We have a 130 year old house, and so expect problems. However, we don't expect things to wrong with newly renovated items...
We had a new hot water service put in November last year, and unfortunately a widget (for want of a better word) failed. It was basically a plastic washer type thing fitting inside a metal pipe - and it broke/wore out? It could also have been the frost - as there had been some very severe frosts earlier in the week.
This meant that the hot water pipe came away from the wall, and that water was rushing out at a rather fast rate. Luckily the neighbours - Grant & Francine noticed, and they called Gordon who contacted us. However it may have been going for days - and the gas cylinder was empty (we'd forgotten to turn off the gas for the hot water)
Gordon got a mate in to put it right - and he used a metal thingy instead of a plastic one. He also saw that there was a lot of water on the ground, but when he had come back, it had disappeared - into the ground he thought.
Not so - path of least resistance was into the cellar (again)
We arrived to an indoor swmming pool:-
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| water above the shelf - more than waist deep |
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| drowned wines |
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| drowned pumpkins |
J called up the original plumber to come and pump it out - but he couldn't come until Monday, and was not even apologetic, saying that it was the 2nd plastic thing to go. Not very impressed by that!
Anyway, J went to the IGA on Saturday morning and bought a pump, and some hosing. Hooked it up - and directed it into the bath - as we didn't want to put it outside as it would probably just seep back in.
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| hooked up to run in the bath |
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| rushing water |
Justin was very impressed by the pump, and declared it the device of the decade! The cellar was emptied out in approx 1.5 hours, and we estimated 10s of 1000s of litres had literally gone down the drain. And, it could have been double that - with the water that didn't come into the cellar ie just soaked down into the ground. After pumping, a bit more water seeped back, which Justin kept removing. Should be alright
However, apart from the flood, we were also there with our good friends Karen, Mark & Zoe to celebrate Christmas in July - which we did in grand style on Saturday night.
Karen and I were the chefs :-
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| peeling local potatoes |
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| cauliflower cheese |
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| outside - putting the vegies etc in the BBQ |
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| cooking up the salt and pepper prawns |
And the kids did the decorations (also the Christmas tree - but forgot to take a photo of that)
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| ho ho ho Merrry Christmas |
- after much prodding (to get them off their laptops)
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| Kids getting ready to trim the tree |
Pre dinner festivities commenced with a swig of Mark's famous My Sharona beer (which he'd brewed himself
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| tasted pretty good |
We had also brought Basil (our cat) to Nimmitabel for the 1st time, and Karen had bought him a Christmas treat also (turkey cat food)
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| Fraser making a silly face |
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| Basil enjoying Christmas dinner |
And of course we had a roaring fire
Candles on the table, and a feast was had
Entrees were provided by Karen - 2 dozen oysters natural, and salt and pepper prawns
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| Entree:- Prawns & oysters |
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| Fraser admiring the table |
Main course was James' famous pork loin - which was truly delicious, mixed roast veg, roast potato, cauliflower cheese, peas, brussel sprouts & bacon - and delicious wines including a very special French red that was Karen's favourite
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| Zoe at table |
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| Karen at table |
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| Main course |
Karen had also introdcued us to an old Yorkshire? tradition of table gifts which she had generously purchased. I scored some daffodil bulbs which I was very happy about
We had also organised a Kris Kringle which was also quite popular. I received a couple of candles and candles sticks, and Karen similarly received candles (and soap), while Justin & Mark both received well targetted 2nd hand books. Glad to see that we know each other so well
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| Karen & her pressies |
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| Mad examining her KK gift :-a mug and mobile phone covers |
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| Zoe and her stash |
Now, given that the kids and I had arrived home to Melbourne late afternoon on Friday from Queensland and we left for Inglwood within the hour, we didn't think too much about what we would wear for this Christmas extravaganza.
However some (or one) of us did dress most beautifully
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| Beau Brummel |
Once Karen had seen the dapper Justin she had asked if we were supposed to "dress" and I said of course not, otherwise I would have said
However, it appears that a precedent has been set for next year....
Below are some miscellaneous photos taken during the evening
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| mother and daughter |
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| just the daughter |
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| Papparazzo |
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| Basil in the guitar case |
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| at table #1 |
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| at table #2 |
After main course we squeezed in some Christmas pudding and brandy butter, and then Karen's home made shortbread & mince pies. By this stage we were well and truly full and then worked if off with various exuberant dance offs - which the kids lead off with
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| M&Z |
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| F,Z&M #1 |
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| F,Z & M #2 |
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| F, Z & M #3 |
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| Fraser & Karen |
and Karen and I finished up with the nutbush. Lucikily no photos of that (on my phone at least) I was truly terrible getting most of the moves wrong. In my defence it has been decades....
So the night was a huge success, and the table ended up looking like this
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| end of the night |
We had a rather quiet Sunday - late start (even me)
