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.