She's back......sorry to anyone that cares that I have been off the air for 2 weeks but in spite of still being unemployed, life has been pretty frantic! I can venture into our garden in the morning and disappear into a mire of weeding, pruning and burning until dark. Also, there's been a constant stream of tradesmen and a couple of trips to the big smoke.
One trip to Hobart was to see Mary Gautier in a pub in North Hobart. We stayed the night and in the morning drove to Bushy park to buy 4 point of lay chickens to join the Spice Girls - so then there were 8. It was a lovely drive about half an hour north of Hobart, through New Norfolk, through the hops crops and up a country lane. These girls are older and larger than the Spice Girls and a blend of 3 breeds in varying shades of red. Welcome the Dixie Chicks...So far so good but there is the occasional evidence of rooster behaviour. Not an egg in sight either so time will tell the gender of our brood. Also, I stand corrected - the breed isn't Wine Dot, as I wrote in my last blog. Wine Dots are something I see when I close my eyes after a few too many, it's apparently Wyandotte.
The removalist finally arrived with the last of our stuff - one month after our house was emptied. The insulation has finally been installed, the electricians have finally finished all the tasks on my list, the slab has been laid and 2 3x3 mtr sheds are being assembled by the McArthur team. This is our creative way of getting enough shed space without needing council approval - His with the wine, Hers with the tools and firewood...hmmm. David, the craftsman of Spice Girl fame has quoted to do our built-ins and will do a spectacular job - just can't start until June (2010, I hope!). Have also had a visit from a plumber/builder to get a quote for the bathroom reno - have to pray for rain to get their attention on our job but at least progress is being made. Water tank installation is scheduled for the 12th. The new lights and the insulation have made such a noticeable different, I've had to start opening some windows. Mind you, we have just broken some sort of record with 100 mild days in a row. Apparently that means 100 days of 17 degrees +. Think my idea of mild is probably more like 21 but we've had some real stunners and summer just refuses to end.
On one such HOT day, I went to the Taste of Huon in Ranelagh which I believe is an annual 2 day event. Sort of like Seafood & Semillon in the Hunter crossed with a market. I was looking forward to trying something new but was sadly disappointed with the small goat pie - could have been any sort of dark coloured meat. The piece de resistance was alpaca. Can't believe I waited half an hour for this massacre! It was a real shame an animal had to die for such an inedible piece of meat. I thoroughly enjoyed the apprentice chef competition with judges that included Matthew Evans. There was much talk of what an incredible food bowl this region is and from the freshness and quality of the produce we have enjoyed already, I tend to agree (though I'm not sure alpaca should be used for anything other than wool products.Not with those cooks anyway!). Apart from apples, berries, cherries and the amazing beef we have tried, there's the salmon farms, the chesseries, saffron, truffles, mushrooms and much more. If only we could buy fresh fish somewhere (very odd) and had some sort of spicy food restaurant, we'd have it all!
My last venture to Hobart was for a job interview - my first. I was in 2 minds about a full-time job as a Rep and luckily they made the decision for me. I made it to the final 3 but didn't get the job. While I was in Hobart, I ran into an old neighbour from Leichhardt...small world. He works in Hobart during the week and has generously offered us the use of his Hobart unit on the weekends.
We made it into the social pages of the Mercury from a previous Hobart trip - the Cascade party. They got Winsor's name and our suburb wrong but it definitely looked like us and we were there. They changed names of others at the party too - clearly the Mercury doesn't worry too much about minor details.
The election has passed without our vote and by all accounts without a result so far. Don't think we got out all day though we heard lots of hustle and bustle in the main street. In the evening, we went to a barbecue at the home of the lovely people who run the post office. They live across the road from the sailing club. Lovely MILD weather, great views, good company, wine & food. A delightful time was had by all.
The new life continues to be wonderful and the small things still amaze me. I was weighed down with some bags for the charity bin recently and lo and behold, a teenager who was mucking about in the park with his mates, called out and asked if he could help me with my bags! Unheard of in Sydney, London, Paris.....
Tomorrow night is book club for me - another first. No one can tell me what the book is, which is a good thing as I don't remember the last time I read one. I will sign off now before I write one and will endeavour to update again sooner than 2 weeks...
Monday, March 29, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Days 24 - 31 Monday 15/03/10
It was just too good to be true! The Electrician that was coming Thursday 2 weeks ago, dropped by late on Friday and agreed to be here at 8 this morning to start work. The man with the phone phobia rang at 7.50 to advise they had an emergency and would be over late morning...won't hold my breath! However, the carpenter arrived as promised to measure up for built-ins. Unfortunately, he is probably too busy to fit the work in but will prepare a quote. Have just rung the heater man and there is some hope of insulation being completed this week. Still haven't heard from the plumber after we accepted his quote to install a water tank and divert all the downpipes...Progress is slow but we are confident our efforts to single-handedly hold up the local economy will result in a near perfect abode one day.
The McArthur team continues with their home handymen skills and have built the chook pen. It looks so cosy, might be a good place to sleep one night if things get too unpleasant inside! Winsor was so excited that even before completion, he was trying to source some pullets to reside in said chook house. Feeling we would fail the Cygnet grapevine if we didn't talk to David, the craftsman about chooks, we headed up to his house yesterday morning - me on foot with Floyd and Winsor in the car, to chose a brood. Our effort to find 4 girls was hardly lead by any scientific criteria. The flock(?) was a range of Sussex and Wine Dot bantams of various ages and sizes - all of them white with black accessories, the Wine Dots with yellow feet and the Sussex with white. David's family wanted to keep the yellow footers and we wanted to ensure we got girls...Who knows what we have ended up with - I call them the Spice Girls and I'm already pretty convinced that Mel C is a rooster. Chook selection must be one of those rare occasions in nature that people prefer the female gender (though Winsor would happily settle for a rooster - all that noise and inbreeding, never mind the population growth!)- this isn't India or China! So before the chook house was even finished, the girls were reluctantly ensconced in their new home. They managed to find the cosy bedroom last night that Mick and Arthur built for them and were happily scratching the ground in the run this morning. I think the trauma has passed - as long as Floyd can resist the urge to torment them too much.
On Saturday, Floyd located a stunning blue tongue lizard in the garden that had him transfixed for hours. Had we not been there, he may have ripped its bloody head off. Come to think of it, he may have done that since but I hope not! There are so many distractions in the yard, not the least being a number of balls of various sizes, colours and squeakability that keep him amused for long periods of time when he's not wallowing in the dirt! One day recently, Floyd turned himself into a lamington...a quick dip in the creek on a warm day, a nice meaningful roll in the ashes of the bonfire, topped up by a covering of dry, cut grass. Truly delicious. As I was busy with a number of other things, it took a few days to bath him and in the meantime, every time I stroked him, I came away with hands covered in a layer of filth. He clearly loves it! He clearly loves living here, his skin problems have gone, he's lost weight and even stopped moulting (or you see his shedding less in this house!). He seems to have a permanent smile on his face unless he's sleeping off all the day's activities - often whimpering at some pademelon or possum in his sleep. What a life as a pampered mutt!
Electrician has rung to say he's on his way. Will update again later when the power (and hopefully, the wireless connection) comes back on....
The McArthur team continues with their home handymen skills and have built the chook pen. It looks so cosy, might be a good place to sleep one night if things get too unpleasant inside! Winsor was so excited that even before completion, he was trying to source some pullets to reside in said chook house. Feeling we would fail the Cygnet grapevine if we didn't talk to David, the craftsman about chooks, we headed up to his house yesterday morning - me on foot with Floyd and Winsor in the car, to chose a brood. Our effort to find 4 girls was hardly lead by any scientific criteria. The flock(?) was a range of Sussex and Wine Dot bantams of various ages and sizes - all of them white with black accessories, the Wine Dots with yellow feet and the Sussex with white. David's family wanted to keep the yellow footers and we wanted to ensure we got girls...Who knows what we have ended up with - I call them the Spice Girls and I'm already pretty convinced that Mel C is a rooster. Chook selection must be one of those rare occasions in nature that people prefer the female gender (though Winsor would happily settle for a rooster - all that noise and inbreeding, never mind the population growth!)- this isn't India or China! So before the chook house was even finished, the girls were reluctantly ensconced in their new home. They managed to find the cosy bedroom last night that Mick and Arthur built for them and were happily scratching the ground in the run this morning. I think the trauma has passed - as long as Floyd can resist the urge to torment them too much.
On Saturday, Floyd located a stunning blue tongue lizard in the garden that had him transfixed for hours. Had we not been there, he may have ripped its bloody head off. Come to think of it, he may have done that since but I hope not! There are so many distractions in the yard, not the least being a number of balls of various sizes, colours and squeakability that keep him amused for long periods of time when he's not wallowing in the dirt! One day recently, Floyd turned himself into a lamington...a quick dip in the creek on a warm day, a nice meaningful roll in the ashes of the bonfire, topped up by a covering of dry, cut grass. Truly delicious. As I was busy with a number of other things, it took a few days to bath him and in the meantime, every time I stroked him, I came away with hands covered in a layer of filth. He clearly loves it! He clearly loves living here, his skin problems have gone, he's lost weight and even stopped moulting (or you see his shedding less in this house!). He seems to have a permanent smile on his face unless he's sleeping off all the day's activities - often whimpering at some pademelon or possum in his sleep. What a life as a pampered mutt!
Electrician has rung to say he's on his way. Will update again later when the power (and hopefully, the wireless connection) comes back on....
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Days 20, 21, 22, 23 - Wed - Sat 06/03/10
I'm hot, no not that sort of hot! Either I'm already acclimatised or it is muggy and hot today. When J Lo (my car) was pulled out of a ditch this morning, the thermometer said 31 degrees. I was accused of sounding like a local yesterday when I commented on the day's warmth....I should be so lucky! It has been uncommonly humid the past 2 days, and as winter follows autumn, I'm sure I'm going to be particularly sensitive to the cold this winter, best enjoy the heat while I can.
I don't really know about Floyd, I assume a lot, but I was bored with the 3 different combinations of blocks we have walked recently. Someone suggested visiting Wattle Grove (7 kms), so we headed west and took an early stop, taking a right onto Missing Link Rd. It was glorious at 8.30 am with the misty clouds across the hills/mountains vanishing into bright, hot sunshine. I parked the car by a farm gate and we walked up and down the road, taking in the view and collecting yet more blackberries. In spite of all the prophets of doom around here that the last big wind or the most recent cold snap would see the end of the blackberry crop, they just keep coming! Thought we might still make it all the way to Wattle Grove after Floyd relieved himself but my attempt to do a U turn landed J Lo with her left front wheel down a ditch and the right rear wheel hanging half a metre above the ground...interesting predicament. Took the whole of the morning and $150 but we made it home eventually relatively unscathed (I hope the car is OK?). Great way to spend a wedding anniversary but the other half is in South Australia - not a lot to celebrate today - maybe tomorrow.
Ventured to the Town Hall yesterday for a Beginners' Class of Tai Chi. It is only across the road but I was still late - pathetic really! Friend Jasmine also joined this week and invited me in for a coffee - delightful it was too. As I left, we saw a perfectly restored Morris Minor leaving the local car park, followed by a ute parking out the front of the B&B that was literally held together by rust.
It was so bad, even the roof was freckled full of rust! Clearly, annual roadworthies are not compulsory here...
I took the journey into "town" on Wednesday, passing the 2 other "towns" to reach the 3rd - Huonvillle, then Kingston and finally Hobart - a drive of all of 45 minutes. Had almost convinced myself Kingston would be a good compromise for work, rather than commuting all the way to Hobart. It's 11 kms from Hobart! What's that all about? Hobart light? Hard to get my head around the thought of work at the moment, much less the commute...
Now do be warned fellow citizens, when Tasmanians insist on a ludicrously low speed limit for non-existent roadworks, they are serious. Mercifully, the Police had their hands full when I rounded the bend at the end of the freeway as I was probably about 10 km over the limit. I met Winsor at the beautiful Islington - a private hotel in a very leafy part of the city. What a magnificent setting with an infinity pool blending into the view of stunning houses nestled into the bushy hills and the rear courtyard and conservatory bathed in afternoon sunshine - it was hard to drag myself away but the reason for the trip was a party and it beckoned...
Winsor arrived in Hobart very early in the day as a guest of Cascade for something to do with beer and hops. Not really my area of interest but he had a good day with a particularly note worthy lunch and tastings of some vintage beers. In the evening there was the aforementioned party at the Cascade Brewery - a truly magnificent setting and apparently not only the oldest brewery in Australia but the oldest working factory in the land as well. There were several politicians at the party - none I recognise yet. We are in election mode here. I have listened to some commentary on the radio though the faces are not yet familiar. There were a number of TV types too, looks like half the ABC's TV personalities live in Hobart - perhaps the only place they can afford on ABC wages! The party was fun and the wine flowed as well as the beer. It was hard to wrench myself away from home but worth it in the end. I can still string a few words together - but only just.
Took myself off shopping in Hobart on Thursday and walked for miles. Winsor got home a few hours before me relieved to find the dog had survived his first night home alone. Winsor was just home for the evening and back at the airport to fly to SA for 2 days on Friday morning. At least someone in our household can still manage to drag themselves away from home to earn a living. I'm a kept woman - what a concept! Must start to think about work one day soon...
I don't really know about Floyd, I assume a lot, but I was bored with the 3 different combinations of blocks we have walked recently. Someone suggested visiting Wattle Grove (7 kms), so we headed west and took an early stop, taking a right onto Missing Link Rd. It was glorious at 8.30 am with the misty clouds across the hills/mountains vanishing into bright, hot sunshine. I parked the car by a farm gate and we walked up and down the road, taking in the view and collecting yet more blackberries. In spite of all the prophets of doom around here that the last big wind or the most recent cold snap would see the end of the blackberry crop, they just keep coming! Thought we might still make it all the way to Wattle Grove after Floyd relieved himself but my attempt to do a U turn landed J Lo with her left front wheel down a ditch and the right rear wheel hanging half a metre above the ground...interesting predicament. Took the whole of the morning and $150 but we made it home eventually relatively unscathed (I hope the car is OK?). Great way to spend a wedding anniversary but the other half is in South Australia - not a lot to celebrate today - maybe tomorrow.
Ventured to the Town Hall yesterday for a Beginners' Class of Tai Chi. It is only across the road but I was still late - pathetic really! Friend Jasmine also joined this week and invited me in for a coffee - delightful it was too. As I left, we saw a perfectly restored Morris Minor leaving the local car park, followed by a ute parking out the front of the B&B that was literally held together by rust.
It was so bad, even the roof was freckled full of rust! Clearly, annual roadworthies are not compulsory here...
I took the journey into "town" on Wednesday, passing the 2 other "towns" to reach the 3rd - Huonvillle, then Kingston and finally Hobart - a drive of all of 45 minutes. Had almost convinced myself Kingston would be a good compromise for work, rather than commuting all the way to Hobart. It's 11 kms from Hobart! What's that all about? Hobart light? Hard to get my head around the thought of work at the moment, much less the commute...
Now do be warned fellow citizens, when Tasmanians insist on a ludicrously low speed limit for non-existent roadworks, they are serious. Mercifully, the Police had their hands full when I rounded the bend at the end of the freeway as I was probably about 10 km over the limit. I met Winsor at the beautiful Islington - a private hotel in a very leafy part of the city. What a magnificent setting with an infinity pool blending into the view of stunning houses nestled into the bushy hills and the rear courtyard and conservatory bathed in afternoon sunshine - it was hard to drag myself away but the reason for the trip was a party and it beckoned...
Winsor arrived in Hobart very early in the day as a guest of Cascade for something to do with beer and hops. Not really my area of interest but he had a good day with a particularly note worthy lunch and tastings of some vintage beers. In the evening there was the aforementioned party at the Cascade Brewery - a truly magnificent setting and apparently not only the oldest brewery in Australia but the oldest working factory in the land as well. There were several politicians at the party - none I recognise yet. We are in election mode here. I have listened to some commentary on the radio though the faces are not yet familiar. There were a number of TV types too, looks like half the ABC's TV personalities live in Hobart - perhaps the only place they can afford on ABC wages! The party was fun and the wine flowed as well as the beer. It was hard to wrench myself away from home but worth it in the end. I can still string a few words together - but only just.
Took myself off shopping in Hobart on Thursday and walked for miles. Winsor got home a few hours before me relieved to find the dog had survived his first night home alone. Winsor was just home for the evening and back at the airport to fly to SA for 2 days on Friday morning. At least someone in our household can still manage to drag themselves away from home to earn a living. I'm a kept woman - what a concept! Must start to think about work one day soon...
Monday, March 1, 2010
Day 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 Thur - Tuesday 02/03/10
I have decided hydrangeas are just like children, when they're not yours, they are hideous, when they're yours, they're just amazing. When we moved in, they were an eye-watering bluey purple and now they are fading and turning a whole range of colours from pale blue to crimson melting into an antique green - they are exquisite. Either I'm getting old and starting to appreciate these things or I've just got time to smell the roses. I have to admit to only ever loathing hydrangeas from a distance...perhaps I just needed to take a closer look. Little wonder people love to garden, you really see the most extraordinary things in nature. I'm completely besotted by the little birds in the garden and the nests I keep discovering while removing the overgrowth. Spring must be an absolute delight..
The gutter man finally returned to finish the job he started about a month ago. He said that the gutters haven't been cleaned for many years - it took all my self control not to suggest that that's because they were waiting for him to turn up! There's been a constant stream of worker bees here the past few days. The fencing boys put in the posts yesterday to start the outer fence, while the heater people were here measuring up for insulation, sealing up a chimney and discussing the options available to us. Paul, the heater man commented that he felt a discernible drop in temperature when he walked into the house (we weren't even arguing!) and has confirmed warming the place will be a challenge but can be achieved. The insulation is of very poor quality, badly fitted and almost completely ineffective, so that's a good place to start.
The last day of summer, Sunday, was stunningly chilly and dropped to 7 degrees with the sun. I have been resisting the urge to rug up or light the open fire - it was bloody summer! Now that psychological hurdle has been passed, I stoked up the first fire in the lounge last night while the fire brigade made light work of the bonfire pile in the backyard. Unlike, our amateur effort of a few days ago, they had a lovely calm evening with a full moon, a fuel can and a few beers to assist them. It was just a smouldering heap after about 90 minutes.
On the weekend, Mick & Arthur (I've nicknamed them, the Mcarthurs) cleared a few more trees and branches, created an area for the veggie patch (can't imagine how long that job would have taken me by hand) and started on plans to build our chook run and sheds. We need to get Council approval for any shed over 3 mtr x 3 mtr, which costs about $900 and takes some time. Instead we have decided to build 2 3x3 mtr sheds - a His and Hers. His will have the wine, mine will have the tools - go figure.
Mick also supplied us with a new load of fresh veggies from his property, along with a bucket of apples. The baby spuds went perfectly with the steak and kidney stew (also full of his veg) I made on Saturday. Hardly a summer dish but it was anything but a summer's day - top of 17! We ventured off to the organic beef farm on Saturday morning (only open Saturday mornings) and couldn't resist buying enough beef for about 7 dishes. The casserole beef was absolutely melt in the mouth and when it comes to food miles, you can't do better than 2 kms from home! Last night the leftovers were turned into a pie, followed by apple and blackberry crumble. Mick's apples and wild blackberries picked from the bushes growing on every other corner in the region. This is the life....
After the organic beef farm, we took a detour to familiarise ourselves with the local tip. We asked the guy in the gatehouse a question and he responded by handing us a brochure. Winsor quipped..."bet he was the debating champion at school!" Certainly was a man of few words. Fortunately, we were saved from making a second trip out there with our rubbish, as once more, Mick came to our rescue and took away the empty cartons. I'm sure we'll have to use the tip one of these days as collections are minimal, but not this weekend.
Sunday hosted a visit from a tiler to help inspire me about the bathroom and before he could depart, the removalist arrived with the wine from storage which he put in our collapsing woodshed. Doesn't look like 60 dozen to us - perhaps we over-estimated...We'll never drink it all anyway, in the 8 days Winsor was away, including a weekend - 57 bottles arrived...Certainly the move has not scared too many off!
I've officially lost patience with the removalist as the moron he sent to empty our two storage units at Kennards only emptied the wine unit and as they don't get to Sydney very often, we probably won't get the rest of our stuff until the 9th - one month after the house. Hardly what we were promised, they were supposed to pick it up on the 11th of Feb and now we really need some of that stuff! Can't stay angry for too long though, we just smile at each other now and zone back into "Cygnet time". At this rate, by the time we get the stuff, we won't want it anymore!
The town has a constant stream of visitors, from van loads of dread locked types to groups of young French women. Many have been here for a while, first for cherries and now for apple picking. Some have been brave enough to stay at the camping ground. I wonder how many will remain over the next few weeks as the temperature drops.
I'm now off to experiment with a new hairdresser for the 1st time in 8 years - feel a little apprehensive, I must say. Tomorrow, I venture to the big smoke, Hobart, for the first time - should be interesting.
The gutter man finally returned to finish the job he started about a month ago. He said that the gutters haven't been cleaned for many years - it took all my self control not to suggest that that's because they were waiting for him to turn up! There's been a constant stream of worker bees here the past few days. The fencing boys put in the posts yesterday to start the outer fence, while the heater people were here measuring up for insulation, sealing up a chimney and discussing the options available to us. Paul, the heater man commented that he felt a discernible drop in temperature when he walked into the house (we weren't even arguing!) and has confirmed warming the place will be a challenge but can be achieved. The insulation is of very poor quality, badly fitted and almost completely ineffective, so that's a good place to start.
The last day of summer, Sunday, was stunningly chilly and dropped to 7 degrees with the sun. I have been resisting the urge to rug up or light the open fire - it was bloody summer! Now that psychological hurdle has been passed, I stoked up the first fire in the lounge last night while the fire brigade made light work of the bonfire pile in the backyard. Unlike, our amateur effort of a few days ago, they had a lovely calm evening with a full moon, a fuel can and a few beers to assist them. It was just a smouldering heap after about 90 minutes.
On the weekend, Mick & Arthur (I've nicknamed them, the Mcarthurs) cleared a few more trees and branches, created an area for the veggie patch (can't imagine how long that job would have taken me by hand) and started on plans to build our chook run and sheds. We need to get Council approval for any shed over 3 mtr x 3 mtr, which costs about $900 and takes some time. Instead we have decided to build 2 3x3 mtr sheds - a His and Hers. His will have the wine, mine will have the tools - go figure.
Mick also supplied us with a new load of fresh veggies from his property, along with a bucket of apples. The baby spuds went perfectly with the steak and kidney stew (also full of his veg) I made on Saturday. Hardly a summer dish but it was anything but a summer's day - top of 17! We ventured off to the organic beef farm on Saturday morning (only open Saturday mornings) and couldn't resist buying enough beef for about 7 dishes. The casserole beef was absolutely melt in the mouth and when it comes to food miles, you can't do better than 2 kms from home! Last night the leftovers were turned into a pie, followed by apple and blackberry crumble. Mick's apples and wild blackberries picked from the bushes growing on every other corner in the region. This is the life....
After the organic beef farm, we took a detour to familiarise ourselves with the local tip. We asked the guy in the gatehouse a question and he responded by handing us a brochure. Winsor quipped..."bet he was the debating champion at school!" Certainly was a man of few words. Fortunately, we were saved from making a second trip out there with our rubbish, as once more, Mick came to our rescue and took away the empty cartons. I'm sure we'll have to use the tip one of these days as collections are minimal, but not this weekend.
Sunday hosted a visit from a tiler to help inspire me about the bathroom and before he could depart, the removalist arrived with the wine from storage which he put in our collapsing woodshed. Doesn't look like 60 dozen to us - perhaps we over-estimated...We'll never drink it all anyway, in the 8 days Winsor was away, including a weekend - 57 bottles arrived...Certainly the move has not scared too many off!
I've officially lost patience with the removalist as the moron he sent to empty our two storage units at Kennards only emptied the wine unit and as they don't get to Sydney very often, we probably won't get the rest of our stuff until the 9th - one month after the house. Hardly what we were promised, they were supposed to pick it up on the 11th of Feb and now we really need some of that stuff! Can't stay angry for too long though, we just smile at each other now and zone back into "Cygnet time". At this rate, by the time we get the stuff, we won't want it anymore!
The town has a constant stream of visitors, from van loads of dread locked types to groups of young French women. Many have been here for a while, first for cherries and now for apple picking. Some have been brave enough to stay at the camping ground. I wonder how many will remain over the next few weeks as the temperature drops.
I'm now off to experiment with a new hairdresser for the 1st time in 8 years - feel a little apprehensive, I must say. Tomorrow, I venture to the big smoke, Hobart, for the first time - should be interesting.
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