Solo :- 14 & 15 May 2011

It's been a few weeks since we went up to Nimmitabel due to Melbourne committments.  Anyway I ended going up there by myself as Fraser had a party to go to on Saturday afternoon, and then footy on Sunday, and Justin elected to take him to both.

Got there after 3pm - and unpacked the yet again full car :- 2 x hall chairs, firescreen, fire irons, another blanket from Mum, letterbox, large camp chair that I'd mended, othe rcamp chairs that we'd needed in Melbourne etc. Then I had a very late lunch - sandwich that I'd made a home - and did the rounds while eating it...

hall chairs with light through colourd glass

I'd seen that Ken had been there, as the wooden venetian blinds were down in the front rooms, and boards were up in the dining room and the our upstairs bedroom to be.  Good - things are getting done.

I'd also seen that Gordon had been busy in the garden, more pruning, cutting up of logs, and putting them in our designated wood shed, and of course cutting the grass.  It's looking very civilised (and bare) in the garden now



cleared up

 

similar spot - labour day weekend



peppercorn tree that Karen and girls had sat under a
few weeks ago (much bushier then)

  

peppercorn tree in background



Did the customary trip up to the IGA, and bought a few supplies and some wire to affix the letterbox to the fence, and a gardening fork.

Given that my mobile phone doesn't work here, I'd borrowed Madeleine's and let it charge as it was flat.  Unfortunately I couldn't work out how to turn it on - tried the large central button and the green button - nothing.  So I drove up to the lookout point - where my phone had a signal before.  Called up home and found out that I had to press the red button (which I had thought was an off button).  Anyway, I now had convenient mobile phone coverage.

By this stage it was close to 4.30 or so, and too late to don overalls and get dirty, so I went up to the verandah, read the paper and had a glass of wine and some nibbles - why not take it easy?  Called up Becky, but Elise had just had a friend dropped off, so they were busy - and I didn't see them.

Stayed up there until it was getting too dark to read, was also getting cold, but I had a coat on.  Came back downstairs and read a bit more in my bedroom.

I had also prepared a fire in the bedroom fireplace earlier, as this was going to be a treat for me.

Went up to the Empire around 6.30 - had a glass of red and a chicken schnitzel dinner - very nice as usual.  took my Age samarai sudoku for company.  Braydon from next door came there with some girlfreinds and said hello

I left around 8.30 or so, and yes it was quite cold outside.  Glad I had my new coat.  Came home, lit the fire (just one match, Justin would be so proud) and watched a couple of episodes of Laid followed by Million Dollar Baby that I'd taped off TV a while ago.  I didn't realise it was such a long movie

Anyway, the fire was lovely and cosy, and of course I used the new screen and fireirons

roaring fire

ebay fireirons, Camberwell Market fire screen
and Youngs statue on mantle

 Given that Million Dollar baby was so long, I went out to get some more wood, but I must have chosen some green wood, because it hissed and dampened the flames when I put those logs on.  No matter it just smouldered, I was warm enough.

Finished up around midnight, made sure that the logs/embers were ok and turned off the lights.  Was startled awake again some hours? later by a blazing fire - the light had woken me up.  I guess the logs had dried out and were now fully alight - good thing I had the screen there (not that any logs rolled out, but it's just good practice)

Woke up after 7, and just lay there listening to the chimes.  For once didn't get up to buy the paper, read in bed for a while.  Then up for breakfast, George Foreman cheese sandwich and some coffee.  I had wanted a hot breakfast, not cereal this time, although it wasn't all that cold. 

Got going around 9 or so, donned the new Camberwell market overalls and thought I'd attach the letterbox to the front fence.  Did so with the wire that I bought from IGA.  I'm sure that Justin will say it's not a good enough job, but I think it looks pretty good.  I also trimmed aorund there a bit, so that you could see both it and the house number which had long been hidden behind leaves etc

ebay letterbox and original hosue number

Then I started out the front - taking the weeds out and getting rid of the couch grass.  Tiring work, in fact I'm still stiff today (Monday) after it.  Had lots of visitors - Kevin from the Historical society came and said hello, Gordon dropped in for a chat, followed a little while later by Ken.  Jamie waved hello from his car, as did Grant. Met a couple of new people, Barbara from the house on the corner and her friend Val.  We chatted a while and discussed that the shrub up the road was sticking rather far out onto the footpath. Val said she was going to cut it back with her secateurs one of these days as she'd scratched her face on it the other day.  I said I might beat her to it, if I finished everything here that I wanted to get done.

Took a lunch break around one - just sat on the front step and ate my sandwich - was good to have a rest.  Back to it soon afterwards - planted the irises I had dug up a few weeks ago, and also watered them in -as well as everything else I'd planted the last time.  Was quite time consuming as I had to walk to a tap in the back garden (the one that I've found to have the best pressure) - with the bucket, wait for it to fill, water a few plants and then repeat - had to make many, many trips.




planted irises on the left side

 David walked by while I was doing the irises and offered me some organic fertiliser which I will take him up on, once we figure out what to do with the garden  (although maybe I should take some for this bed before we put down the mulch)  Anyway, I said I would drop in on him later to buy some eggs, but he very kindly said that he would bring them to me - which he duly did.  Service with a smile!  Met another  neigbour who was turning onto Storm lane - Tim, and he told me there was a painting of the house in an art gallery in Guilford (near Castlemaine) and that he would get me the details - if we like it we might buy it!

I think the last visitor was Noreen, who had been at the auction,and had thought that "Justin" was "Julian". She had known Elsie Parry, (the previous owner) and her mother had known the house when she was young and it was beautfully well kept.  She had said we would have had a fight on our hands 20 years ago, as she would have liked to buy it then (when she retired).  On reflection there is no way we would have bought it 20 years ago - just wouldn't have had the money).  She also said that Mr Nevins snr had once told her about 30 years ago that if the house ever came up for sale that he had 23 interested parties... I wonder what happened to them all?  Justin had said that there were only about 4 bidders at the auction, and only one other at the end.  I invited Noreen back for a cup of tea when we have proper electricty on - and boiling up a kettle isn't such an ordeal.  Finally finished watering , and decided to prune back those whippy, scratchy branches on that shrub

Justin from the Labour day weekend, offending
shrub in the background beyond Storm Lane 

Got my secateurs and marched down there, and started cutting away - as it was extending over a metre onto the footpath.  A couple of blokes walked by and I assumed wondered what I was doing, so I beat them to it, and just said that I was doing some civic pruning, perhaps they thought I was mad.  I had brought a large cardboard box up with me - but I soon filled that, and went back home to get the large bin.  Was walking back with it and Val walked past, she said someone must have read her mind about pruning it - I said it was me - and she seemed quite pleased. 

Anyway that was pretty much enough for me - emptied the bin out onto Gordon's trailer (I'd already dumped another bin load of couch grass there).  Packed up, turned the fridge and the gas off on the bbq and left just before 5pm.  Was a bit scary driving on the highway in the dark, as I was concerned about kangaroos, and also couldn't put the high beam on - because of oncoming cars, had to concentrate very hard...luckily I wasn't falling alseep tired though, more bone weary tired after a full day's gardening.

Anyway, came home to a lovely roast chicken dinner, so I should do this more oftern...