Fraser painting & Music night Wed 10 - Sunday 14 April 2024

Drove up to Inglewood with Fraser in the passat around 10.30am.  Arrived, had some lunch - and Fraser started painting 

Our plan was to paint the 1st landing walls (where I had cut in), kitchen - walls/ceiling, and the ceiling of the music room - and then if we had time the upstairs hall, and scullery....and to also move some furniture back into the music room - we were rather optimistic...  

Fraser started on the landing

We had to go to the IGA and buy a little brush - as there was delicate painting required near the mural.  So of course this took longer than expected

Meanwhile, I inspected the garden - lovely red leaves of the grape vines, and did some more trimming/weeding etc 

Olive trees are also looking laden - should be a bumper crop this year - the branches are bending down under all the weight

Tipped out this nasty black water from the wheel barrow - I assume it became black from the hoop pine needles - as that was all that was in it

 And was disappointed to see that there were a few centimetres of water in the cellar - above the grate

Called up Cam, and he said to check the powerpoint - that was ok, and then to remove the grate and give the float a "jiggle" - which I did, and then the pump started up.  I suggested that this wasn't ideal - ie its supposed to turn on automatically, but he said to keep an eye on it.  By the way, it had filled up again a few days later, and I had to rejiggle the float to get rid of the water - not happy....

Had a lamb lasagne that I'd made with zucchini slices (not pasta) for dinner - was quite nice, and then Fraser and I watched the last 2 episodes of Boy Swallows Universe

Thursday morning, and Fraser and I went for a nice walk  - saw quite a few kangaroos

 And then it was back to the painting for Fraser, I had planned to do some too, but he didn't want me to, so I swept/dusted/vaccuumed  - am looking forward to just having normal dust in the house - rather than plaster dust, wood dust, grit from cracks etc.

And so Fraser started cutting in - in the kitchen

Jerry also dropped in to try and fix the light fitting in the music room - he unfortunately didn't have the right tools - as a piece was broken - so he said he would come back

I had also found this spare thing on the scullery window sill - which I now recognised as a light holder thing - but it was broken also, so no good for Jerry

   

Meanwhile Fraser continued with his cutting in - it's rather time consuming - many corners

And I needed to do a bit of sanding - where I'd plastered on the chimney breast

Fraser finally started rolling

 

Whilst tidying up I admired the light in the hallway

Once he'd done the 1st roll, we had dinner - it was his choice - and he chose a takeaway.  We shared a large Inglewood snackpack, and Fraser also had a hamburger - Alan very kindly gave us a couple of cinnamon donuts - which were literally the best cinnamon donuts I've ever had

Fraser planned to do some more rolling after dinner to complete the kitchen - however - he called me for an unexpected chat

Basically the cut in China White colour was a "yellower" colour than the rolled on paint - which was quite stark white.  By the way, the cut in paint was from a 4 L tin, and the rolled on paint was from a new 10L tin.  ARGHH. So that as the end of the painting for the night.  I needed to go back to the IGA in the morning to sort it out

And our "bad luck" continued.  We were going to watch the Last Kingdom movie on Netflix, but the tv wouldn't turn on.  We thought it was the remote control batteries (it wasn't) - wasted a bit of time checking this out, turned the tv on/off at the wall, this seemed to do the trick, then we had to reset up the wi fi...did this a few times, as it didn't seem to process. then realised that yes the wi fi was on, but the internet wasn't. Tried turning the router on/off a few times too, no good, decided we'd watch a dvd, couldn't get the blu-ray player to play -using its remote, finally got it working with the tv remote (with the original batteries in it ) Whew - then watched a good, yet depressing movie - Brother with Toby Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal

Friday - and I went up to IGA first thing - and brought the 10L supposedly wrong colour China White, the empty 4L supposedly right China White, and the stirring stick - which showed the very white colour from the 10L tine

Was all sorted out, but it took a while - they gave me a new 10L tin, and very very carefully checked the paint formula - and also got me to have a look at the paint itself to see if it looked like the right colour (it did)

So Fraser continued with the kitchen - only had to do one coat of the rollling - as the first wrong China White colour acted as an undercoat

And I drove up to Terry's to assist with making some cheese and spinach filo pastries for the Music night on Saturday

Came back home around 12,and Justin was already here ( he thought he'd miss the pm peak hour rush - and work from home here)

The three of us had some lunch - and Fraser continued with painting the ceiling in the music room (but first had to tape it)

 

Meanwhile Justin set up in the yellow room to work

Fraser left for Melbourne late afternoon - taking the passat (I'll go home with Justin).  He did such a good job with the painting - we're very pleased 

I made Justin and myself a healthy dinner - grilled marinaded chicken on the BBQ with potato salad and broccoli/carrot.

Justin made us up a lovely G&T (in the new glasses Shawn had given us) while I was cooking

After dinner we watched a couple of episodes of the Gentleman and the Justin got on his guitar, and I enthusiastically and unmusically joined him with some bongos a shaker and a harmonica. We had fun 

Mad and Hughie arrived after 9pm, and had some chicken/vegies that I'd left out for them 

Saturday, and I made Justin and I some avocado and vegemite toast in bed, and then I had to buy some mince and flatbread at the IGA for the dinner tonight.  Was distracted by the Lions market set up across the road - there were food and clothing stalls etc.  Saw Denise and Steve there on the way back, so said hello and bought a couple of plants - and then some fruit and vegies

I was therefore about 15 minutes late for Terry ...whoops

Arlene and June were already there - so I got down to business...

We were having finger food here, and a lot of it - too much actually.... 

• 3 dips - hummous, beetroot, babaganoush
• vegie platter - grilled eggplant, capsicum, pitted olives, fetta cheese, roast wild garlic
• Cheese & spinach filo triangles
• Beef and mint filo triangles
• chicken kebabs
• dolmades
• felafel
• tabbouli
• and lots of pita bread 
• rose flavoured turkish delight
• middle eastern short bread biscuits
• semolina slice 

everything home made - apart from the fetta, pita bread and fetta  

I chopped onions/garlic, picked and chopped mint etc

Mad and Hughie arrived a bit later to help - they were good sports (Mad doesn't really like touching raw chicken)

I had told Terry about my Turkish Delight fail from years ago - so he had me make it - I did so, but also delegated parts to others 

Seemed to work out ok - but who knows - as the recipe said to let it set for 12 hours

This was the longest cooking session I'd ever been involved with for a Kingower night - Terry gave us some lunch - but Mad, Hughie and I left around 3.30 or so...

Got back to the house - and Sarah and the 2 x Chris' were there. Organised rooms for them, and I admired the servant bell board that Chris had made up, and also the half attached hearth surround

 Then it was a relaxing sit outside with Sarah (it was a beautiful day) and a welcome glass of bubbles

The Chris' also joined us 

It was only fleeting, as Sarah and I drove up to the Church - to be there at 5.30 - as instructed

However we were waiting around for a while - We did however put out napkins while we waited

The hordes started descending around 6.30pm - and it quickly became apparent that we didn't have enough tables/place settings. People were saying that they'd RSVPd - but Terry was not aware - was rather hectic - but we got through it 

Music went on at 8pm - we were still serving food at this stage - too much as I said.  Arlene had said that we shouldn't serve finger food for a music night (and expect to be finished by 8pm) - and I now agree

Dessert was served during a break in the music 

All the food was delicious - and the music was good also.  Had a couple of new guys playing - a guy on harmonica and tea chest

And another guy on guitar

So, a good night was had by all, and we left well after midnight.  I drove Justin's new car home with Justin, Mad & Hughie, while Sarah drove the Chris's back

Sunday morning, and I went for a walk with Sarah - saw kangaroos in the same spot as where I'd seen them with Fraser

Back to the house, and Chris E was in the rotunda - so joined him with a coffee.  Justin then got up, and started making us all some bacon and eggs - which we all ate outside

 
After breakfast  I also "helped" with the hearth surround - while still in my walking clothes (before my shower)

But then Chris and Justin put it up properly

Now we just have to reattach the shelf (putting this hearth surround on was trickier and took longer than expected).  Chris has taken the shelf and cast iron brackets back home to fix up/paint strip, and the shelf also needs to be shortened - otherwise the new kitchen cupboards would bang into it.  Oh, and I or someone else also need to do some more plastering around the verticals of the hearth surround - as you can see

 Then Chris put up the servant bell board

And Jerry was upstairs at the same time fixing up the music room light (you can see both in the picture below)

 

I had showered and changed by then

Vikki (Kitchen designer), Vanessa, and Sergio dropped in to say hello (and have a look around) - and bring my beautiful new cushions for the kitchen bench ( the base cushion wasn't ready yet)

Not actually my wine glass (borrowed it for affect)

More good works by Chris and Justin 

They hung up the Inglewood map

Attached the toilet roll holder, towel ring and mirror in the powder room

Chris also adjusted the upstairs shower screen - as it was now only opening up inwards - the house must have moved a bit

Meanwhile I was putting up the new light shades in the music room

For some reason I couldn't put the last light globe in - and didn't want to force it - will do it next time

I also hung out Mad's clean washing which she had forgotten and also found a makeup bag which she had likewise forgotten

Chris wondered what we were doing with the door surround (from the bathroom door that we had removed for our en suite)- so gave it to him - I'm sure he can put it to good use

  
And that was about it - a very full and busy time at Inglewood - and we're very nearly there.....just have to sort out the rangehood  - and then we can throw back the covers on the aga - and I can cook up a storm.  Not to mention finally have the "reveal" filming for Restoration Australia 

To be honest - there's a bit more painting ie windows/doors etc - but that's small potatoes. And some other bits and pieces (we'll probably never actually be finished).....

Everyone left apart from Chris - and he continued to do good works