5.2.2012
BUILDING NEWS
We are getting there. Richard plans to do his last day of internal render work tomorrow and I have only the front entrance and a section of the guest bedroom to grout. Edd has fitted the back door and put the glass in so that we can put an order in to the locksmiths next week. They are supplying and fitting all the external door handles.
Josh has been doing the waterproofing on the parapet wall and chimneys so that we may even be able to get the rest of the earth works done next week too. It is really beginning to look home like. The lime render makes an awful mess so I will be highly relieved when we get through that stage.
OTHER NEWS
Today we had high winds to add to the heat, and fires started all over Victoria. There was even a fire locally at DeBortoli’s restaurant. The emergency services were kept very busy dealing with fallen trees, power cuts as well as the fires but as far as I can make out things are more or less under control.
Our neighbour hood fire tree was put in action with phone calls spreading alarm. I did not worry too much, but just in case,
Edd and I loaded documents and important stuff onto the ute and took it down to the new house for storage. No point being silly. It is a relief to get some of the junk out of here anyway. It is the anniversary of the black Saturday fires in two days time so everyone has been talking fires again. Three years have now passed but many people are still suffering under the effects.
I am actually happy about how everything has panned out. I feel now that I really belong to this land and that the land is at peace with me. For years I felt like a migrant outsider but the fires wiped the last of those notions away. Apart from the Radfords we have now lived in Steels Creek longer than almost anyone else. We were established here when the others moved in so even amongst the people of the valley we have a position of belonging here. It is the feeling with the land though that is most important.
I lay on the grass last night and watched the moon amongst the clouds in the night sky. The air had a a balmy warmth, and for once the grass was soft and inviting. There were no neighbours’ lights to be seen and only the night sounds of frogs and birds disturbed the peace. My big wish is that I can stay on this land as long as possible. It supplies me with food, firewood and an interesting life style and that is all I want.
It was less peaceful this afternoon. Bo came over with a car full of young kids. Their parents were all helping put on vine nets at Erin’s place so Bo brought the kids up for a swim in the pool. It looked like a pile of seething maggots when they all jumped in and wriggled back out of the water. Lovely though, to see kids all enjoying themselves.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
summer time
30.1.2012
BUILDING NEWS
Yet another Monday and we are all back at house construction. Richard rendered a wall in the small bedroom and Josh put the first covering of paint on the bare half of the kitchen ceiling. I had grouted the rest of the hall floor over the week end and Edd had made door frames but today we had to go off and collect the geo-fabric needed to cover the scoria when it goes on the roof.
This involved driving to Dandenong so we did all the other jobs on the way. We have collected almost all the lights needed for the outside of the building from various Bunning’s and brought tools to make doors and architraves. The next problem is to select wood for the doors and the vanity tops. I hope to have all that is needed here before the plumbers and electricians arrive to complete their work.
The weekend was very hot but with most doors closed the new house stayed rock steady at a temperature of 22 degrees. In contrast the donga hit 40 most evenings about teatime. I now wonder what will be our base line temperature in winter. Nothing is going to stop me living in there when winter arrives this year.
Josh has organised his twelve-volt emergency lighting system and has the wires out of their respective ceilings ready to light up. We tried it out in the storeroom and it was amazing how much light one of his tiny LED globes gave. Tom has still not returned with the cupboard doors but worse, we hear that the stone top people are un-contactable because they have taken a month off over Chinese New Year and do not start again until the February 6.
OTHER NEWS
We did get to the sea and it was glorious. Last Friday we milked the goats really early and had a whole day off. We even had enough time to visit Bob and Gil at Loch and see all the work they have done on their home and garden. The sea was great with some huge surf waves that knocked us off our feet several times. We got thoroughly salinated and sand blasted and felt much better afterwards.
Al and his three kids came over on Sunday and found a bucket full of blackberries to take home. We are now getting more tomatoes than we can eat and there are zucchinis and cucumbers to add to our diet. I have had to spend the evenings watering to keep plants alive and this has given me time to do some much needed weeding. The real delight is the peaches. Who can resist a ripe juicy peach straight off the tree? This is the first proper summer we have had since the fires and if you don’t mind the heat the living is easy.
BUILDING NEWS
Yet another Monday and we are all back at house construction. Richard rendered a wall in the small bedroom and Josh put the first covering of paint on the bare half of the kitchen ceiling. I had grouted the rest of the hall floor over the week end and Edd had made door frames but today we had to go off and collect the geo-fabric needed to cover the scoria when it goes on the roof.
This involved driving to Dandenong so we did all the other jobs on the way. We have collected almost all the lights needed for the outside of the building from various Bunning’s and brought tools to make doors and architraves. The next problem is to select wood for the doors and the vanity tops. I hope to have all that is needed here before the plumbers and electricians arrive to complete their work.
The weekend was very hot but with most doors closed the new house stayed rock steady at a temperature of 22 degrees. In contrast the donga hit 40 most evenings about teatime. I now wonder what will be our base line temperature in winter. Nothing is going to stop me living in there when winter arrives this year.
Josh has organised his twelve-volt emergency lighting system and has the wires out of their respective ceilings ready to light up. We tried it out in the storeroom and it was amazing how much light one of his tiny LED globes gave. Tom has still not returned with the cupboard doors but worse, we hear that the stone top people are un-contactable because they have taken a month off over Chinese New Year and do not start again until the February 6.
OTHER NEWS
We did get to the sea and it was glorious. Last Friday we milked the goats really early and had a whole day off. We even had enough time to visit Bob and Gil at Loch and see all the work they have done on their home and garden. The sea was great with some huge surf waves that knocked us off our feet several times. We got thoroughly salinated and sand blasted and felt much better afterwards.
Al and his three kids came over on Sunday and found a bucket full of blackberries to take home. We are now getting more tomatoes than we can eat and there are zucchinis and cucumbers to add to our diet. I have had to spend the evenings watering to keep plants alive and this has given me time to do some much needed weeding. The real delight is the peaches. Who can resist a ripe juicy peach straight off the tree? This is the first proper summer we have had since the fires and if you don’t mind the heat the living is easy.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
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 Bo’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. Al 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. Bo hand 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.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
slow but steady
18.1.2012
BUILDING NEWS
Work continues slowly on the house. Richard is now rendering the snug and I am grouting the floor in the guest bedroom. Edd has brought himself special tools and is preparing the hardwood planks he brought so that they have the right profile to be made into doorframes. I just want to move in.
About 32 years ago I moved into our old house. We had been living in the shed but it had no walls and only dirt floor so that once the roof was on the I decided winter would be easier in a half a house. Moving in was relatively simple. I had two heavy things to move, the gas fridge and the potbelly stove. We relocated the stove in the ingle nook and it could then be used for cooking and warmth. I had a huge old cast iron pan that I could use to heat water.
We still had to walk to the tank beside the shed to fetch the water. There was also no electricity on the property in those days but we did have the phone and we just dug holes for toilets. When they got smelly we planted a tree in the hole and moved to the next one. Life was pretty simple in those days.
I am, of course trying to work out exactly how soon I could shift into the new house. We would need the phone down there and a fire. The fire is in but the chimney needs sorting out. A toilet and running water would be bliss. I cannot see any reason why the drains and reed bed could not be put in now but I suppose it would be better when the earth works are complete and the last of the piles of soil moved. Then we can work with the final contours of the land.
OTHER NEWS
Edd has gone to choir tonight for the first time for months. Josh has gone out and I have had the donga to myself for a few hours. This has been great because I have managed to clean up a bit and sort things out. Everything got a bit out of control around Xmas but I am fighting my way back to the top of the problem pile.
Monday, January 16, 2012
some positive things
16.1.2012
It was great. We were able to relax with our friends and enjoy a party in the new house. Everyone helped carry food down there and as our friends have many interests in common there was lots to talk about. I am so pleased with how Al has managed to design the house to make this sort of event possible. The house really works for temperature control and now we find it is perfect for entertaining too.
Edd agreed to buy the bedroom furniture and with in a few hours of putting in the order we had an e-mail from friends wanting to come and stay! I knew we really needed it, but I did not expect instant proof. Today Edd went off to buy wood to make the doorframes so that we can render the guest and small bedroom.
Richard spent the day in the toilet. It looks much better now he has rendered the walls in there. I hope he will start on the snug room tomorrow whilst Edd is building the doorframes for the bedrooms. My task was to pay all the bills but in the afternoon Bo came over with two of her friends who were visiting her.
They both lived in our old house when we were in the NT and Bo was looking after the place. Anne joked that we should go back to the NT so she could move into the new house. Donna is a photographic artist and enjoyed how we had incorporated features from the old house. It is sad that we lost the lovely framed photos she gave us in the fires but one of our friends gave us another artwork on Friday that we all agree will be perfect for the new place.
We are still waiting for the scoria we need for the roof to be crushed. When this is delivered we can get the soil covering put on. I think that we have done enough earthworks now to put in the power and water so the roof covering is mainly cosmetic. The house seems to be very well insulated even without the covering. My job is still to do the floor grouting. I have two bedrooms and a small amount of passage to go so I am definitely winning.
Josh has been making clips for the fly screen windows. Josh heard Edd complain that he could not find good ones to buy, so he made a plaster mould and melted down some pewter scraps we salvaged from the fires and cast new clips. They are really very good and a most unusual recycling approach that rather appeals to us. His course in WA starts again soon but he has only to complete a small amount and write it up so we are not sure what the time frame is. It would be good if he could just flyover for a few weeks and fly back.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
I must be crazy
12.1.2012
I must be crazy. Somehow I have organised the first dinner party I have given for years on Friday the13th! There are layers of difficulty to over come anyway. Firstly there is no power, water or cooking facility in the new house yet. Secondly Richard is going to finish rendering the dining hall tomorrow where we intend to eat, and also the kitchen cabinets are due to be completed during the day as well. Some how I have to get everything cleaned up and food prepared whilst the workers do their things.
Our friends are our age and have food issues. One is a vegetarian who does not eat dairy products, one is glucose intolerant, and at least two have cholesterol issues. I expect the rest have needs too but they are less obvious. My coping plan is to have mostly salads and cold food and have various different dishes that people can choose from. I am cooking the meat tonight so that the oven will be free for the rest tomorrow.
Despite these factors I am determined to try and do this. My friends have all been so supportive over these last three years when we have not had a house and I would love to take a turn at putting the effort in. Beni goes back to the territory soon so I want her to come over before she goes off. She tells us that she loves working with the Aboriginal kids and has signed on for another year teaching in her community. Listening to her brings back all our happy memories of our time up North, especially this week when we have suddenly been plunged back to winter conditions.
Yes, we have had hail, really low temperatures and rain for several days now. Thank goodness our building work is now indoors. Edd put in the last of the air vents today. They are not difficult to put in but he has found it hard to locate the pipes now that the ceiling has hidden them. The walls were marked but they got rendered over so he has had to rely on measurements. These pipes go from the ceilings right out underground and out into the paddock away from the house. The idea is to get airflow through the house but to cool or warm the air by using the ground temperature.
I am still grouting floors. I have almost completed the smallest bedroom but I still have the larger two bedrooms and the hall passage to go. I am also organising their furniture as a way of inspiring myself to keep going. Today a small bedside rug I had ordered for Edd arrived and I also tried to get Edd interested in buying a bedroom suite for the guest room. Edd has never brought any furniture in his life so I cannot imagine why I thought he might start now. You have to keep trying, people do change, sometimes.
Bo and Simon went into the hospital in town for a consultation. It is all pretty scary. They want Simon to start the next stage of treatment fairly soon. Al has phoned from NSW and says he has treated our week infestation at Cooma. This is a great relief as we were being hounded about the issue. Josh is waiting to get his exam results in writing so that he can register himself as an audiologist but mean while he is being very helpful with things round here. Yesterday we repotted some of our houseplants and split a banana plant into two. I am filling our hall with colourful plants as a form of decoration.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Harvest time
5. 1. 12
It has cooled down after a scorching week. Edd and I got in two ute and trailer loads of hay by moonlight one night and Bo and Josh helped get the rest in at an early hour next morning. Yesterday Edd returned borrowed trailers to their owners and stacked the last few bales neatly. Josh and I took Bo’s kids off to garden world for the day whilst Bo worked. This was the first time we have taken Sylkie on a long trip and she was very good.
Today Edd went off and brought a ton of oats and I went shopping for human food and needs. There were sales on and I found a wool rug at half price in spotlight that was the right colour for our guest bedroom. Our friends are already making noises about coming to stay when we move into the new house and I need to be ready for them. What a joy it will be to have somewhere to host friends again.
Nothing got done on the house during the very hot weather. It was well over 40 degrees in the donga every evening so mostly we ate out at Bo’s restaurant. She looks after us well. In fact it is almost impossible to do anything anywhere when it is that hot. It is going to take a huge effort to get our selves motivated and back into building every day.
The fox attacked again and dug into the chook pen. This time we lost the remaining faverolle, which was sad. I have left the chooks shut in their houses today but we will have to think of a new plan when it heats up again or they will cook. The pens were damaged in the fires but we have managed to keep them in action up until now.
2.1.2011
Happy New Year to all our friends and family. Basically 2011 was not very inspiring but lets us all make an effort to have a better time in 2011. As predicted it is really hot today. Wayne, Josh and Edd started work early and have already brought in one load of hay. I stayed home and did the milking and farm work and am now boiling eggs for lunch. It is already 30 degrees in here but that feels relatively cool.
It was up to 40 and beyond in here last night. We stayed out in our new house as long as possible and then came back in to sleep. I woke in the night feeling much too hot but it was a clear starry night and easy to walk down to the new house. It had stayed really cool in there all day so I was surprised that I still felt hot down there. It was actually just me starting to cook. After about half an hour I cooled down and actually needed covers to keep warm!
Hot days are not a problem now that the pool is in action again. We can live here very comfortably if we use all the facilities. I even managed to grout another metre of floor before lunch. Today is a day of high fire danger and I plan to move some of my treasured stuff down to the new house. It would be tragic to loose the little we managed to save if the donga burnt. The boxes are rather heavy so I am waiting for some help to lift them. How did I ever manage to carry them to the fire cellar three years ago?
It has cooled down after a scorching week. Edd and I got in two ute and trailer loads of hay by moonlight one night and Bo and Josh helped get the rest in at an early hour next morning. Yesterday Edd returned borrowed trailers to their owners and stacked the last few bales neatly. Josh and I took Bo’s kids off to garden world for the day whilst Bo worked. This was the first time we have taken Sylkie on a long trip and she was very good.
Today Edd went off and brought a ton of oats and I went shopping for human food and needs. There were sales on and I found a wool rug at half price in spotlight that was the right colour for our guest bedroom. Our friends are already making noises about coming to stay when we move into the new house and I need to be ready for them. What a joy it will be to have somewhere to host friends again.
Nothing got done on the house during the very hot weather. It was well over 40 degrees in the donga every evening so mostly we ate out at Bo’s restaurant. She looks after us well. In fact it is almost impossible to do anything anywhere when it is that hot. It is going to take a huge effort to get our selves motivated and back into building every day.
The fox attacked again and dug into the chook pen. This time we lost the remaining faverolle, which was sad. I have left the chooks shut in their houses today but we will have to think of a new plan when it heats up again or they will cook. The pens were damaged in the fires but we have managed to keep them in action up until now.
2.1.2011
Happy New Year to all our friends and family. Basically 2011 was not very inspiring but lets us all make an effort to have a better time in 2011. As predicted it is really hot today. Wayne, Josh and Edd started work early and have already brought in one load of hay. I stayed home and did the milking and farm work and am now boiling eggs for lunch. It is already 30 degrees in here but that feels relatively cool.
It was up to 40 and beyond in here last night. We stayed out in our new house as long as possible and then came back in to sleep. I woke in the night feeling much too hot but it was a clear starry night and easy to walk down to the new house. It had stayed really cool in there all day so I was surprised that I still felt hot down there. It was actually just me starting to cook. After about half an hour I cooled down and actually needed covers to keep warm!
Hot days are not a problem now that the pool is in action again. We can live here very comfortably if we use all the facilities. I even managed to grout another metre of floor before lunch. Today is a day of high fire danger and I plan to move some of my treasured stuff down to the new house. It would be tragic to loose the little we managed to save if the donga burnt. The boxes are rather heavy so I am waiting for some help to lift them. How did I ever manage to carry them to the fire cellar three years ago?
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