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.
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