The first 100 days. What can I say? I just hope the rest of you are having as much fun.
Sadly, I'm back at work. At least it is 3 days on and 4 days off but work is work. Back to the drudgery of routine. Routine? Rut? Is there a difference? It's not that bad (really) and the drive is nothing like routine, rain one day, fog the next, 50 km an hr one day, 100 km the next.... It was a stunning 3 degrees when I got home last night and there was a cute quoll in the drive to greet me. It's yet another glorious sunny day today - but don't think the temperature cracked double figures. Maybe winter has started now, maybe not. Finally got into the garden with the camera today. Let's see if I can rise to the challenge of uploading any of them. Learn something new every day. (Showing my age now!)
Heating being installed on Monday. Can't wait!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Day 95 - Monday May 17th
Some sort of aircraft just flew overhead and Floyd barked like a maniac...short memory I must say. If he did that when we lived in Leichhardt, he'd have worn out his vocal chords by now! Took him for a walk to the bird reserve at Port Cygnet yesterday morning. The town was bathed in glorious autumn sunshine and he was at his mischievous best until the walk home, when once more he proved his eyes are bigger than his little legs and he ran out of puff on the slight incline back to the house.
It was too lovely a day and the curry at the Lotus Eaters, too much of a temptation to do the usual baked beans on toast at home yesterday so we took our place in the courtyard and had a huge, warming Thai organic beef curry with a copious amount of veg and crunchy macadamia halves on top - superb. We had a view of Mal's Pumping Services' truck with it's cheery slogans - "Your business is our business" and "Yesterday's meals on wheels" emblazoned on the sides - it conjured up truly tasteful images over lunch.
There is less sun in the Lotus Eaters' courtyard at lunchtime now. A few weeks ago, we'd be bathed in sunlight, now it is in shadow and winter is creeping in. Some locals are finding this unusually pleasant autumn weather disconcerting. No prizes for guessing how we feel about it.... The town was absolutely abuzz with locals and tourists visiting the restaurants and market. The Red Velvet Lounge was fully booked out after Steve's recent award and the Lotus Eaters was flat out but the bakery was conspicuous in its absence. Don't know the reason, but it has been closed since mid-week with no explanation. We also heard the Bits and Pizzas pizza shop has finally sold so perhaps we will see some changes there too.
Being a local in Cygnet yesterday afternoon made me feel positively glad to be alive - and in this place at this time. It just doesn't get much better than this.
On Friday, we drove to Cradle Mountain Lodge for a wine dinner. Geena, "perform a u turn when possible" GPS, sent us down country lanes lined with beautiful autumnal trees, through Coal River wine country and along about 30 kms of gravel roads through the Highland Lakes. We'd probably still be trying to find the place if we left her to it! Once we got to the destination, she was still screaming for us to "perform a u turn when possible" and declared we still had 177 kms to go. Who knows what she was thinking! However, the landscape was breathtaking in places - with the lakes the most memorable - the grass fluorescent green, the water a brilliant blue and the banks a rosy pink.
We stopped in Deloraine for petrol and asked for further directions - all we needed was a fourth opinion in the car! He warned me that as dark was not far away, the critters would soon be out to play fish with the traffic so we should take the more main road route. That was all I needed, the thought of roadkill added to an already much longer than anticipated drive up a windy mountain road in possible icy conditions. Luckily, all went well and the temperature was a temperate 3 degrees when we finally arrived at our destination.
It was a fabulous dinner of Barringwood Park wines skillfully matched with four plates of food. We walked back to our room after dinner, well plied with alcohol under the most amazing canopy of stars and what seemed like an endless Milky Way - perhaps I was just seeing double (and feeling no pain, as 3 degrees didn't feel that cold). We stayed in an enormous stunning suite. When Winsor and I stayed there before, about 20 year ago, I seem to remember a rudimentary sort of bunk room. There is quite a range of different rooms and this was true luxury at the top end. We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and then gave Geena the day off and took a more direct route home with a few shopping stops on the way.
We came home to find team McArthur had reconstructed our collapsing woodshed, chopped down some tree limbs and had a bonfire on the go. These guys are amazing! They also supplied the mushrooms for a big pot of really good soup. Only problem is, they had to move out some of the firewood and as I now have a nasty case of tennis elbow, have little inclination to put them back. Must be getting old, the fingers don't work really well without pain in the mornings now either....
Found out later, that our friend from the B&B saw the smoke emitting from our yard and came to make sure all was well. It is reassuring and pleasing to know there are such lovely people looking out for our welfare and Floyd's wellbeing.
After Seeking on the internet and trawling the newspapers for months, I have finally started a part-time job after asking the people who cleaned our chimney flue if they needed staff for their new heating shop. In spite of my jibes about Kingston (Hobart light), I now have a job there, Tuesday to Thursday. It's a way to go but so far so good and with Friday and Monday off, the hours are pretty ideal as far as I am concerned.
The local grapevine has been working overtime lately and resulted in a knock at the door recently. There was a man with a bag of freshly skinned bunnies. Surprise, surprise - he shot 8 of them but doesn't actually eat them....We now have 2 in the freezer and 2 went into the pot for a delicious stew and dumplings. It was a completely different animal to the farmed version I cooked for Winsor's birthday (that cost a small fortune). We've now had the Veggo, the Fisho and the Rabbitoh. I really love the way the new world meets the old world in this town. Can only be a good thing for those of us who love to hunt and those who love to gather! Wonder what other surprises are in store for the doorstep in the future....Maybe a chook that actually lays eggs!
It was too lovely a day and the curry at the Lotus Eaters, too much of a temptation to do the usual baked beans on toast at home yesterday so we took our place in the courtyard and had a huge, warming Thai organic beef curry with a copious amount of veg and crunchy macadamia halves on top - superb. We had a view of Mal's Pumping Services' truck with it's cheery slogans - "Your business is our business" and "Yesterday's meals on wheels" emblazoned on the sides - it conjured up truly tasteful images over lunch.
There is less sun in the Lotus Eaters' courtyard at lunchtime now. A few weeks ago, we'd be bathed in sunlight, now it is in shadow and winter is creeping in. Some locals are finding this unusually pleasant autumn weather disconcerting. No prizes for guessing how we feel about it.... The town was absolutely abuzz with locals and tourists visiting the restaurants and market. The Red Velvet Lounge was fully booked out after Steve's recent award and the Lotus Eaters was flat out but the bakery was conspicuous in its absence. Don't know the reason, but it has been closed since mid-week with no explanation. We also heard the Bits and Pizzas pizza shop has finally sold so perhaps we will see some changes there too.
Being a local in Cygnet yesterday afternoon made me feel positively glad to be alive - and in this place at this time. It just doesn't get much better than this.
On Friday, we drove to Cradle Mountain Lodge for a wine dinner. Geena, "perform a u turn when possible" GPS, sent us down country lanes lined with beautiful autumnal trees, through Coal River wine country and along about 30 kms of gravel roads through the Highland Lakes. We'd probably still be trying to find the place if we left her to it! Once we got to the destination, she was still screaming for us to "perform a u turn when possible" and declared we still had 177 kms to go. Who knows what she was thinking! However, the landscape was breathtaking in places - with the lakes the most memorable - the grass fluorescent green, the water a brilliant blue and the banks a rosy pink.
We stopped in Deloraine for petrol and asked for further directions - all we needed was a fourth opinion in the car! He warned me that as dark was not far away, the critters would soon be out to play fish with the traffic so we should take the more main road route. That was all I needed, the thought of roadkill added to an already much longer than anticipated drive up a windy mountain road in possible icy conditions. Luckily, all went well and the temperature was a temperate 3 degrees when we finally arrived at our destination.
It was a fabulous dinner of Barringwood Park wines skillfully matched with four plates of food. We walked back to our room after dinner, well plied with alcohol under the most amazing canopy of stars and what seemed like an endless Milky Way - perhaps I was just seeing double (and feeling no pain, as 3 degrees didn't feel that cold). We stayed in an enormous stunning suite. When Winsor and I stayed there before, about 20 year ago, I seem to remember a rudimentary sort of bunk room. There is quite a range of different rooms and this was true luxury at the top end. We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and then gave Geena the day off and took a more direct route home with a few shopping stops on the way.
We came home to find team McArthur had reconstructed our collapsing woodshed, chopped down some tree limbs and had a bonfire on the go. These guys are amazing! They also supplied the mushrooms for a big pot of really good soup. Only problem is, they had to move out some of the firewood and as I now have a nasty case of tennis elbow, have little inclination to put them back. Must be getting old, the fingers don't work really well without pain in the mornings now either....
Found out later, that our friend from the B&B saw the smoke emitting from our yard and came to make sure all was well. It is reassuring and pleasing to know there are such lovely people looking out for our welfare and Floyd's wellbeing.
After Seeking on the internet and trawling the newspapers for months, I have finally started a part-time job after asking the people who cleaned our chimney flue if they needed staff for their new heating shop. In spite of my jibes about Kingston (Hobart light), I now have a job there, Tuesday to Thursday. It's a way to go but so far so good and with Friday and Monday off, the hours are pretty ideal as far as I am concerned.
The local grapevine has been working overtime lately and resulted in a knock at the door recently. There was a man with a bag of freshly skinned bunnies. Surprise, surprise - he shot 8 of them but doesn't actually eat them....We now have 2 in the freezer and 2 went into the pot for a delicious stew and dumplings. It was a completely different animal to the farmed version I cooked for Winsor's birthday (that cost a small fortune). We've now had the Veggo, the Fisho and the Rabbitoh. I really love the way the new world meets the old world in this town. Can only be a good thing for those of us who love to hunt and those who love to gather! Wonder what other surprises are in store for the doorstep in the future....Maybe a chook that actually lays eggs!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Day 84 - Thursday 6th May
Picture this Sydneysiders (if you dare...). Headed to the airport on Tuesday night to retrieve the husband from his latest sojourn and arrived 20 minutes early (unheard of, I know) and found an area specifically dedicated to pick ups and drop offs. That was the first shock to the system. But then I parked my car and sat in it...and sat and sat and sat.... I was passed by no fewer than 4 parking Nazis (disguised as Security) several times, and not one tried to move me on or even hint I was doing something wrong. The defences were up, I was ready to bolt, or stay and fight, I wasn't prepared to be left alone. Took all my self control not to roll down the window down and confront one of them about their lackadaisical work ethic...was I invisible? It was distressing, where's the fun in being left alone and not being hassled by some jobsworth, should be ashamed of themselves.
The adventurous drive home made up for the Zen airport incident. A lumbering wombat from the left, about to tempt fate, followed by a possum that tempted fate and lost. Slowed down for it...gave it the opportunity to keep going, instead it stopped - and signed its own death certificate! Sorry guys, notched up my first road kill...When it comes to possums, plenty more where that came from. But if they're all that stupid..maybe not! When we got home a bunny bounded across the backyard, the endless array of critters here is never ending. Bunnies appear to be quite active at the moment. Floyd and I did a scout around the bike park a day or so ago and it is full of rabbit attempts to dig holes and build warrens - great sport for a Jack Russell Terrorist to wear himself out.
Also when we got home, we found the fairy god father had been and left us a big basket of fresh field mushrooms. (His wife had already made dinner and he only likes his mushys fresh! What a perspective...fresh here means picked that day. Fresh in my past, could have been snap frozen a year ago and transported across the planet!) Organic eye fillet and mushrooms on the menu tonight. Getting horribly spoilt here, I tried eating some packet food recently. It was either dire or just tasted artificial (because it was?)...probably a combination of both. Having a good supply has done nothing to curb my desire to go hunting for mushys. Think I must have been reincarnated from a truffle dog.
The disbelieving husband had me doubting my ears when he got back. What rooster? It was just a neighbouring critter or I was hearing things when I counted 22 cocka doodle dos at 4.51am on Monday. He had just about convinced me, when Mel C let rip in the yard yesterday morning and left us in no doubt whatsoever. Had we bothered to take a decent look at she/he in the past few days, there would have been no doubt earlier. Mel C has progressed from Spice Girl to tranny to the full sex change op. Malcomb, as I know him as now, has a wonderful strut, a cute little comb, a very impressive waddle (is that what we call the red flabby bits off his chin?), some gorgeous turquoise tinted tail feathers and a confident rooster chant. That's the trouble with roosters, they're so impressive, it's hard to part with them for the pot. And how disappointing would this Sussex bantam be? Picked 3 of them up recently and they are barely a handful. Would have to be the most expensive over sized quail to hit a dinner plate. Though I'm not sure how letting him hang around makes him any better value for money. They continue to confound me with how much they eat and shit (and refuse to do any work!). Even life as a chook here is great.
RVL (Red Velvet Lounge) chef, Steve Cumper has won Country Style magazine's Country chef of the year award. His reputation and restaurant were already on the map, with diners heading from Hobart on Fridays and Saturdays to enjoy his fare. Now the rest of the country will get to know about his restaurant and our little town. We're keen for him to be a success to ensure we continue to have some fabulous (and some not so fabulous) dishes at our doorstep. If he keeps producing delights like the Nicholls (local) chicken in masterstock with Shittake mushrooms like I had the other day, he will have me as a fan forever! Well done Steve.
On that note...Winsor keeps spreading the gospel about Cygneture chocolates and seems to be addicting followers, one at a time. He says I should approach her to do her marketing. What does she need me for, Winsor is doing a fine job and she can't keep up as it is. Another thriving local industry...bring it on.
Have an interview today (a job I applied for 6 weeks ago) and several more coming up. My unemployed days may soon be at an end. Time to get on with it. Cheers.
The adventurous drive home made up for the Zen airport incident. A lumbering wombat from the left, about to tempt fate, followed by a possum that tempted fate and lost. Slowed down for it...gave it the opportunity to keep going, instead it stopped - and signed its own death certificate! Sorry guys, notched up my first road kill...When it comes to possums, plenty more where that came from. But if they're all that stupid..maybe not! When we got home a bunny bounded across the backyard, the endless array of critters here is never ending. Bunnies appear to be quite active at the moment. Floyd and I did a scout around the bike park a day or so ago and it is full of rabbit attempts to dig holes and build warrens - great sport for a Jack Russell Terrorist to wear himself out.
Also when we got home, we found the fairy god father had been and left us a big basket of fresh field mushrooms. (His wife had already made dinner and he only likes his mushys fresh! What a perspective...fresh here means picked that day. Fresh in my past, could have been snap frozen a year ago and transported across the planet!) Organic eye fillet and mushrooms on the menu tonight. Getting horribly spoilt here, I tried eating some packet food recently. It was either dire or just tasted artificial (because it was?)...probably a combination of both. Having a good supply has done nothing to curb my desire to go hunting for mushys. Think I must have been reincarnated from a truffle dog.
The disbelieving husband had me doubting my ears when he got back. What rooster? It was just a neighbouring critter or I was hearing things when I counted 22 cocka doodle dos at 4.51am on Monday. He had just about convinced me, when Mel C let rip in the yard yesterday morning and left us in no doubt whatsoever. Had we bothered to take a decent look at she/he in the past few days, there would have been no doubt earlier. Mel C has progressed from Spice Girl to tranny to the full sex change op. Malcomb, as I know him as now, has a wonderful strut, a cute little comb, a very impressive waddle (is that what we call the red flabby bits off his chin?), some gorgeous turquoise tinted tail feathers and a confident rooster chant. That's the trouble with roosters, they're so impressive, it's hard to part with them for the pot. And how disappointing would this Sussex bantam be? Picked 3 of them up recently and they are barely a handful. Would have to be the most expensive over sized quail to hit a dinner plate. Though I'm not sure how letting him hang around makes him any better value for money. They continue to confound me with how much they eat and shit (and refuse to do any work!). Even life as a chook here is great.
RVL (Red Velvet Lounge) chef, Steve Cumper has won Country Style magazine's Country chef of the year award. His reputation and restaurant were already on the map, with diners heading from Hobart on Fridays and Saturdays to enjoy his fare. Now the rest of the country will get to know about his restaurant and our little town. We're keen for him to be a success to ensure we continue to have some fabulous (and some not so fabulous) dishes at our doorstep. If he keeps producing delights like the Nicholls (local) chicken in masterstock with Shittake mushrooms like I had the other day, he will have me as a fan forever! Well done Steve.
On that note...Winsor keeps spreading the gospel about Cygneture chocolates and seems to be addicting followers, one at a time. He says I should approach her to do her marketing. What does she need me for, Winsor is doing a fine job and she can't keep up as it is. Another thriving local industry...bring it on.
Have an interview today (a job I applied for 6 weeks ago) and several more coming up. My unemployed days may soon be at an end. Time to get on with it. Cheers.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Day 80 - Sunday 2nd May
Awoke yesterday morning to the unmistakable sounds of a rooster...cocka doodle do!And to leave me in no doubt, there were 9 further chants of "cocka doodle do". All quiet on the southern front this morning....a reluctant rooster or someone else's? Time will tell but I was sure it was one of our "girls" yesterday and I bet it's Mel C from the Spice Girl team.
Yesterday was a hard slog in the garden and a couple of quick walks with Floyd. I'm so classy nowadays, I noticed when I got home from the first walk, not only was my t shirt on back to front but inside out as well. God help me if I ever get another job, I'll need a refresher course in my personal appearance!
I found a fairytale toadstool in the garden - one of those cute red ones with white spots. Wonder if there are pixies at the bottom of the garden too....(feral cats would probably eat them.)
Came across a fish stand selling mutton birds the other day. Being keen on trying most foods (that brought back memories of dire alpaca), I asked about it. She said don't cook it indoors as it stinks but it tastes delicious! Ughhhhhhhhh. Seems somewhat incongruous to me. Arthur tells me he used to catch them - they are full of oil and so revoltingly smelly that once he finished preparing them, he had to throw his clothes away. How hungry would you have to be? How good can they taste? I can safely say I won't be experimenting with it anytime in the near future.
The other interesting snippet I heard recently is that about 50% of fishermen in Tassy can't swim. This is because they reckon the water is so cold, the cold would kill you before drowning...interesting logic. Apparently, they're not that fond of life jackets either. Its a risky business.
Winsor is in South Australia and I'm now at the picture hanging stage. It's all coming together well and there's light at the end of the tunnel. Only the work front has been slow - not a lot about and not easy to secure something. No doubt once I'm successful with one application, I'll get offered another. Will worry about that if it happens. Til next time....
Yesterday was a hard slog in the garden and a couple of quick walks with Floyd. I'm so classy nowadays, I noticed when I got home from the first walk, not only was my t shirt on back to front but inside out as well. God help me if I ever get another job, I'll need a refresher course in my personal appearance!
I found a fairytale toadstool in the garden - one of those cute red ones with white spots. Wonder if there are pixies at the bottom of the garden too....(feral cats would probably eat them.)
Came across a fish stand selling mutton birds the other day. Being keen on trying most foods (that brought back memories of dire alpaca), I asked about it. She said don't cook it indoors as it stinks but it tastes delicious! Ughhhhhhhhh. Seems somewhat incongruous to me. Arthur tells me he used to catch them - they are full of oil and so revoltingly smelly that once he finished preparing them, he had to throw his clothes away. How hungry would you have to be? How good can they taste? I can safely say I won't be experimenting with it anytime in the near future.
The other interesting snippet I heard recently is that about 50% of fishermen in Tassy can't swim. This is because they reckon the water is so cold, the cold would kill you before drowning...interesting logic. Apparently, they're not that fond of life jackets either. Its a risky business.
Winsor is in South Australia and I'm now at the picture hanging stage. It's all coming together well and there's light at the end of the tunnel. Only the work front has been slow - not a lot about and not easy to secure something. No doubt once I'm successful with one application, I'll get offered another. Will worry about that if it happens. Til next time....
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Day 76 - 28th April
That's it folks - I'm a Tasmanian! I have parted with my NSW licence and number plates and am now proudly sporting a pair of new white and blue stunners. Haven't had much time to contemplate such things but that felt like some sort of milestone - it only scared me for a few seconds! That was Monday, a public holiday on the north island, but not here - we like to be contrary. No wonder I fit in so well. Next I can get on the electoral roll and join the confusion of the Tassy system.
On Anzac Day itself I watched the parade and speeches at the local war memorial through the front/back fence. I was drawn to it as I was working in the garden. It's never been my thing, it always seemed like a glorification of war but I think I am changing my view. It felt quite poignant in a small town and small state. One speaker mentioned that for one war, 3500 Tasmanians went to fight and something like 2300 returned. When you live in a town of 800, it's hard to imagine how devastating any losses must have been.
On a cheerier note, a large flock of tiny, olive green finches (or wrens) have dropped by a couple of times - darting through the trees and bathing in our bird bath - what a racket and what a sight. I've also seen a bluebird - reminiscent of the bluebird of happiness from my childhood. There are birds here I didn't know existed -they are such a pleasure.
On Monday we rose to our first frost and zero degrees according to our highly inaccurate outdoor thermometer. Today has been cold, windy and wet, which though well above zero, has felt like the coldest day so far. We really do weather here - winter is truly on the way now and it's time to get serious about the heating.
What is it about looking like crap that draws out all the people you know? Winsor insisted we go to the Red Velvet Lounge for (a quick) lunch yesterday and there they were...just about every person I know and would prefer not be seen by in a dirty tracksuit, with filthy hair and no makeup. They were busy and there was plenty of socialising so a quick lunch took 2 hours. To add insult to injury, I have started on the last frontier - the hobby room. Half the house was turned upside down, and we've had 3 people in the past day drop by for a look at the house. There clearly is no place for pretence in this town...perhaps I need to let go. (Nooooooooo, don't think I'm ready for that yet..)
Winsor keeps coming home with dangerous treats - warm baguettes (should be a law against that!)and handmade chocolates by Cygneture that he appears to be gaining a real appetite for (thankfully, I can stop at one....or two). Mick has brought me a supply of fresh eggs and Bruce has dropped off some fresh smoked trout. Food, glorious food..there's so much of it here and not a packet in sight! Good thing I'm working hard or I'd be the side of a house.
We have been invited to dinner again tonight by a couple we ran into at lunch yesterday and Winsor knows from the Hunter. They also have a house nearby and are moving between the two. I have always loved dinner parties and this is our third in 10 days. The only problem is the drink/driving issue - Tassy police are not to be trifled with, they are everywhere.
Enough chatter, time to get ready. Will update again soon.
The chooks continue to be barren and eating their weight in food everyday. We had 3 Spice Girl escapees the other day and struggled to find them at dusk. There they were, perched on the front/back fence. Good thing we found them, before a feral cat did.
Our local craftsman (supplier of the Spice Girls) fitted doors to the kitchen fireplace today. He made them from recycled timber from the Old Woodstore in the city. They look fantastic and its great to know the provenance of the timber.
On Anzac Day itself I watched the parade and speeches at the local war memorial through the front/back fence. I was drawn to it as I was working in the garden. It's never been my thing, it always seemed like a glorification of war but I think I am changing my view. It felt quite poignant in a small town and small state. One speaker mentioned that for one war, 3500 Tasmanians went to fight and something like 2300 returned. When you live in a town of 800, it's hard to imagine how devastating any losses must have been.
On a cheerier note, a large flock of tiny, olive green finches (or wrens) have dropped by a couple of times - darting through the trees and bathing in our bird bath - what a racket and what a sight. I've also seen a bluebird - reminiscent of the bluebird of happiness from my childhood. There are birds here I didn't know existed -they are such a pleasure.
On Monday we rose to our first frost and zero degrees according to our highly inaccurate outdoor thermometer. Today has been cold, windy and wet, which though well above zero, has felt like the coldest day so far. We really do weather here - winter is truly on the way now and it's time to get serious about the heating.
What is it about looking like crap that draws out all the people you know? Winsor insisted we go to the Red Velvet Lounge for (a quick) lunch yesterday and there they were...just about every person I know and would prefer not be seen by in a dirty tracksuit, with filthy hair and no makeup. They were busy and there was plenty of socialising so a quick lunch took 2 hours. To add insult to injury, I have started on the last frontier - the hobby room. Half the house was turned upside down, and we've had 3 people in the past day drop by for a look at the house. There clearly is no place for pretence in this town...perhaps I need to let go. (Nooooooooo, don't think I'm ready for that yet..)
Winsor keeps coming home with dangerous treats - warm baguettes (should be a law against that!)and handmade chocolates by Cygneture that he appears to be gaining a real appetite for (thankfully, I can stop at one....or two). Mick has brought me a supply of fresh eggs and Bruce has dropped off some fresh smoked trout. Food, glorious food..there's so much of it here and not a packet in sight! Good thing I'm working hard or I'd be the side of a house.
We have been invited to dinner again tonight by a couple we ran into at lunch yesterday and Winsor knows from the Hunter. They also have a house nearby and are moving between the two. I have always loved dinner parties and this is our third in 10 days. The only problem is the drink/driving issue - Tassy police are not to be trifled with, they are everywhere.
Enough chatter, time to get ready. Will update again soon.
The chooks continue to be barren and eating their weight in food everyday. We had 3 Spice Girl escapees the other day and struggled to find them at dusk. There they were, perched on the front/back fence. Good thing we found them, before a feral cat did.
Our local craftsman (supplier of the Spice Girls) fitted doors to the kitchen fireplace today. He made them from recycled timber from the Old Woodstore in the city. They look fantastic and its great to know the provenance of the timber.
Friday, April 23, 2010
She's back.....24th April
Hello all, I'm back!
Mum, in Geelong, had a few days in hospital and I flew to the north island to look after her at home for a few days around Easter. In order not to suffer too much home sickness, I organised a skip and a few friends to empty the rubbish out of her garage and also got stuck into a big "boy" prune in part of her garden. Needless to say all that lead to a back spasm....but that's another story. All in all, the trip was quite fun, caught up with an old friend, my sister and nephew and tried my damnedest to look after my stubborn Mum. Thankfully, she seems to be almost back to normal now and happily celebrating her 88th birthday today.
Tis mushroom season now and I have been a bit obsessed after finding a couple early on - getting out into the paddocks looking for them. Anyone would think I was truffle hunting, they're pretty elusive - worth it though, they are delicious when they are that fresh. Getting a bit spoilt here - it's fresh everything. The Mcarthur team have brought us more veggies today. Winsor just described the carrots as small island nations, then there's the leeks, silverbeet, squash, pumpkin, tomatoes, spuds, apples - you get the drift. Our pears are dropping from the tree and the lemons are finally turning yellow. It's hard to use it all. The chooks have helped with leftovers and we know how good veg is for their eggs. Now that's a touchy subject - WHAT EGGS? Seldom have we seen critters that eat so much and not a sign of an egg! We're contemplating putting an axe in eyesight to see if they get the hint! Mel C is looking more and more like a rooster every day and Winsor is confident one of the Dixie Chicks also has questionable gender. They might as well all be boys if all they do is eat and shit! One train of thought is that if they haven't done so yet, they won't lay now until spring as there's too little daylight in the winter. Pays to be patient...they will be very expensive eggs by then!
Speaking of patience, we've had a constant stream of tradesmen. It's proving difficult to get a bill from one or a quote from another but good progress has been made. The sheds and carport are built, the water tank is installed (had to cut down a Council fencepost to get it in - imagine doing that in Sydney!), all the fences are done. Heating is next and then I can push to get the bathroom underway - 3 weeks without a bathroom - can't wait!
The Indian summer has continued but the weather is starting to turn and today has just about had it all. 2 tonne of wood has been delivered - wasn't that fun to lug and stack in the woodshed.... The bird life has changed in the garden, we now have daily visits from a solo olive green & yellow honey eater, as well as a bunch of robins with eye-watering red breasts. Smelling the roses, watching the birds, picking wild mushrooms...all beat the daily commute. This is the life!
Mind you, not all guests are welcome with a dead starling in the bedroom fireplace and a family of mice scurrying around the house. Must have beat some sort of record, I caught 6 in traps filled (with crunchy peanut butter) over a few days and now the squeaking and trail of mouse turds seems to have been abated. I feel reassured we are not the only ones housing rodents but there are many gaps in this house so numerous places to enter. The past owners stuffed the gaps with aluminium foil because of the misguided view that mice can't eat the stuff. Funny how they managed to munch through foil to eat an Easter egg! I have an aversion to whistling winds indoors, I plan to handle the issue of gaps with something more robust than a bit of tinfoil...(and something more robust to deal with mice, as well). Can't imagine how hideous this house was for past owners - barely any heating, insulation or lighting and then spaces in the walls that you can see daylight through...clearly they are made of sterner stuff than us.
Last night we had dinner with even fresher residents of Cygnet. A lovely couple, Ian and Anne, who have only been here for 2 weeks and are friends of my ex-boss in Sydney (talk about 6 degrees of separation!). They clearly are a damn sight more organised than me, as they turned on a delightful Indian feast in their beautiful architecturally designed home overlooking the water. Tonight, we're off to another dinner party...perhaps we are looking a little underfed! It's time for me to pull my finger out and invite some new friends over...
Floyd is still having a fantastic time and is now proudly sporting his Huonville Council tag. He seems to have become a bit blase, not even bothering to react to the enormous possum we saw in the yard when we got home last night. He gave one of our chooks a nudge yesterday. I'm sure he'd love to rip its head off but wouldn't dare try anything with us watching. He's have the time of his life, time to give him another adventure and look for some mushys. A dog smiling....absolutely priceless.
Mum, in Geelong, had a few days in hospital and I flew to the north island to look after her at home for a few days around Easter. In order not to suffer too much home sickness, I organised a skip and a few friends to empty the rubbish out of her garage and also got stuck into a big "boy" prune in part of her garden. Needless to say all that lead to a back spasm....but that's another story. All in all, the trip was quite fun, caught up with an old friend, my sister and nephew and tried my damnedest to look after my stubborn Mum. Thankfully, she seems to be almost back to normal now and happily celebrating her 88th birthday today.
Tis mushroom season now and I have been a bit obsessed after finding a couple early on - getting out into the paddocks looking for them. Anyone would think I was truffle hunting, they're pretty elusive - worth it though, they are delicious when they are that fresh. Getting a bit spoilt here - it's fresh everything. The Mcarthur team have brought us more veggies today. Winsor just described the carrots as small island nations, then there's the leeks, silverbeet, squash, pumpkin, tomatoes, spuds, apples - you get the drift. Our pears are dropping from the tree and the lemons are finally turning yellow. It's hard to use it all. The chooks have helped with leftovers and we know how good veg is for their eggs. Now that's a touchy subject - WHAT EGGS? Seldom have we seen critters that eat so much and not a sign of an egg! We're contemplating putting an axe in eyesight to see if they get the hint! Mel C is looking more and more like a rooster every day and Winsor is confident one of the Dixie Chicks also has questionable gender. They might as well all be boys if all they do is eat and shit! One train of thought is that if they haven't done so yet, they won't lay now until spring as there's too little daylight in the winter. Pays to be patient...they will be very expensive eggs by then!
Speaking of patience, we've had a constant stream of tradesmen. It's proving difficult to get a bill from one or a quote from another but good progress has been made. The sheds and carport are built, the water tank is installed (had to cut down a Council fencepost to get it in - imagine doing that in Sydney!), all the fences are done. Heating is next and then I can push to get the bathroom underway - 3 weeks without a bathroom - can't wait!
The Indian summer has continued but the weather is starting to turn and today has just about had it all. 2 tonne of wood has been delivered - wasn't that fun to lug and stack in the woodshed.... The bird life has changed in the garden, we now have daily visits from a solo olive green & yellow honey eater, as well as a bunch of robins with eye-watering red breasts. Smelling the roses, watching the birds, picking wild mushrooms...all beat the daily commute. This is the life!
Mind you, not all guests are welcome with a dead starling in the bedroom fireplace and a family of mice scurrying around the house. Must have beat some sort of record, I caught 6 in traps filled (with crunchy peanut butter) over a few days and now the squeaking and trail of mouse turds seems to have been abated. I feel reassured we are not the only ones housing rodents but there are many gaps in this house so numerous places to enter. The past owners stuffed the gaps with aluminium foil because of the misguided view that mice can't eat the stuff. Funny how they managed to munch through foil to eat an Easter egg! I have an aversion to whistling winds indoors, I plan to handle the issue of gaps with something more robust than a bit of tinfoil...(and something more robust to deal with mice, as well). Can't imagine how hideous this house was for past owners - barely any heating, insulation or lighting and then spaces in the walls that you can see daylight through...clearly they are made of sterner stuff than us.
Last night we had dinner with even fresher residents of Cygnet. A lovely couple, Ian and Anne, who have only been here for 2 weeks and are friends of my ex-boss in Sydney (talk about 6 degrees of separation!). They clearly are a damn sight more organised than me, as they turned on a delightful Indian feast in their beautiful architecturally designed home overlooking the water. Tonight, we're off to another dinner party...perhaps we are looking a little underfed! It's time for me to pull my finger out and invite some new friends over...
Floyd is still having a fantastic time and is now proudly sporting his Huonville Council tag. He seems to have become a bit blase, not even bothering to react to the enormous possum we saw in the yard when we got home last night. He gave one of our chooks a nudge yesterday. I'm sure he'd love to rip its head off but wouldn't dare try anything with us watching. He's have the time of his life, time to give him another adventure and look for some mushys. A dog smiling....absolutely priceless.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Days since my last update - 29th March
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...
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...
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