Christmas in July in August 12-13 Aug 2023

I went to a big party on the Friday night - so left (a bit tired) for Inglewood on Saturday morning

Justin caught a lift up with Alex on Friday

Anyway, arrived there around 11am - and prepared for our first video call with Melanie - from the Bookanartist website.

Rileigh had unfortunately fallen through as our mural artist - so we were back to square one.  Luckily Madeleine had sent me a link to the this website, and it's fantastic. 

I put my brief in - described the job, ie internal stairway mural in Arts & Crafts/Victorian style - and could then choose which artist to brief

It was very efficient, you can choose artists by looking at their experience, portfolio, reviews etc - so I chose 5 who I thought would do a good job

I was then contacted by another 8 - who were interested in the project

And I had also done some googling research - and contacted some Silo mural artists

Therefore, we had 2 x video calls for Saturday, 1 x site visit, and another video call for Sunday

Anyway, we had Melanie up first for the video call  at 12 noon - and showed her the space, explained more of the project.

Next up was Shawn at 1pm

And last for the day at 2.30 was Caroline and her assistant Alex, who drove out here 

In between, we had some lunch  

Jane arrived around 4pm- and we showed her around the progress, and then I went and had a nap, was tired from my late night on Friday

Got up 6ish - and went upstairs to watch the Matildas play against France in the quarter finals.  All four of us were watching - was quite exciting.

We were supposed to be in Kingower at 7pm, but the game went into overtime, and it was still 0 0.  We left just after 7pm, - listening to the game on the car radio and arrived at St Marys for Christmas in July in August

Had some nibbles, and helped serve out the meals - potato and leek soup for starters, then roast lamb with lots of different vegies, and individual plum puddings for dessert

Was a very pleasant night - and Jane also alerted us to the fact that the Matildas had won their quarter final in the penalty shoot outs (her daughter had contacted her) - and we all raised a glass to toast their success. So this means that they are into the semi finals.

Jane drove us home, and although we talked big, ie saying we'd stay up and have a few more drinks, both Jane and I just wanted to go to bed, so the boys did too

Had a very self indulgent lie in on Sunday.  Justin got me vegemite & avocado toast, and a coffee in bed, and we did wordle/quordle/sudoku and read the online paper.  Had organised with Alex and Jane the night before, that we would all just get our own breakfasts in the morning and get up whenever... 

So got out of bed after 10am, put my coveralls on, and went and dug up some small palms for Terry - as the ground is still quite soft - so easier to dig

Dug up 4 of them - relatively easy to do - but had to watch out for the spikes

Justin and I then took them around to Terry's -Alex and Jane packed up and left while we were there, as they wanted to stop for lunch in Kyneton

Gave Terry the palms, and had a chat and a coffee inside 

Back to Inglewood - and a bakery lunch - a pie and 1/2 sausage roll each

And we had our last video call with Geoffrey the artist at 2.30pm.  It's going to be very hard to decide who to paint the mural.  I was even saying to Justin that maybe we could have one in our ensuite - but I guess he quite rightly said to do this one first.

Put up the fruit fly catcher (hopefully there won't be any)

And I also did a bit of weeding out the front, and got out the servant bells in preparation for Chris 

Chris is getting closer to finishing off  the brass bits (I took him up the bell and the boards later in the week)

Changed the sheets on our bed, and put on the new flannel ones from Jane - it's still cold at night!

Justin and Alex also gave me some photos

On the Saturday morning they'd seen a bird kerfuffle out the window - a small bird of prey must have taken a magpie chick, and the magpies were dive bombing it 

And here are some of Alex's photos 

 

 

 

 

Bach & bath at last Friday 28 - Sunday 30th July 2023

Arrived in the early afternoon - and inspected the ensuite and powder room

Both Cam and Fraser had already sent us photos - but it was good to see in person

It was good....but there were some niggles

Firstly the vanity basin bowl was crooked - I'm not sure if its been fully caulked in, and can be moved or not - lets hope if can be moved

There is still tape around it - so fingers crossed

And then there was the fact that they had put the pipe through all 3 drawers.  Although it was evident in the photos that Cam & Fraser had sent - I didn't really notice at that time.  This is disappointing, as we had discussed the pipe just going through the first drawer, and that one to be compromised/made smaller but the 2 large drawers below should have been untouched

Lastly - the surface which Justin had so carefully estapolled had been scratched up to the left of the bowl

And also to the right and in front - what were they doing??

And can it be fixed?  And here we were worrying about a little fingerprint a few weeks ago...

However, these problems aside - the ensuite is operational - the toilet works; and so does the bath (although I was a bit puzzled as to how to empty it with the push down plug)  Can't really have a shower yet, as there is no glass wall - but that's ok

What I really needed/wanted to do today was clear out our room - (now that we had an operational ensuite)

So from this

 

To this

Also had to sweep, vacuum, mop and dust 

And had to  clean out the bathroom /bath, the hallway (again), the stairs (again) - basically took all afternoon

That said I was looking forward to a lovely warming bubble bath in my new beautiful bath 

Had a G&T in there also - no glass policy...

Watched Raiders of the Lost Ark (as the new Raiders movie is out, and I want to go and see it)

Saturday, and more tidying up, changed the sheets in the red room and vacuumed/dusted. Those bloody wooden dolls are a nightmare to dust - have to move them all and dust them individually, and then the surface of the credenza.  Takes quite a while  

I also picked more olives ....for dry salt curing

And I  emptied out the cellar again - wasn't that full - but the pump is touchy - I thought it might be too shallow to start - but after a while it did - and it pretty much got all of the water out, I only had to scoop out a 1/2 bucket.  We've also asked Cam if he can organise for a sump pump - so we don't have to do this anymore....

Took this photo for him - which is where a sump pump probably was

While taking this photo - I also saw that there was a small dead frog....(you can see it at the bottom of this photo, but better in the next one

Anyway, Leanne arrived around 1.40pm, I showed her around, and we had a quick lunch of pumpkin soup

And then off to Dunolly for the "Bach-onteur" soiree - The Preludes and Fugues of Johann Sebastian Bach, Book 1, Nos 1 – 24 by Julian Bailey - from 2pm til 4.30 (it was closer to 5.30 actually)

Got there with a few minutes to spare - we were given a flute of bubbles each and then invited to go into the salon and sit down

Carolyn, Tim and Tim's parents were already there

Was very pleasant - Julian talked about the Preludes and the Fugues telling us about "happy" major chords and less happy minor chords

It was so warm in there with the fire, that both Leanne and I at times just gently closed our eyes (we saw that other people did too)

There was an interval - where there was the opportunity for more bubbles and afternoon tea/coffee and home made biscuits.  All very civilised.  I was much more wide awake for the 2nd half, after having had a cup of coffee 

As I said it finished close to 5.30 - so most people sort of rushed off, as I guess they didn't want to drive through kangaroo infested roads (luckily we didn't see any)

Got back to Inglewood around 6pm - and had a drink of red on the veranda - was cold but had a lovely sunset

Then off to the Empire for dinner - unlike last time when I went with Madeleine and Hughie on a Friday - it was pretty full.  That said, because we got there just after 7.30, I guess a few tables had already  eaten.  I had the outback parma, and Leanne the prawns and calamari.  Didn't have to wait too long, which was appreciated

Stayed til close to 10pm, and then back to the house, and bed.  I asked Leanne what time she would like to meet up in the morning, and she suggested 8.30 - which suited me fine, as I could read the Age in bed while waiting

So - Sunday morning - I made us some breakfast (wasn't going to go back to the local cafe for brunch) - eggs on toast and a cuppa - challenging in the scullery with the limited room

I had given Leanne various options for activities as to what to do today - ie have a wander around the shops, visit wineries, go to St Arnauds for the CWA Craft Exhibition, go to Melville Caves, relax with a book in the hammock (was a lovely sunny day). Leanne chose the shops  

So,firstly had a wander around the garden, and then down the street - to browse and fossick in the collectables shops

I bought a lovely pashmina  poncho? from Ben's - you can't really see it properly in the below photo

And I bought an old CWA badge from Sharps bazaar

When we went into Fusspots - they had a lot of lovely home grown flowers in vases around the shop ie violets, hellebores etc 

Barry very kindly went out and dug me a box full of violets to plant in my garden - and carried them down for me

Then back to the house for a bit, and then onto Bridgewater - to the pub for lunch 

Had a burger and a glass of wine each - delicious, ate outside.  

Then back to Inglewood where we had a cuppa with one of Leanne's delicious biscuits that she'd made

Leanne left soon afterwards, and I planted the violets, tidied up a bit, did the dishes, picked some more olives, and left around 5pm, because Madeleine didn't want me home before 7pm.

I also noticed that the first almond blossoms have bloomed

When I did get home, she had a glass of wine, and a bowl of chips waiting for me on the counter,  and Hughie and Mad made a delicious dinner for us all. Very spoiled!