new beginnings

October 18

It is raining again! The school camp is coming next week with 21 children and I am trying to work out how to cope.  We will need two sets of tasks planned so that there are wet weather activities and many of the other tasks we were ready for cannot be done because there is too much water around and the creeks are running.  The grass is growing like mad and we are now looking under stocked, it would be so nice for once if things happened in moderation.

The shower is now in action and it works really well.  All the water drains at the right speed in the right direction and nothing sprays out of the door even though there is nothing in the gap like a shower curtain. It still feels like a privilege to be able to shower every day, but I suppose that will wear off. I think I am going to take a break from tiling for a bit.  I still have the kitchen and some of the mudroom to do but nothing too urgent.

We had a fabulous evening with Bo in her restaurant last night for her monthly music do.  We first had two local youngsters perform and then the older guitar players. Two brothers played and sang together beautifully and two other guys were really talented. In the end everyone jammed together and Bo let fly with the singing.  We seem to be having a very musical time lately.

Al is trying to move down to the coast with his family.  His back is a bit better this week but he wants a break from house building and I can’t blame him.  He and Pip have virtually rebuilt their cottage around themselves. Ti plans to live with them next year too, so it will be very much a time of new beginnings. We miss Josh who is still working in Brisbane but we have brought a speakerphone so we can all talk together.

I am still phoning my Mum every night.   Her health and mental sharpness varies from day to day but she can still sound very robust.  Not bad when you know she will be 96 next months.  I am more worried about my sister’s family also in the UK, who are going through some very bad times.  I wish we could support them in some way but distance and years apart separate us. 

On a brighter note we started to put collars on the baby goats today so that we will not get them muddled. They look really cute with their flash red collars and orange nametags. They will probably suck all the markings off if we do not keep an eye on things. Xena, Yoko and Ziggi look very alike now they are all dehorned so we needed to label them.

A week of being powerless

 The completed shower and wet room.

 The storms brought down power poles in South Australia

 Some of our new kids

 The blossom down at the ruins

October 15

We have had an interesting week. Two morning frosts, a massive storm that blew hundreds of trees down, and a consequent loss of power and phone.  Finally normality returned yesterday. Power was restored, the sun came out and the rain stopped enough to mow all the English style lush green grass.  I guess the snakes are going to be getting on the move too so the shorter grass is not just a vanity.

The best part about yesterday was that I completed my work in the shower.  The tiling is all done and grouted and now all we need is for Edd to put the taps on.  This job has literally taken me months even though I have spent several hours every day doing it.  I feel a massive sense of relief but I also feel tired and sore and not quite ready to start the next task.   Actually, I do not have much choice.  The school camps start in less than two weeks and with all the bad weather preparation has so far been impossible. This is not the time to sit back and celebrate.

We are half way through the goat kidding and have 9 lovely babies. This year we have separated them from their mothers and they are now trained to take milk from the feeder. One first kidding goat had triplets and the goat who produces most had a single birth, so we need to share the milk around to make sure each kid gets enough.  At last I have some babies the same colour as Erin and Ester with alpine face markings and fawn and black coats. I was really hoping for this.

We did stop work at the start of October to celebrate the equinox, birthdays and the football finals.  As usual Edd supervised the making of Cornish pasties and we added snacks, champagne and several birthday cakes. Simon’s and Pip’s parents joined us and Wayne and family made the long trek up from the city.  The right team won too.  It was a lovely family day, and so nice to see everyone.

Indi’s boy friend helped Al and Pip get a digger and break up the old concrete steps up to their house. They dug down so that new footings and retaining walls could be put in.  Then the heavens opened yet again and water poured out of everywhere.  We were worried that the whole hill might collapse. Luckily we had one dry Sunday so Edd and I joined them and started work on the new walls and footings. Pip had to mix concrete by hand because a big tree had brought all the power lines down.

Al had put a plank across the hole where the new steps were to go so that there was some access to his house. This has proved a problem this week when Al’s back was injured and he could not get out of the house to get to a doctor for any help. We went over again with some painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs that Edd had and Al can now stand up again.

The ruins are covered with flowers. Native mint and the jasmine smell wonderful and the paulownias tree and wisteria are decked with pale purple blossom.  It really looks very lovely. I am glad I have not had time to plant out the tomatoes because they survived the frosts in their pots around our house.  We are eating the second round of broccoli and the silver beet and spinach is still OK though the last of the cabbages have bolted. The broad beans have ripened and the runner beans have leaves again but the snow peas are not doing well.