thunder and possible lighting

15.3.2012

BUILDING NEWS

The topsoil is now on the roof and the water, gas and electricity cables all buried. I really hope that we can get all the services working soon. I have begun bagging the storage area walls and so far I have done the laundry and the changing room. Bagging is an odd word because no bags are involved. I just make up a slurry of render and wipe it onto the walls with the end of a house brush. It sticks well on the concrete blocks and fills all the holes between blocks and in any holes. Putting the paint on should be much easier with this job done.

Edd has started to fill the gaps at the top of walls and has continued work on his wood tops. Stevo has got all the bathroom area ready for rendering and has started to make the linen press. We had good news from the building inspectors. We were worried that the thickness of the hood walls over the stoves would not be allowed but we are told that they are OK. What a relief. I would have hated to go backwards at this stage.

We are not at all sure how to put all the bits into the log fire. If there were instructions they have disappeared and there are an awful lot of bits that have to go inside it. Some small leaks appeared after the last heavy rain but the waterproof people have pumped stuff into the walls that is meant to fix this. Water also got down the chimneys because the covers were not on right so we need to do some work there. Mostly everything is going well.

OTHER NEWS

The goats are in season and making a noise all night. They convinced the young buck, Banjo that it was worth his while to break out and join them. The main culprit is Queenie. I was hoping that she could avoid getting pregnant this year but, once again, she has other ideas. Now we can begin to push the goats towards once a day milking which I hope to achieve when the hour changes.

I am rather looking forward to winter mode this year. Our beautiful autumn weather has been a real treat but it has encouraged us to work very long hours and we are ready for a rest. Today we woke at 5.30am because the power came back on and everything made a noise. We has a big thunder storm and power cut yesterday evening but luckily we were so tired and sweaty after laying the water pipes that we had an early shower and went out to tea at Bo’s restaurant. We did the goats as soon as we got home and just got them back in the shed when the storm hit and the power went off.
One very odd thing happened. All the power went off except for the light bulb outside the donga and the tube in the milking parlour! I have no explanation. Mind you, I am not complaining it was very helpful.

Today I picked up the grandkids from school because Bo had to sing at a wedding. Simon was going to play for her but he is now in a lot of pain and is using all his reserves just to keep working. We all feel great sympathy for him and long for the last nine days of hid treatment to be over. It seems awful that we can do nothing to make it any easier for him.