Kitchen Flood 22 and 23rd June 2019

Yet another flood....

No, not in the cellar this time - we've had a few of those, and know what to expect

This time in the kitchen

I walked in and was confronted with a lot of water on floorboards around the sink, a full sink, and a very slowly dripping tap

However this had happened, who knows, it was a combination of errors

1. The plug was fully in the drain hole - why?  we never leave it like that   

and

2. The hot water tap had been left slightly dripping....Note, they are stupid old taps with washers, not a ceramic disc, so I guess that part is easy to do

Anyway, first the sink filled, and then excess cascaded onto the floor

I was too horrified to take photos

Justin however sprang into action with a mop, and got rid of the surface water.  However the floorboards have warped ie expanded and curled up a bit. We then tried to dry the boards with a heater for some hours.

We're not happy, but no fingers were pointed.  It was just one of those things.   

Had our lunch outside, and then I put my cold weather coveralls and a hat on and went out weeded, and also moved some of those self sown poppies

Justin meanwhile did some more work on the front door

Fraser was waiting in Nagambie with his mate Angus to go sky diving

And Madeleine had left for a 3 month trip to Europe with 6 of her girlfriends yesterday - and was still in transit

So weeded pretty uneventfully till about 5pm, by which time my hands were freezing - and the rest of me was pretty cold too

Had a hot bath before dinner to thaw out

And a bit of music later

Sunday, and  it was a cold morning - frost again

The media also reported that it was the coldest June day in Melbourne since 1985 - it was cold here in Inglewood, but it was a brilliant sunny day, so it was actually much nicer than yesterday

Justin discovered that the cupboard under the sink was also full of water on the bottom shelf (was surprisingly water tight)

He cleaned this out too, which was a bt revolting as there was a combination of mouse poo and mouse poison floating around in it

He also had to put something protective over a thin strip of floor that had come off and had to be reglued

So. more weeding for me

Justin sanded down the door a bit

And Terry dropped in to say hello

Dunolly Gilbert and Sullivan Festival Queens Birthday Long Weekend 8 - 10 June 2019

Had a slower Saturday start than normal, as we thought we'd go straight to Dunolly and have lunch there before Patience at 2pm, rather than go to Inglewood, and then onto Dunolly

The drive was relatively uneventful until we took the Fogartys Gap Road exit and was stuck behind a very wide load slowing chugging up the hill.  It was a tractor towing a thresher?  As you can see it was well over the other side of the road - and at that stage there were double lines.  Justin advised that I keep well back (I was driving) in case a car came in the opposite direction....

One did, but luckily after we had made it up the hill

The tractor driver also signalled for me to overtake on the flat as he could see that there were no oncoming cars.

Google Maps took us on what I thought was a bit of a strange route. I thought we would have gone up to Maldon, and then just followed the road to Dunolly, but we made a number of left/right turns, and ended up approaching Dunolly from a surprising direction.

Thought we'd go to the cafe that we went to last time for lunch.  However once there, it looked as though the service would be slow, ( we had given ourselves just over an hour) so we went onto the Railway Pub.

Coincidentally, saw Terry and co there finishing off their lunch

We had a table by the fire, and I had the calamari which was very nice, and Justin had flathead tails.  The pub dining room was also pleasant - had kept the period features, high ceilings, open fire etc - so was quite atmospheric

The service was quick, and the food was good, Alex and April came and joined us also - but not for lunch.

I left for the Town Hall with April around 1.45, while J and A finished their coffees

Saw Rachel in the front hall, and was surprised that she didn't introduce the operetta...

Patience was a rollicking good show, and the women especially had excellent singing voices

The show finished up around 4.40pm, so we drove back to Inglewood, and spied a cheeky roadside kangaroo on the way.

Unpacked, had a wander/inspection around the garden, and then drove up to Terry's as he had kindly invited the 4 of us to dinner (as well as Arleen, David & June).  Justin and I elected to stay in our fancy clothes for dinner

Encountered a bold/stupid kangaroo on the Kingower Road - just sitting in the middle of it.  I braked, and it eventually loped off.

Had some halved chillies with flavoured cream cheese and smoked salmon and cheeses for starters - very nice

And then an eggplant parmagiana and green salad.  A homemade apple pie with cream rounded out the evening

Of course a guitar or two were pulled out , and David and Justin entertained us.  David christened the two of them the Elderly Brothers - I think Justin thought he was a bit "young" for this appellation

Terry and I also discussed an upcoming film night (in 2 weeks) and also a Christmas in July - where we would have French food ie Beef bourguignon and French onion soup etc, rather than traditional Christmas foods

No kangaroos on the way home - good

Foggy start to the morning

I read the Age online, and got out of bed around 8am.  Was pleasantly surprised to find the dining room relatively warm and cosy.  Alex had come down earlier with his heater, and turned it on.

Had a simple breakfast of toast and coffee, and then put my overalls on and went out into the garden

It was still quite wet out there from the heavy dew.  - with dew drops glistening on green blades of grass

 Some of the pomegranates that I'd left on the tree had "exploded"

And one of the geraniums that I'd planted recently had turned a striking red

And the self seeded poppies are going gang busters

I really must thin them out

Anyway, my self imposed job today was digging holes for the proposed trellis fence to close in the front orchard, and then grow kiwi fruit on.

Troy had advised that the bloke who was going to dig the post holes had been sick, and his son had temporarily taken over, but was backed up

So I thought we, or I, could dig the holes with the post hole digger - especially given that the soil was damp and therefore softer than normal

Justin kindly set up some string in order to keep the line straight and put in some bamboo stick markers as to where the holes should be

The only thing was that Troy had advised that the water plastic pipe was in line with the tap, which was in line with the fence.  So I had to ask him where to dig, and he suggested on the outside of the line - so as to avoid the pipe

So, armed with my trusty post hole digger, I started.....

Was more tiring than I had thought it would be

Started my first hole and got down about 40cm or so, and then had some resistance, yep, it was the pipe

So, I left that hole and started on some others -  this time with the string as the mid point

Eventually got stuck again - as up at the Storm Lane end I came across a loop of wire about 10cm down (like a clothes hanger).  Thought it was just rubbish and would have pulled it out, however, it was holding a junction of the pipes in place

It was at this stage that I gave up, and thought I'd leave it to the experts....(as per Justin's wishes)

Justin in the mean time was busy chopping wood, as April was studying in the dining room.  And although Alex had the heater on in there, he also had a roaring fire going, and was chewing through a lot of firewood

Had a modest antipasto lunch in the dining room quite toasty with the fire and heater, and then I went back outside and did some more gardening - weeding this time,as the weeds - particularly oxalis were going mad and growing "like topsy"

Maile (and then Terry & Arleen) had told me that Mark & Chris :- Both Banks were having a vintage release - their first commercial one, from 1pm today /(Sunday)

They said that there would be food, drink, music etc

So, we expected that, but were rather surprised by how many people there were there.  Lots and Lots 100 or so?

And I was still in my paint and dirt spattered overalls...We only thought we'd just drop in, and I'd probably do more gardening afterwards, so I didn't want to shower and change twice

Well, I was roundly/gently told off as I approached familiar faces

My defence was that I had dressed to the 9s yesterday, so didn't today....Didn't really wash.  Had fun though.

Sat around a fire for warmth, had a glass or 2 of red and chatted with friends

Stayed for about an hour, and then it was back to the weeding (would have stayed longer, but we had Alex and April back at the house)

Came in from weeding around 5.30.  Didn't think I was cold until I got in the shower, and realised  that I was actually freezing.

Stayed in the hot shower perhaps longer than I should have, and the bathroom was so steamy by the time I finished that I couldn't see my reflection in the mirror in order to comb my hair

Had a G&T by the fire, and wandered up to the Empire after 7pm

We basically had the dining room to ourselves, and were served very quickly.  There were a few new items on the menu - so I tried the chicken Kiev, which was very good

April tried her luck at the chocolate claw, and after many of Alex's dollars got 4 pieces which she shared

Back to the house, and we watched Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.  April had seen the female remake and was keen to see the original. She enjoyed it, as did we

Another slowish start on Monday morning, and Alex had the heater on in the dining room again for breakfast.

Alex and April left soon after breakfast, as April had another engagement in town

Justin and I took a few boxes of Mum's stuff to Steve & Denise - spilt between retro stuff for the shop, and tools/hardware for the men's shed

I did more gardening, and also picked olives - just the large ones. 

Brown weekend 25 & 26 May 2019

Another social weekend - this time with one of my work colleagues - Alison and her charming family.

Justin and I arrived just before 12, so I rushed to the butcher, but  they didn't have any pork racks (pity)

The two of us had a leisurely lunch on the back veranda, and I dropped some more of Mum's stuff around to Denise ie Deluxe Mastermind, retro beach bag etc

Next task was to get dinner ready - slow cooked lamb shoulder, and a sticky date pudding

I wanted the lamb in the oven around 1pm, as it needed to be cooked for approx 5 hours

Given that Alison and co were arriving around 3pm, I didn't change into my overalls to do any work, rather went upstairs and read The Age online

And yes, they (Alison, Gregor, Isla, Beth, and Bronte the dog) did arrive at 3pm - peeked on them from the veranda to catch their first impressions....

Gave them the grand tour - and then settled them into their rooms - red room for the adults, and green room opposite for the girls.

Once this was done, I had a few suggestions for what we could do...

ie wineries, Melville Caves, walk down the main street etc

The wineries won, and we set off, although by this stage it was nearing 4pm

The Blanche Barkly open sign was out so drove in - but no one was there.  I tried calling Arlene, but I had no mobile reception

So, we continued onto to Kangerderaar winery.

There was another customer couple there, and  the woman who is normally there wasn't.  It was her husband, I enquired after her (after all this time, I don't know her name), and was told that she was resting, had had a turn with her heart.

We were informed that they are closing down at the end of June.  It was just getting too much for them, they'll keep living there, but do nothing with the vines.

We found that very sad (but inevitable).  Alison joked that I should take it on....

We tried some of the reds, and bought a dozen - could pick which ones we wanted to make up a dozen for $140, and we also took a punt on 3 x aged red wines that they had dug up from their cellar for $10 each

We then continued on to Melville Caves, and saw lots of of kangaroos - given that the day had become overcast and gloomy and a little bit rainy.  Went to the lookout, and through the caves etc.  Browns liked it

And then back to the house, was drizzling by then.

Peeled the potatoes, and put them in the oven, and then some cheese, biscuits and olives for starters in the dining room, with a lovely roaring fire

Dinner around 7pm (was really only waiting on the potatoes)

If I do say so myself, it was delicious!  Meat tender and falling off the bone, the pomegranate seeds, mint and fetta and nice counterpart to it.

I was pleased that the kids loved it too - everyone had seconds...

And then the sticky date pudding - another winner

Girls went to bed around 9, and remained in the dining room.  I also set up the bread machine for a morning loaf

Bronte the dog - settled by the fire

 
Justin was feeling a bit under the weather - sore throat, oncoming cold, sore back etc - so he excused himself and went to bed.  Alsion, Gregor and I stayed up longer, and went to bed after midnight

We  organised that we would be breakfasting at 8.30, and then pizza for lunch

Well, best laid plans....

I got up first, as I'd heard the girls upstairs and thought they might want some breakfast.  Invited them down, and made them some toast, and then took them back upstairs and turned on the tv for them.

I then made Justin a cup of coffee, and one for myself, and went back to bed, to read

The girls remained nice and quiet upstairs, but were ready to mutiny at 8.50am...

So they crept into their parents room to wake them up. Alison thought they said it was 8.15am, and thought that was late, but not too bad.  They were stunned when told it was nearly 9am, and quickly came down for breakfast of fresh bread and coffee.

I then made up 2 x batches of pizza dough in the bread maker with the girl's help

After breakfast we went for a wander around the town

 and then into the scrub to look at the old eucy ruins etc

 

Justin left us after this 9 to go and light the pizza oven, and we continued on my favourite scrub loop

The girls were starting to whinge a little bit - so we said that it was a constant 5 or 10 minutes before we got back to the house ....(a long 5 or 10 minutes, as we were doing a 45 minute loop or so).

We also encouraged them to run ahead and hide, and then jump out to surprise us

Got back to the house after 11, and started on the pizzas.  The dough didn't look as high and elastic as normal....but I coaxed it into shape, by kneading it some more.

Alison and the girls helped - and Gregor came in also - to advise which toppings he'd brought - proscuitto, olives, ham, salami, tomatoes, capsicum, basil, cheese  etc

 
We made up 6 x pizzas - with the girls doing a round one each with non spicy salami etc

The weather had improved (was still cold) so we ate outside.  Justin did a brilliant job as usual cooking the pizzas to perfection with a lovely crispy base

Put rocket and more basil on top - delicious!  The slice I'm holding looks and was quite top heavy!

To burn off energy the girls climbed the tree after lunch, and also helped me pick some olives.. I had planned to brine some with them, but ran out of time, so they took them home to do it there

That said, I did pick some more olives myself, while Justin had a nap - as I was planning on doing an olive demonstration at our next CWA meeting

I was also surprised at how green it had become.  Two weeks ago, there was a hint of green in the garden.

Now it was practically lush

A couple of the yuccas were also flowering

And the seedlings that I'd planted 2 weeks ago were still there- hooray, and it looks like I've got a lot of poppy seedlings coming up too-  yay again