bye bye old wire

30.8.2011

BUILDING NEWS

On the surface nothing much is happening but the roof for the solar room is being made off site and we are getting organised for waterproofing. The materials for doing the above ground waterproofing were delivered yesterday and I have nearly cleaned off all the floors ready for work.

Today Edd and I measured up around the back of the house for the insulation layer that has to fit a meter and a half away from the concrete walls. This is in polystyrene slabs and has now to be ordered. The stone is ordered and we have begun to organise the termite layer. Unfortunately it has to be done by a special person so we can get it signed off properly.

Gary, who was due to start the pavers this week, has not contacted us yet and Steve cannot start the wood work until at least next week. He and Edd looked at the job again at the weekend and agreed on what wood to get in. Steve does not want to work with Gary there, but as neither Gary nor Stevo are ever accurate about when they can come, it will have to be a matter of who arrives on site first.

This afternoon we have been trying to design the curve for the ceilings in the main room. We got coloured chalk and drew several different curves on the floor until we agreed on a shape. The next stage is to make a template and draw it on the walls to see if it still looks good in the right position. Even with out workers here we have all to work all day sorting out building work.

OTHER NEWS

Al has prevailed and Arden, minus some of the offending hair, is back at school. He seems to have worked through the consequences of his actions and taken the intelligent option. We all heave a collective sigh of relief. I think Al has had less luck with the phone.

Last week we made huge strides forward because Eaton sent out another team of workers and an enormous skip so that they could move all the old wire and metal rubbish by the gate. When the team arrived I was worried that there were only two men and three women and that it might be too much work for them. I am not quite sure how they managed it but the job got done perfectly. We even found time to stop and watch a goat giving birth and have a BBQ lunch in the ruins. It is wonderful now that all the signs of the fire are gradually disappearing. I was worried that I would be stuck with that huge pile of waste at my front gate for years!

My foot is still sore which is a terrible nuisance.It has now changed from all over black /blue to dirty yellow colour but at least some of the swelling has gone down. Edd has to do all the walking farm work but I can still feed babies and do the milking. I have now moved the first eight kids away from their mothers and am teaching them to drink from bottles. Once they get this bit we can get them using a communal feeder and the whole job gets easy.

Today started with drama when Edd found an abandoned lamb in the paddock that was dying from hypothermia. He brought it in and I filled the sink with warm water and began the process of trying to warm it up. I can tell the core temperature by putting my finger in the mouth and this one was as bad as could be. It took all morning to raise its body heat back to normal but we got there before it died and it has even been able to stand and suck. It is now resting between feeds in a laundry basket. Survival is far from guaranteed yet, but there is hope. Luckily a goat kidded the day before and we have fresh colostrum handy.

This is my busiest time of the year on the farm and with everyday building concerns it is hard to keep the housework, meals and accounts up to date. I had to go to the shops last week but I leant heavily on shopping trolleys and managed somehow. Yesterday I made the first cheese for the year and baked more bread.

I am not up to date with my letter writing and I forgot to say happy birthday to Wayne yesterday for which I feel dreadful. Luckily Wayne is not taking offence. I still have not got Bo a birthday present either, so perhaps we can gather up a team and have a combined celebration.