Quasair again and Suzy & Stu 23-25 May 2025

Left on Friday afternoon around 3.30pm - and it took us 3 hours to get to Inglewood.  I thought it was an aberration when I got a lift with Christine a few weeks ago - but I think leaving at this time is now too problematic with school pick ups etc 

Anyway, got there around 6.30 - and it was dark - so Justin couldn't see the grass yet

Jason the Quasair guy was coming around 10.30 on Saturday morning.  John K from Quasair had organised for him to come up and have a look - work  it out

He seemed to think it was doable - coming in from the back

He took measurements, and said they would build a prototype out of cardboard and come back and make sure that it fits

We would also need to get an electrician to come back and connect up, and to also put a control switch on the wall.

And also possibly a plumber to move the hot water service

Anyway, it's looking possible - I'm assuming that they would need to customise a unit for us, and that it would be very expensive....

After they left, we went in the garden and had a look around

There had obviously been some frost - with my chilli plants badly effected

 
I subsequently moved them to the herb bed in front of the house - as the plants there didn't seem effected.  

Let's hope they survive - as they look pretty bedraggled - apparently you're not supposed to cut off the frost burnt leaves - so I left them looking pretty sorry

But, speaking of survival, that poppy that Helen brought me at Easter has survived - and had sent out some new tentative shoots.  The original fronds had died down - so I did think it was a goner

We also got Shane to come around - to help us set up the new watering app on our phones.  Upgraded to a 12 station - finally got it working.  We were going around and around in circles, and then Shane suggested that we try something else - and that worked.  Had also tried googling it - but no help there

I had also brought up some more plants that I had bought at Botanica at Rippon Lea, and some passionfruit plants from Bunnings - so I planted the Rippon Lea plants and placed the passionfruit in front of the garage (Shane said he'd plant them after they put the REO up)

The jonquils were looking lovely

And the cosmos had put on another burst

I put the lamb shoulder in the oven around 12 - to slow cook, and prepped the potatoes and pumpkin

Susie, Stu and their kids - Bridie & Riley arrived after 3pm.  Showed them around (as they hadn't been here in many years)

Justin and Susie struck a pose in the kitchen

Started with some nibbles around 5pm on the veranda

Served up dinner around 7.30

The kids went off to bed soon after dinner, and the rest of us also had a relatively early night

Justin programmed the lawn sprinklers for the morning - didn't want to do it overnight in case there was a frost

The only thing was that the water pressure in the house went down while the tanks were filling - oh well, at least we know, I had initially thought there might be a leak somewhere

Bridie drew and picture each for myself and Justin - so we proudly displayed them on the mantlepiece

Drove up to Melvilles Caves and had a look around.  Was a lovely clear day - sunny, a little cool, kids liked it a lot

They left from there, and we went back to the house 

I planted some more of the new plants ie a droopy looking rhubarb (discounted at Bunnings)

Some carrot seedlings

And was pleased to see some of my vegie seeds had started to come up

I was also pleased to see that the jonquil bulb shoots had grown - I put them in the window for more light

Had some lunch, did the dishes etc and drove to Sutton Grange to pick up the olive oil - only one large  container.  John said there was water in the larger olives.

I asked him if there was anything we could do to increase the oil rate - and he said to give them a good water at bud burst, and then to stop watering them around 4 weeks before picking.

We'll try that for next time