle all the issues that we have been ignoring.

Yesterday was completely different with sunshine and heat and we worked on the house from 8am to nearly 8pm. I managed to grout the laundry floor and Gary continued with the stonework. Edd organised the next stage of the build. The termite layer people could come this week and the earth covering could go on next week.

With this organised Edd had to get back onto his task of waterproofing the front and wing walls. He has taken the plaster off his right hand but he is finding that he gets very sore and he is not working very fast. The floor rendering is not doing my hands much good either. In other words we were glad of an excuse to do something different today.

Tom has gone off to buy the recycled wood to make the kitchen and we have spoken to our friends at the stone place and started the process of getting our granite bench tops. Pat thinks he might come tomorrow to work on the electricity and Edd has to chase up Craig about buying draining cell. This all adds up to making a lot of things that should all get done fast.

OTHER NEWS

Christmas is coming. Panic, panic panic ! Today our odd shopping trip included buying cloth to hide the trestle tables for the Xmas feast and some decorations. We also collected barley from Simon’s brewery and took produce into Bo’s restaurant. We also found some stainless steel tube in Pete’s bargain centre that would do to hang pans on too, but it was too long to fit into the car.

The man who has the air tubes was once again unavailable but we checked up on the steel works where they are making our chimney covers. This is a great place. They let me raid their waste metal bin.

One hour was wasted in the hospital waiting to get Edd’s hand injury checked. The wait was actually our fault as Edd had got the wrong day. The girls in the hand clinic bent over backwards to fit him in. They do tell him he is doing all the wrong things but they tell him nicely. Rather belatedly we found time to get some food.

It is getting sort of tropical. Steamy, hot and damp with plants growing wildly and very green. My poor garden has been neglected and is disappearing under all the weeds. We had planned a workday there today but the weather won.

full on action

6.11.11

BUILDING NEWS

This week has been crazy. There were so many trades’ men in the house that I could not get to the floor to do any grouting until Saturday. Pat has started roughing in the electricity system, Dion has been finishing his roof and Gary has started the stonework. Edd and Steve are back on carpentry doing the bits that are needed for the electrical and plumbing work.

We are thrilled with the stonework, the pale gold of the sand stone gives the right contrast with the other materials and is not too overpowering. We are so lucky having Gary around to put it up for us. I am also excited about the chimney for the kitchen exhaust that is Steve is doing. We have studied Google images and are building our own interpretation of ones we like.

I am having less luck with light fittings. Once again the only ones I like cost nearly $500.00 each! I need to go on a search mission to see if I can find anything useful for a cheap replica. I can see that hanging metal baskets and cooking basins up side down with holes drilled might work if we could find the right ones.

OTHER NEWS

Our poor sick lamb died yesterday but I think I now know what was wrong. The land here is deficient in selenium and the lambs symptoms align exactly with white muscle disease that a lack of selenium causes. We always have the right salt licks for our stock and have not seen any problems for about 25 years. I think there is a link with high rainfall but I have not had time to research this yet. It is a pity the vet did not make the connection when we took the lamb in, because he might have been saved with the right treatment at that point.

I will now need to look at all the other animals and find out if we need to do anything for them. Long ago we gave our horses injections as it helped them when their hoofs were soft so there may even be a link between the feet problems people are having this year. It certainly accounts for animals being weak at birth.

31.10.11

BUILDING NEWS

Edd and Dion have spent the day working on the roof. They are just finishing off the two cantilever ends now. I started to dig out a hole in the solar zone to sink a planter box into. It is hard going and I am having lots of breaks to do other things. It is still too wet for grouting so I am leaving that at the moment.

Chris L delivered the laundry system that I had brought second hand. He has a taxi truck service that I frequently need for large purchases and this was certainly one. The difficult bit is going to be getting into the laundry it is so large and awkward.

OTHER NEWS

We had a great party at Bo's last night. Everyone brought food so there was a feast. Al came in with Pia and told us that he had been sailing in high winds. He had managed to cope with the situation but found odd turns were needed to avoid capsizing.
India is coming to stay tonight and we are all planning some sort of do for cup day.

time to relax

30.10.11

BUILDING NEWS

It is raining yet again. This time I am actually rather glad. It has given Edd and I the chance of a rare days relaxation. Last Friday, completely to our surprise the waterproof mob turned up and completed their work and the first truckload of sand stone arrived for the cladding. Dion and Edd could not put up any more roofing iron because it was blowing an almighty gale. Dion sat on his roof and added more screws. This seemed a totally appropriate approach top the conditions. I am so glad the big gum tree has gone.

Unsecured stuff all blew everywhere. All the bin lids in the shed set off for a holiday but they fortunately avoided crashing into our cars as they exited. The swing seat blew over and ended up twisted over the ruin’s back wall. The stone deliveryman had come a day early because like us he was aware that the wind was bringing in more rain. He had the longest truck we have had here so far because he had a forklift on the back. He helped us by shifting the out door paver pallets that were too close to the building.

Al came on Saturday. This was good because I wanted to discuss the lights and other such stuff. We have ordered the kitchen benches but I was still not sure about whether a table or an island bench would be best to complete the area. I realised that we needed to be clear about this so we could place the light fittings correctly.

With Al’s help and some chalk marks on the floor we agrees on a correct position and size but what of the height? When Al showed me some suggested designs I saw that it was possible to make a piece of furniture that could be raised or lowered to the desired height Nothing like keeping your options open.

OTHER NEWS

The poor animals are once again hating the shifts in temperature. The sick lamb is a lot better but the goats are moulting and have no protection. Edd and I have put the donga heater on again and shut the windows. Opening or shutting windows is an effort. They have to be opened from outside and are often too stiff for me to work.

Tonight we have a party at Bo’s place for Simon’s birthday. Recently I discovered that I still had Lady Mary’s recipe for Anchovy biscuits so I have made some for the party. I think I will add less anchovies next time but two tins were stated and as my anchovies were in a huge glass jar I just had to guess the amount.

I am disadvantaged by having lost all my recipe books in the fires. I had collected recipes from relatives and friends for years and carefully preserved them. I mostly cook by seeing what food I can find in the garden and using the herbs and spices to hand but just sometime I like to remember the past. Talking of which, Bo has suggested we do a repeat of our first Xmas meal here. We ate crayfish and Stilton by fire light under our old shed roof and watched the full moon rise over Hargreaves Hill. We had not yet built the old house and were sort of camping out on the land here. This might be a really lovely way to start life in our new home.

at last roofing starts

26.10.11

BUILDING NEWS

Dry weather and the first sheets of roofing iron have gone up on the solar buffer zone. Amazing! Edd and Dion worked first to put up fencing wire, then insulation and finally the iron itself. The fencing wire supports the air cell insulation, which would sag without it.

Gary did half a day on the floor but then had to leave. Once again we had school kids. They moved the last of the gum tree logs. So now that area is ready and the trench for the services can go in.

I have been researching light bulbs because I know that the electricians are soon going to ask all sorts of questions about the fittings. I think I will get LED globes that fit in standard pendant light fittings that go inside lampshades. These bulbs are horrendously expensive at present, but they seem the most ecologically sound option as they are low energy and free of toxins.

So far I have not found a picture of the hanging unit I want over the island bench in the kitchen. I want a rack that I can hang my pans from and that has lights and a power socket that can be lowered when needed. As usual I decide on something that no one else has heard of and have to start from scratch. I see myself as finding practical solutions but I am aware that I must seem just plain difficult to everyone else!

An interesting point is that the house is already keeping a more stable internal temperature than the donga we are living in. On hot days it is like a cool cave and when the temperature drops you can feel residual warmth coming out of the walls.

OTHER NEWS

The lamb we are bottle-feeding got sick this week. Edd took him to the vet and she thinks he might have pneumonia (which was what I thought). He is now on antibiotics but still very sick. The sudden temperature changes we are having might be causing the problem but I suspect some other factor that we have not thought of as well.

We have now treated all the young female goats for worms as well as the skinny elder goats. I cannot treat them all because we cannot drink the milk from those we worm for several weeks. There is a different drench that can be used but it is not being very effective this year.

The school kids have raked out all the sand by the pool and I have planned a layout for my new raised veggie beds. Edd has gone to the hospital this after noon for a check up on his hand. I hope it is better soon because I need his help with the bed building. I am totally hopeless at woodwork.

Do we have gutters?

23.10.11

BUILDING NEWS

It is Sunday and Stevo and Edd are working hard trying to put up the gutters before the next rain strikes. They had planned to do this work yesterday but it rained all day and in the evening we had a thunderstorm and very heavy rain. We are definitely over rain and wondering why we ever complained about the thirteen-year drought!

I have been sent off to by gutter silicone but I also called in at a local bargain centre and found a second hand commercial sink unit that will suit our laundry. It is slightly smaller than the space but we can adapt it. It has three enormous sinks that would be ideal for beer making or washing big stuff like blankets and animals.

My other good find was a picture of the type of toilet door I want. I have a good site on the Internet called ‘one of a kind’, or something like that and it has loads of photos of buildings inside and out that are different. I did not think anyone else had a door like I wanted but I was wrong and there was a photo of exactly what I tried to explain to Stevo and Edd.

At the bargain centre I also brought two second hand lead light lampshades. That sorts out two rooms. Edd and I can never decide about light fittings, mainly because anything we really like costs a fortune. These were very cheap and will put off the problem for years.

The kitchen building man is coming on Monday. We also have more school students and possibly Al. Lets us pray for dry weather.

OTHER NEWS

Dot is bagging up and getting ready to kid. Unfortunately her new owners have found it impossible to get ready for her and now she will have to stay until after the birth at least as it is too late for her to have the upset of travel and relocation. Not to worry, she is always an asset to have around.

My family is muddling on. Josh slept for a day and a half after all the stress his uni put him through but luckily he has woken up still prepared to keep trying. I wish he was still studying at James Cook University. There they put in an enormous effort to get the best out comes and put the students first. It seems to be different in WA and the distance means that he is not able to come home much.

When he went to JC the study allowance we gave him (equal to the government allowance), was enough to pay for board at the university so at least he did not have to cook, clean and shop as well as everything else. In WA the university accommodation is too expensive so the whole exercise is much harder. The trouble is that all the universities say wonderful things about themselves but it is not until you get there that the real story emerges.



20.10.11

BUILDING NEWS

Rain so all work stops. Actually a break was needed badly. Edd has been on the phone all morning working on organisation and he has now gone off to collect materials. Two of the gutter pieces, had to be redesigned. When Edd and Stevo put up what they had thought was needed, the fall towards the gutter pop was not enough.

Gary has completed all the internal floors and is now in a rain-affected area under the non-existent roof. We were hoping it would be up by now but our mistake over the gutters has caused yet another delay. We have had our usual Friday check up on the progress of our stone and as far as we can make out it is still being split.

Edd has found a plasterer who could start in approx three weeks and the waterproof mob are still talking. The net conclusion is that we are not getting things done on schedule. Or anywhere near what we had planned. At least Al has found someone who says they can make and install the kitchen by Xmas.

OTHER NEWS

Things other than our build range from black to white. On the positive side a local school has supplied us with young people all week and they have worked miracles. We have now completely cleaned out the cellar and sorted and cleaned all the stuff that was dumped in it. Today we got all the camping gear, sports equipment, spare furniture and clothes up the ladder into the storage area above Edd’s tool shed.

All this is a big step forward. The cellar had not been cleaned out since before the fires. After the fires it was the one place left to put everything and was heavily used. It was, offcourse filled with the smoke fumes and dust but we managed to ignore this.

Moving everything was a heavy dirty job and I just did not feel I could tackle it on my own.
Now that the cellar is empty we can wash it out, reseal it, and raise the floor a bit to avoid future flooding. The only reason we were able to save anything we owned was because it provided a safe spot so I am really happy now that it can be reclaimed.

On the negative side we are really worried about most of our family who are totally stressed and having a bad time. They are all working incredibly hard and yet not really managing to get their situation into calmer waters. I am not sure if this is just us, or part of a more general problem. Certainly all the men who are helping us build are going through similar stresses.

Chris is back today sawing up the big tree trunk. Yesterday morning we were woken up by strong winds rocking the donga and sending tree limbs flying. I was so relieved that the big gum was no longer a problem. Dead branches from the oak tree blew everywhere but it is not hanging over a main pathway.

everything going wrong

19.10.11
BUILDING NEWS

The water proofing mob were not sent all the stuff they ordered from Sydney so there is yet another delay. BUT, Dion has been here this morning and put the missing bolts into the roof structure. Edd and Steve are now doing the gutters and then maybe, the roof will finally go on.

Gary is soldiering on alone with the paving and is now working his way down the solar buffer zone, front section of the house. My back is very sore after helping to hold up the AC sheets yesterday. My left hand is weak and can hardly pick up a piece of paper so I find handling weights at heights on a scaffold hard. Basically, I am exhausted, I think Edd is too.

OTHER NEWS

Today I was meant to have four students from the Catholic school here for Christian weak. I drove to Yarra Glen to collect them but they failed to show up. Luckily I had anticipated that this situation could happen so I had organised numbers to phone to contact the school.

When I got home one student had arrives because he had been driven up by his parents, so we started to clean out the cellar. This poor young man worked really hard all day with me. I tried to make things a bit more acceptable by teaching him how to drive the ride on mower and use it to cart the contents of the cellar to new locations.

Nothing has gone well today and we also have Josh in difficulties in Perth. The way Josh has been treated by his university supervisor seems absolutely unacceptable even allowing for any thing Josh might or might not have done. The last thing we need is a new battle but sometimes sticking up for ones rights is essential.

18.10.2011

BUILDING NEWS

We have finally got all the AC sheets up under the eaves. It was harder this week because we have lost Toby! He and Gary are on opposing sides in a family issue and he told us it was better if he did not come at the moment. This has also slowed down the paving because Gary is now working alone.

Yesterday was a perfect day with no wind and Chris came with two mates to take down the big gum. He said that the big branch over hanging the swing was just dust inside! It is very sad now it has gone. I have already forgotten how it looked in it’s dying form and only remember the magnificent tree that it was before the fires. It is a bit like my feelings about people.

Once they have died you can remember what they were like at their best.
We will now be able to dig the power and water in safely and when that is all over I can replant with trees again. This time I will not put anything that grows to such height next to the power lines! This might be soon too. The water proof mob tell us that they may be able to complete the job tomorrow and then we can get organised for the back fill and burying the whole building, that really would be a big step forward.

OTHER NEW

The animals are looking a lot happier now the weather has improved. My teenage goats are filling out a bit and we have let the sheep and lambs into the old hay paddock where they have fresh grass. Tomorrow I have some school kids coming so I have to prepare work for them. I have decided that with the weather like this we can clean out the cellar.

Tired

14.10.2011
BUILDING NEWS

Thank goodness it is Friday. We are all exhausted. Steve is putting up the AC sheets under the eves and the cantilevered end is very difficult. Today we had Toby Steve and myself up on the scaffold and Edd balancing on the top of a ladder, all trying to get a sheet fitted and into place. Good thing we are not affected by heights!

My hands feel like paws after all the grouting work. I try to do at least a square metre a day. This is slow progress but I am getting better at it. Toby’s main job today is to carry buckets of concrete and do the last bit of core filling on the wing walls. We all agree that for a young chap, Toby is exceptionally good-natured and hard working. A result of this is that he has become everybody’s dog’s body and is continually pulled off one task to help with another.

By the end of the day the lining to the eaves is up on two sides of the roof and there is only the third side, another over hang one to go. Once this is done the gutters can go up and then the roof!!! The plumbers disappeared again but they sorted out all the issues when they were here earlier in the week so we can all keep going with out them now.

We have been sent photos of the stone, which is being split, for us. It looks like a long job to me. People say we should put the stone in before the glass. I suppose it might be a good idea. I am still crawling round in the back passage with grout and there is still lots to do.

OTHER NEW

A tragedy. One of the moorit ewes lambs was dead this morning. It was still warm when I found it and there was no sign of anything wrong. A sort of cot death happening. I have also got three large goats scouring. They have probably eaten too much in the way of spring greens but I have wormed them just in case and kept them in the yard eating hay. They are not at all happy about this. It has been an extremely difficult year for animal health. The continual rain and extreme swings in temperature do not help at all.

The grass is certainly growing like mad now. I mowed down all the pathways today because it is now warm enough for the snakes to come out. I did not see any snakes but an enormous fox walked out right in front of me by the old house ruins. I expect it is after all the rabbits that live there.

Josh rang up from Perth last night to debrief about a young child he had to test. He found that the kid had very little hearing and this had not been picked up until he was almost school age. Josh was very worried about him. Josh is nearly at the end of his Audiology course and we are looking forward to him coming home for Xmas soon.

a difficult birth

12.10.2011

BUILDING NEWS

A small army of workers showed up today when a team of plumbers joined the usual mob. Plumbers arrive unannounced as usual but luckily Steve had most of the hot water cylinder support up so we were all able to raise it into position. We have been told that tomorrow they will add water and test their system for leaks, but where will the water come from?

Gary and Toby have almost completed the big room floor and Stevo and Edd spent the afternoon working on a system to suspend AC sheet under the large eaves. Edd has to keep explaining that he only has one hand, but basically he is managing remarkably well. I could not get at the floor top do any grouting so I occupied myself by painting the AC sheets.

We are waiting for things to dry out again for the waterproof gang. We really need them to complete their work so that we can fill in behind the house before putting water and electricity in. Pat came yesterday to do some power down the walls under the outside roof but we need the gutters up before Dion comes back to put the corrugated roofing in place.

Chris our local tree doctor came out to inspect the last of the big blue gums. It was burnt in the fire but we trimmed off some dead branches and waited to see if it would recover. Last time we had a strong wind it really scared me showering dead limbs over the path and the power line. I then looked closer and saw that it was dying. It is an awfully big tree to die in such an inconvenient location.

Chris agrees that it will not recover so we need to deal with it before we dig the power lines in over it’s roots. There is, offcourse, no “we” in this operation. I leave the whole procedure to Chris and try not to watch. He dangles at horrible heights with a chain saw in what looks like a totally suicidal scenario.

OTHER NEW

The old moorit sheep and her two lambs are recovering well and I will be able to release them back to the paddock soon. The ewe lambed earlier in the week but the second lamb was presented wrong and got stuck. Luckily I was able to catch her and in a rather unorthodox procedure I was able to hold onto her tail with one hand to stop her running away, and grope up her back side with the other hand until I found the front legs and could hook them forward and deliver the lamb. I had thought it might be dead already, but I was wrong and it has recovered well with out intervention.

I did find a little time this week for the garden and planted out more lettuce seedlings. I should really have snow peas in and all the other spring crops but there is nowhere rabbit proof for them to go yet. I must get the basil in somewhere; I can’t imagine a summer with out pesto!

Time is going too fast

10.10.2011

Monday morning saw us all back at work on the house. Gary and Toby laying pavers, me grouting them, Stevo building a support cupboard for the hot water tank and Edd still trying to sort out his roof. Stevo came over on Sunday and he and Edd planned to do the gutters then but the weather was so wet and the house site was flooded so we all went out to lunch at Bo’s restaurant instead!

We are at a funny stage where we are doing some of the internal fittings despite the fact that we are not at lock up stage and all the rain and weather still blow right in. If we wait until the roof is done we will be so behind that we will run into Xmas and everyone we need will disappear.

Al has done the kitchen plans and sent them out for quotes. Steve says he can do it if all else fails but he has a lot of other work to do so I don not want to hold that up. The stone people have the stone but it is not quite what was ordered and they are having to break it into smaller pieces. Edd and Gary would like to go and look but there never seems enough time.

Even I have too much to do. The grouting is a very long job and needs to be done so that the plumbing bits can go in. Also the walls need rendering behind radiators etc. but I have not even started that yet. Edd is being very brave and doing as much as possible, (probably far more than is sensible), but still, with a splinted right hand some things are impossible.

OTHER NEWS

Edd can now drive my car so he took the produce to market on Saturday. I did the animals so that in the afternoon we were able to join the family up at sugar loaf dam. Al was on duty so I joined him in the rescue boat and Edd stayed on shore and talked to Bo. The three young boys entered their first race but they got in the wrong position and the wind dropped so we had to tow them back to the ramp. Not a good start to competing! I hope it does not put them off.

Simon joined us later and also went out but the wind had improved by then. He is off interstate this week to try and buy more beer vats. He has some very big orders and needs the capacity to brew ten times a week instead of three. Mean while he was serving in the restaurant in an apron when we went in. No one could ever say he is not a worker!

Al's X is also working at the restaurant; helping with the cooking. She is trying really hard to earn enough money to pay the mortgage on the house so she can keep it. We are all a bit worried that it will be too much for her, but she is really trying.

6.10.2011

BUILDING NEWS

Rather to our surprise the plumbing team turned up today and started putting the pipe lines in the ceilings. We were expecting the waterproof guys but they could not find a generator so that was off. This was a shame because it was a good day for that work and the building was dry.

Gary and Toby are working steadily and the floors are getting paved. The designs are a sort of compromise between their practicalities and my ideas but we are getting better at working together. They hate the way I do the grouting but there is method in my madness and I am the one who will be cleaning the floors!

Dion did not come but Edd got up on the scaffold and started cutting the cement sheets that go under the eaves. We both are rather amazed at how neatly it goes together. Our biggest problem is that with day light saving we are working until we are exhausted each night.