October 8 2013-10-08
This is the final chapter in my family story that covers the years after the 2009 bush fires. It is time to talk about the point we are now at and then move on. Edd and I are very happy with our new cave style home. It stays a very constant temperature and is small enough to be cosy and has spaces large enough for big parties. Edd is now making the internal doors from thick recycled Oregon. I have made the front hall into a workroom and am sewing the massive curtains for the windows. The idea is that they help damp down sound as well as provide privacy.
Josh has almost completed his intern year in Audiology in Albany. We phoned him a couple of weekends ago and he was quite thrown off balance because at that stage he was equal first in a new audiologist competition for Australia. Josh hates fuss and even refuses to celebrate his own birthday so he was horrified at the implications of winning anything. He never went to his own graduation ceremonies so you can see what he is like. On the other hand his boss was keen fort him to win and Josh was worried he would get stick if he failed to do well. It was better when he never knew that there was a competition!
Wayne has had a new romance but we fear it is not going well. We did get to meet the girl this time so this was a serious relationship. He has also had a problem moving house and got very depressed for a while. His job seems stable so at least that is a blessing. He even played football again and all his mates love him for that.
Bo is very busy at her restaurant which has a very good name and she is also writing and recording songs. This is her real passion. She seems to have regular singing engagements at weddings concerts and other events so altogether she is usually flat out. Her kids have moved to the Lutheran school and she is much happier about how their education is going now. Simon is keeping fit and even has a personal trainer. As far as we can make out the brewing business is going very well. Edd is off down there now to pick up more of the used barley to feed our stock.
Al has had a stormy year but he is now happier. His broken neck healed well and he is still working to make his tiny home more house like. The big news is that he and Pia are planning to get married next March, possibly at our farm so we have a big event to look forward to next year. India has nearly completed her training year up in the bush and will be back here at Xmas time. She visits us and phones regularly so we never feel out of touch.
Arden has turned a real corner and is working well at school. His marks have sky rocketed and he is aiming to go on to university. Ti has had his first year at High school too. He is getting taller by the day and has just turned into a teenager. I took all the grandsons to a film in the school holidays but he sat with his own friends at one side of the cinema and the rest of us were in a group at the back.
On the farm we are really into spring. We have three lambs and the goat Mellissa looks about to kid any moment. Edd is putting out posts ready to be banged in for the next stay of refencing. The vegetables are growing at an amazing rate. We have lettuces galore, beetroot, broad beans, kale, silver beat, spinach and I planted out the first tomatoes today. The chooks are also laying well and Edd has returned to the market and did sold a lot of produce last week.
Our friend Beni is getting ready to move into the new house she has brought at the end of the month. A few weeks ago she seemed to be avoiding us but she later told me she was getting her head around the thought of living alone and away from other people. I was worried I had offended her! She has been a great help this year and has always been willing to feed animals if we are stuck. We will really miss having her around.
September 23 2013
We have had a great weekend; lots of visitors and grandkids all in laughing mode. It is just what we needed. The paulownias trees are in flower and look spectacular with the bight purple of the native mint and the blue rosemary bushes. The warm wet weather has been great for the vegetables and even the lettuces are ready to eat. Some tomatoes have self-seeded, but how do I know what variety they are? The cherry types usually grow like weeds but I would love some of the large peri form type that was so delicious last year.
