However, I arrived later than I had wanted to
Firstly, Rhonda from CWA had asked me to come and talk to her Samarinda clients at 1.30, and she wanted me to go through til 3pm....
So I did that (was quite fun) and came back and quickly packed up. Was considering taking the ute with the Christmas Lewis Gazebo, but it was getting late, and I basically couldn't be bothered, so took the passat instead
The traffic was fine on the Monash (maybe left around 4.10pm) - but started slowing down after the Bolte Bridge, and was then just crawling....
I had been going to meet up with Terry initially at 6pm for a G&T and a brainstorming session for our party, but called him up and made it 6.30.
But that soon went by the wayside, and we ended up meeting about 7.15
The cause of this horrendous traffic was a truck fire just near Diggers Rest - I found the photo on the internet
And of course, once past this - the traffic unsnarled, back to 110kph
So, I called Terry again at the Calder alternative, and said I'd be there in about 1/2 hour
I arrived, emptied the car, put some food in the fridge, and Terry got here about 5 minutes later, I made us a G&T, and we went and sat on the back veranda, and started the brainstorming session for the party
Went well, Terry suggested I try the IGA for some young people to help out, and also offered up 2 bedrooms to friends of ours (just in case) as the local motels are full. Discussed the pros and cons of having a sit down vs finger food dinner, outside in the garden, inside at the town hall, types of food, entertainment, etc etc
Left for the Royal around 7.45 - had to make sure we were there before the kitchen closed
They had a new menu by Sassy Sally - looked good
We started with some arancini balls which were pretty good, and then I had a beef, basil and lemongrass stir fry, and Terry had a carbonara pasta
Had a nice evening - was relatively warm
Thursday morning, and my first visitor was at 8am
The bloke (Peter) doing the underpinning came around to have another look, and he also brought his engineer
Showed them around inside also - the engineer thought that the cracks in the back hallway were due to the bricks crumbling a little bit - as that area is having to hold up a lot of weight. Said to brace it, replace the bricks and replaster
Also thought there was no lintel in the garden room windows - which is why it was cracking around the top there
And Peter, the underpinner said that we only had to move furniture from between the bay windows and the fire place - that's a relief. But we need to cover everything,as it will be very dusty
After they went, I walked up the street, to the IGA, and asked Peter about getting some of his staff to help out at our party, he was pretty positive. I then went to Sharp's Bazaar, and invited Chris and Bernie, tried David O, but his shop was closed for 5 minutes.
Back home, and saw that the plum tree didn't have any viable plums anymore - so can't do any sloe gin this year, unless I buy the plums....
The Bunya tree had also been cut down earlier in the week
The blokes had sent me some photos
I didn't realise it was such a big job....with 2 x trucks and a cherry picker
They said it had been eaten out by termites, but that they had gone. There was not much wood left at the base - although the bark was very thick
I also went across the road to the Town Hall to have a look at the kitchen /fridges/dishwasher etc - as I may make use of them for the party
Saw an old photo of the Inglewood CWA in the supper room
And made a soft booking for the hall and the kitchen - in case of bad weather
Went up to Terry's around 10.30. He'd brought me a small bucket of delicious nectarines from his trees last night, and had invited me to come and pick some more if I liked. So I did. Had a nice coffee there first
Back to Inglewood and tried Enzo's to hand deliver the invitation, but no one was home, and then onto Bridgewater to give an invitation to Peter at Waterwheel
And back to Inglewood again, stopped at David O's got some eggs and invited him, then to the Bakery and bought my favourite Thai Butter Chicken pie, tried Enzo again, but still not there.
Home for lunch, and the Renderer who I'd found via the National Trust website came and had a look. Obviously couldn't give me a quote as yet, because we don't know what's going to fall. Showed him around also - inside and out
Corey - the tree bloke also dropped in after this - he'll cut up the trunk for firewood - what a pity. And will see if any of it is any good further towards the top - so maybe we could in fact mill it, and make something out of it
He also said that the termites left behind this black tar stuff (poo). And that it wreaks havoc on the chainsaws
And as I said the bark was really thick
Pottered around, reading the Age on line after Corey left - also saw that the new curtains that I bought in Ocean Grove might fit in the little yellow room
Uncanny that it's the same material as the curtains that we have in Melbourne (but a fraction of the price)
Got myself some left overs for dinner, and settled down in front of the tv to watch Outlander on Netflix
Gary the Heritage consultant had been supposed to come later in the afternoon, but I figured he wasn't coming anymore
Imagine my surprise when he rang and said he was outside the front door with his wife.. This would have been around 7 or later
Anyway, showed them around also - it had been some years when they'd been there last. He gave me some great pointers about the sash windows, and also gave me a couple of names of alternative renderers/plasterers who he had used in the past, and who were very good.
He also said he would be willing to give further advice - which was rather good of him
They left around 8.30, offered them a drink, but they declined
And then it was back to Outlander
Left around 9.30 in the morning on Friday - as Justin and I were going to Clare's Dad's funeral at 1pm
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