Tunnel Exploration 22-25 Feb 2023

 I'm beginning to feel like a furniture removalist....yes, we were successful with that couch and 2 matching chairs that I mentioned in the blog last week - so I took them up this time.....

Once again there was traffic- and it took 3 hours to get there....(not happy). So I got there at 6.45pm

I'd organised earlier for Michael to help me take them inside, so I texted when I arrived, and he came over

I had too-ed and fro-ed over coming tonight or first thing in the morning - as Restoration Australia were here again to film the tunnel exploration.  And they wanted to start at 9am.  It was probably a good idea to come up the night before - because who knows what the traffic would have been like on Thursday morning.  Also, I wouldn't have been too confident backing the ute out of the garage in the dark....

Anyway, Mark and Tim the ground Xray guy arrived around 9am - and started setting up

Tim had a type of trolley with a scanner suspended below - and this could be adjusted to show 30cm to 10 metres depth.  Then there was a tablet on the handle above - which he read to see what the conditions were like below.  Basically he was looking for ground disturbance

And the reason that Restoration Australia was there - was that we had told them about this urban myth - that there is a tunnel somewhere between our house and Tivey's old store - which is now the Inglewood Emporium - and we wanted to be able to prove or disprove it   

So we walked up and down the garden - sort of in a diagonal line with the back gate.  Mark wanted me walking beside the guy chatting away/asking questions 

We found a few things - as per below - and he marked them with blue paint.  Actually the below spot turned out to be a new pipe taking roof water to the tanks at the back. (so no great mystery there)

And we found further disturbances which were in a general line leading to the gate.  You might have to squint to see the blue marks in the below photo .....

Anyway, after our garden, we went out onto Storm Lane - but couldn't find anything there really, and then into Steve and Denise's cellar.  By this stage we had been joined by 2 women who had wall scanners

They initially thought they found something in the wall, but then decided that it was probably just showing the different constitutions of the different rocks 

So they went back to the ground scanner

They thought they found something in the back right hand corner - a disturbance which was in line with the outside marks 

Lastly they checked out the actual drain

So in the end - it was positively inconclusive - there had been some disturbance - but they couldn't see any voids.  Maybe there had been a tunnel, but if so, it was probably more of a crawl space, rather than able to be walked through.  Maybe they pulled trolleys through on ropes ie sly grog etc - who knows?

Friday, and it was hot again, but I wanted to do something positive - so set about stripping the paint off the kitchen hearth surround

Put the paint stripper on, and then went and had a coffee with Denise - as it was supposed to stay on for at least an hour

Well, it was easier said than done - the pinky layer came off

And then there was green paint under that, with cream paint under that, and white under the cream....

And it was still very hard to get off....easiest on the flat surfaces.  I had thought it would take me an hour or so, no such luck.....And it was sticky and mucky

I put more paint stripper on, and went and visited Pauline to say hello. Came back and scraped some more.  And then put on more paint stripper, and went and visited Terry.

He was in the middle of pulling up floorboards (as water had got under the house, and some of the joists had rotted) - which was no doubt an even more terrible job than mine. He was glad of the company.  I had also offered to help, but there was not that much that I could do.  

He gave me some of his lovely home grown tomatoes when I left

Anyway, back to the house to do the day's last bit of scraping - and I was heartily sick of it by that stage.

Terry had suggested that we get it dipped/sand blasted, and then powder coated rather than putting stove black on it - as it would be more durable.  

Saturday, and I was off to Kyneton for a CWA lunch.  Had a lovely time - and Rachel came too

But once again there was traffic on the way back - so it took me just under 2 hours to get home - grrr 

 

 

RA with Host #2 and HOT! 15-17 Feb 2023

Well, a lot of time spent in the car over the last few days

On Wednesday, went and checked out a Victorian sofa at a Burwood auction house, given that we missed out on the other one.  It's pretty comfortable, so we'll bid on it 

From there, I drove to Daylesford to pick up the 2 x Turkish tile panels for our ensuite

I had also thought that I would drop in on Rachel in Dunolly, so did that next 

Had a late lunch with Rachel, and a good chat.  She showed me around her place- some very big sheds - with lots of interesting stuff - like this old car

And then onto Inglewood - given that I had left home at 10.40, and arrived in Inglewood just before 6pm - was a long day....

And it was hot, mid thirties today, 39 degrees tomorrow, and 41 degrees on Friday....good thing we have air conditioning now.

Had a quick look at the citrus trees, and was pleased to see that they were looking ok - ie the watering system was working  

Had also brought up the sconces for the ensuite - so its all coming together

 Saw what Cam and the crew had done - plastering of the ceiling in the kitchen

 

And half did the ensuite also - and put in the pipework for the exhaust fan

Got some dinner together, and had a quiet night

Thursday - and Restoration Australia were coming back - this time with the host Anthony, and 2 cameramen, Mark and another guy Tony.

It's amazing, Anthony was last here (for the first time) - 2 years ago in March 2021 - I'm so surprised that they have persevered with us - as they actually starting filming in April 2020 - with the first lot of underpinning!

Anyway, they arrived around 9.30 or so - and I got miked up. Bit more complicated this time, because I was wearing a dress for once.  Previously, I'd normally been in work gear/overalls when they come.  Anyway, I had to wear a type of elastic rubber girdle thing with a pocket to hold the little power pack.  All worked though - so that was good

First off - was welcomed Anthony in the front door, and walked through the hallway where he said he saw lots of progress, and then into the kitchen

This was achieved on the first take

Then I had to explain what was happening in the kitchen - showed them the plans, discussed some differences of opinion - ie table vs island bench, wood vs stone etc.  That took a few takes

Then up the stairs - pausing on the first landing - wallpaper all gone, are we will doing the mural, of what etc 

Into the now "music room" - lots of cracks - routing for the tie rods.  The Sydney producer had wanted us to talk about the "ghosts" - but I don't think that we did a good job, as we were too sceptical.  We'll see if this bit ends up on the cutting room floor.

And then we stopped for lunch

After lunch - it was sitting on the back veranda - and chatting about the budget and timelines, and also the fact that it is challenging/difficult to argue/disagree with Justin - as he argues/states facts professionally

And finally on the veranda - to see what the drone shots would be like.  Mark sent me this photo he took of Anthony and me

And here's a few photos that I snuck in of the day

I guess we finished about mid afternoon, and then they went to Denise's to look in the cellar and talk about the supposed/mythical tunnel between their shop, and our house....

I wasn't sure if I was going to stay or go back to Melbourne.  In the end I stayed over on Thursday night also - it was still relatively cool in the house, and I just couldn't be bothered to get back in the car and drive for a couple of hours, so put my feet up and read my book upstairs.

Friday, and I planned to leave in the morning, but thought I might drop in on Terry first and say hello.  Was just getting ready to go, and someone started coming in through the front door.  Gave me a bit of a fright. It was Denise, come to say hello.  She had been knocking, but I'd been upstairs, and not heard her. So showed her around - she hadn't seen what Cam had done.

Then onto Terry's - had a cup of coffee and a chat.  He was in the process of moving furniture - as he had to remove his floorboards - as water had got under the house, and the joists had started to rot?  I offered my assistance - hopefully he'll take me up at some stage

I also told him how I wanted to make something out of the hoop pine wood (rather than just burn it) and even the jacaranda stump.  Perhaps rolling pins, bowls, spoons - all quite simple apparently.  So I'll add that to the list of things to do

Stayed about an hour or so, then back to the house to pack up and leave.  Unfortunately took me about 3.5 hours to get back to Melbourne.....Car breakdowns on the Monash, and also apparently a grass fire just before the Toorak Road exit  - it was excruciating.

  

Haircut, Surfclub, and Bridgewater Pub 10-12 February 2023

Drove up in the ute again (am becoming very fond of this trusty and very useful ute) - as I was going to pick up the vanity from Terry's place, and I also brought up the bath (which had been languishing in our garage for years) and the 2 chairs which we had bought from Joels (didn't win the Victorian sofa though which is what Justin really wanted)

Anyway,  Fraser and Justin strapped in the bath on Thursday night, and we parked the ute in the back, and then Fraser strapped in the chairs for me on Friday morning before I left - which was great - as I had thought I might take them up next time in the passat 

Cam's crew was still there when I arrived, and they helped me in with the bath - put it on top of our bed (right side up, as it was pretty dusty inside).  

Also saw that there was a hole in the side.  Contacted George, and he said it was for the overflow pipe - will have to get one of those 

Had a look around at the progress

The bathroom/en suite door was filled in

Lyndon was putting up the frame for the powder room

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They'd filled in the brick cracks in the back hall (that we were going to use the hesbia system on)

The sub floor for the bathroom was in

And the kitchen insulation was done in the ceiling

Kat had also boncreted all the bricks in the kitchen - so as to minimise dust - yay

I had a quick lunch - and then went to Michelle's to have my haircut at 2.45

After this I called up Damo, to see if I could come to the Surf Club for a pre dinner drink.  Also needed to give him back his ties (which he'd used on the jacobbean suite a few weeks ago) and I had also bought some white anchovies for them -as we had discussed them at dinner last week

Arrived at the "surf club" after 5 - my first time as a proper guest, as opposed to a tourist

Damo gave me a couple of beers and we "shot the breeze". The last photo is me crushing a can in the home made device.  Nicole came and stayed for a little while, but then went off to Arleen and David's 

Stayed an hour or 2, and then back home for some dinner, and watched the final Stranger Things - season 4

Saturday, and did wordle, quordle and the age Sudoku in  bed before getting up for breakfast.  Watered the poor citrus plants, and went and picked up Terry at 11.30

Loaded up the vanity and dropped it back at the house.  Was a lot easier/smoother than getting it there in the first place

And then we drove into Bridgewater - for lunch at the pub

It was a  lovely day, and we sat outside in the beer garden.  Had a few starter plates ie Pork belly bau buns, baked chorizo with jalapeno aioli, and chicken and mushroom spring rolls.

The food was very good, and it was very pleasant sitting outside looking out onto the green grass, gum trees, and river.

So, had a leisurely lunch, and then dropped Terry back at his place

Went and relaxed in the hammock, put my feet up and read my book

Tidied up a bit here - and put out  the old kitchen chairs and the little cabinet for Anne L.  Couldn't manage the table by myself though

Decided to be a bit decadent and watched a double movie header - an oldy but a goody - Dirty Dancing.  Haven't seen it in years, and wondered how it would stand up.  Was fun

And then Toscana - a foodie Netflix film - was ok.  

If Justin's not with me I can choose films that he wouldn't necessarily want to watch

Unfortunately took ages to fall asleep for some reason, so was a bit tired on the Sunday

Shane came at 9am to check on the watering system. He stayed a few hours and fixed it up - yay.  Put in some new sprinkle heads, and positioned others better.  This should have been done years ago!  Was very frustrating that the original guy didn't do it properly.

Also got Shane to help me take the kitchen table out for Anne.  It did us in good stead, but was a bit stupid re the fact that it wasn't very water proof, and was forever getting water marks

There is now a lot more room in the downstairs green room (but its still junky) 

I also tidied up a bit - swept and mopped

And positioned the new chairs

Went home via Bendigo - wanted to pick some juniper berries - and was lucky, there were some there