26.2.2012
BUILDING NEWS
We have been struggling through a very hot, dry period but last night we had mega rain and water is all the wrong places. The ground had turned to bull dust outside the front door of the new house but now it is a thick claggy mess of yellow clay. We desperately need Gary to pave us a court yard before winter.
Luckily when the electricians arrived today they unloaded their gear and then changed their shoes for working in the house.
Also, luckily no one else wanted to work here today. The earth moving crew were coming to clear away the earth for the plumbers to put in the reed bed and had agreed to take the septic tank out of it’s hole again. They came here early but took one look and went off again.
So, today’s achievement was getting the wall power sockets put on and some of the light fittings in place. I went off and brought extra fittings that were needed and one hanging light. Edd is now assembling the others from odd bits I have collected. He is not happy. Actually it has been pretty hard to be happy today.
OTHER NEWS
Edd and I called up the sheep on late on Friday evening and made them a pen in the shed for the night. The chance of rain was basically nil but as usual Bill arrived at first light on Saturday and the sheep had to be dry and ready to shear. It all went with out a hitch and afterwards we felt a great sense of relief. It feels awful when you know that animals need care and are being pushed down to a low priority.
No one felt like getting up and working before 6 am after a heavy week building but we all felt better afterwards. I just hope the sheep feel better too. They certainly look better. They are all fat and louse free and their wool was in unexpectedly good shape after being left for two extra months. We also wanted to have help from Josh and he is due to leave soon so it was now or never.
Edd and I ate out for three nights because it was over 40 degrees in the donga and we were too tired to cope. Now it is wet and humid but at least I do not have to rush round watering trees and vegetables. Yesterday I made the first feta of the year and today I am trying to do lemon cheese. I did an autumn clean on the dairy so that I had a clean space and I really need a similar approach to the donga. Edd is making lights in here and Josh is sorting out all his stuff for Perth and the space left is inadequate for cooking.
We saw all our kids and their families at the weekend but at present they are coping with worse problems than we are, so no one feels in much of a party mode. Our political leaders are attacking each other and fighting to be top dog and it is better not to listen to the news if one wants to avoid depression. I should be getting really enthusiastic about how close we are to moving in to our new house but it just does not feel real yet.
24.2.2012
BUILDING NEWS
One step forward two steps back seems to be the order of the day. The septic tank was delivered today and lowered into it’s hole but then the plumbers discovered it was not down deep enough so now we have to pump out the water it is filled with and get another machine here and lift it out again! All in all the plumbers did not achieve much today.
22.2.12
BUILDING NEWS
The plumbers arrived very early this morning but there is no septic tank to put into the hole they dug yet, and they have decided we need to move a pile of earth before they can get access to the place that is best for the reed bed. All that considered they went off again but they did promise to come back and put the stoves in tomorrow. We actually got a toilet put in yesterday but it is not much use with out drains.
Steve is building the wooden liners for the snug seats. He has almost done all he needs to do in the bathroom so that will only leave the linen press for him to make. He is very patient as I try to explain the things I want him to make. It took us about half an hour to work out how the benches went this morning. In the pictures they look deceptively simple.
David H is coming once a week and slowly sanding and oiling the doorframes. Edd is working on the vanity tops, and Josh has put the first coat of waterproofing on the parapet. I have painted two ceilings completely and put a first layer of topcoat in the hall and outside bedroom. In these areas I can work from the scaffolding, which is much easier on my neck, but involves a lot of climbing up and down the scaffold poles.
The furniture is now stored in the guest bedroom. Everything is completed there apart from the electrical fittings. I scoured the pavers clean and put on two layers of sealing stuff. For a few glorious hours the floor looked really smart and clean but then everyone walked dust and lime over the floor and now it looks scruffy again.
OTHER NEWS
I am so lucky. Tonight I watched a mob of about thirty kangaroos bounce across Hargreaves Hill as I milked the goats. The sunset, and the stars began to be visible. Orion an old friend known during my English childhood fills the sky to the northeast and the Southern Cross now gives us direction instead of the plough and the North Star. It was a still, mild, evening and the darkness crept gently over our valley. I would hate to live anywhere else.
Autumn is coming. The apples are ripe and the agapanthus fading. The ginger lilies still bloom next to the Canna lilies but the sedum, “autumn something or other” has blooms turning from green to dusty pink. We are deluged by zucchinis and tomatoes but we can eat all the cucumbers. The pumpkins are swelling quite large now and the herbs are flowering and past their best.
I have brought a large bucket of honey from a local beekeeper. It is cold extracted and I hope it will crystallise, as it gets older. We have almost got to the stage of having a larder again so I can get in stores of rice and flour in a more normal way this year. It is also time to wean the young goats and if I get time I should have enough milk to make feta cheese.
I am determined to get into our new house for winter. I look forward to sitting by a fire in the winter evenings and having the wood stove lit to bake the bread. I will be spoilt having so much kitchen space. The donga has almost no preparation space and it is almost impossible to prepare a meal without something getting knocked to the floor.
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