hot weather at last

24.1.2012

BUILDING NEWS

Richard has now done the walls in the snug and smoothed render around the fireplace. Today he started on the final two bedrooms. Edd has now put up two doorframes and is getting more confident about making them. I am still working on the floors, so no exciting news there.

What is exciting is seeing how well the house controls its own temperature. Today was the sort of scorching day that kills plants in large numbers but even with doors open the house stayed at 25 degrees. Our donga thermometer measured 40 degrees this evening so Edd and I ate out at Beth’s restaurant!

Edd has been on the phone trying to get the build moving again. He has contacted the scoria people and they are now grinding the stuff again. It might arrive tomorrow! He has also talked to Charlie about connecting the power and the Telstra people about the phone. The next trade we need on the ready is the plumber.

It is an odd sort of build because by the time we get to lock up stage almost everything will be done. We have extended the building insurance for four months, which we hope is the maximum time we could take. Famous last words?

OTHER NEWS

I had to drive to town today because we were out of milk bottles. I usually have to wait ages for my order but today I was the only customer and I was in and out in a flash. My next stop was Ikea. Alvyn has taken time out of his holiday and sprayed the weeds we needed treating in NSW so I wanted to get him something as a thank you. Wayne helped us get the equipment he needed and together these two have managed to take a lot of stress off us. In NSW you get harassed and fined for having weeds and rabbits.

I picked our first cucumber tonight. I was very late getting them in but they have grown well. The tomatoes are also doing well this year and now we can add blackberries to the morning straw berry meal. I have started work on the next beds but I need to find the staple gun. It is somewhere in Edd’s shed but so far remains hidden.

The old pool is such a blessing. It is battered, burnt and patched but still wonderful for cooling off. Beth and her three kids have been over almost every day for a swim. Edd is not into swimming but I am trying to get him to have a day off this week and go to the sea. He does dip in the sea.