Finally, everything sorted re the Extraction fan Tuesday 16 December 2025

Whew, whirlwind one day visit - Jason had said he'd organise to come up before Christmas to install the stainless steel to cover the bricks between the original black cast iron, and the bottom of the extractor fan unit - but I wasn't holding my breath

Anyway, he contacted me on Monday, and said he could come either the next day or Friday - I went for the next day

This meant that I could take the ute and also bring the gazebo and some more trestle tables home (rather than drive up in the ute with Justin on Friday evening)

Jason said he'd get there around midday, so I left around 9.20am

As it was he beat me, he had sent another message saying he would get there around 11.45am   

I stopped for petrol, and there were also a few stretches of road works which slowed me down 

Anyway, all good, as he had to go to the hardware store for some additional supplies

He got right to it 

Had to make stencils first - to make sure all the pieces would fit properly

I had a look around the garden - was pleased to see the medlar doing very well

As was the grass - in fact it needs cutting again - it's so lovely and luxuriant

I also spied those 2 x apricots becoming their namesake colour - and thought I should pick them - even though they are not quite ripe - rather me than the birds

 

I went up to the op shop to see if they had any small white plates -(for Christmas)  they did - but buying them was a bit trickier

No credit card, and when I went back home I could only scrounge together just under $8 in cash (from my egg money) 

Went back to tell them - and then had the brilliant idea of transferring the money to their bank account (it was $14) so did that - all good.  I forgot to take a photo of the plates - oh well

Also saw the the King Charles III was open - though not as a pub 

It sold $2.50 coffees (once the machine was serviced), and an odd selection of other stuff - ie makeup, cold drinks, pruning shears, mugs, chopping boards, chocolates etc

 

I assumed it didn't have its liquor licence anymore

I also invited Terry around for a cup of tea and my real purpose of getting him to help me load the ute

Jason finished up around 4pm - these things always take longer than you think - should be properly sealed up now - yay.  Hard to take a photo though

Left just after Jason, as we were having the Danes for dinner at 6.30pm.  As it was, I was just pulling up when they arrived - so they helped to bring the stuff inside  

Weekend with Justin - Friday 5 - Sunday 7 December 2025

A nice weekend with Justin - arrived on Friday night - and had our now customary lazy breakfast in bed on Saturday morning - doing our puzzles/reading the weekend Age etc

Once we got up - I put my overalls on - and filled up the rubbish bin with weeds again 

This time I concentrated on the right hand side of the outside garden

Before

After

And ended up with another wheelbarrow full of weeds for the next rubbish collection

 

The orchard was also coming along very nicely

I spied 2 nice looking green apricots - which probably won't be there the next time we come up (and they were a bit too high up to net)

And the cherries had suddenly ripened - no where near ripe last time

Which the birds were certainly abreast of 

I was able to pick maybe 1 kilo of untouched cherries - grr - they are probably my favourite stone fruit  - next time we net from mid November! 

As I was picking a pesky parrot flew into the tree and gave me an insouciant look

The medlar is also looking very promising - with fruit appearing to mature.  I have been keeping Susan and Mark in the medlar loop, as we had all admired a medlar in a heritage garden in Tasmania last year   

Strawberries are ripening also - I did score 2 that weren't nibbled on - nice and sweet

And the pomegranates were looking very healthy

Saturday itself was rainy/sunny/rainy/sunny etc 

The down pipe extension is still leaking which is a nuisance - as that means that the tank is being filled

During one of the rain periods we went up to Terry's place to say hello

And I went to the 1st Saturday get together in Kingower at 7.30pm

Sunday, more of the same - and Justin took some lovely photos

I also got things together to take back to Melbourne for Christmas ie glasses/plates/trestle tables etc