Mad and I dropped in on her on the way to the house. I tried to swallow my fear of the growly/barky black Izzie - as I walked towards the gate. However I was saved by Clare (Beck's Mum), who came out to see what all the barking was about, and escorted me safely inside - where poor Beck was on the couch under a doona. Stayed for a little while, and then on to Nimmitabel with Mad, as she had decided to join me for a girl's weekend - Fraser and Justin had remained in Melbourne - as F had a party to go to on Sunday.
As we were still bringing a few bits and pieces into the house, a girl with 3 young children walked by and looked at me expectantly. It was Shareena who I had spoken to the week before - she had asked if she could get married in the garden, and then have a few family photos in the house. I had said yes of course, and told her that I was coming up this weekend. So, I showed her around, and she's still keen, despite the peeling wallpaper etc. She had suggested paying us which I refused of course, and then said she'd get us a hamper, which isn't necesaary, but what I'd really appreciate is some help in the garden, which would make it nicer for her wedding also - so hopefully a win win situation. The only thing is that her mobile phone or charger is broken, - so I don't know how to get in touch and tell her. No matter.
Gordon dropped in not long after Shareena had left - told me he'd had a sore leg which was why he hadn't done the vegie boxes yet, said he'd try to have them done before the school holidays when we'll be up next. I also inspected my replanted trees, the cherry is close to bursting out in bud, but there is still no sign of buds opening on the transplanted almond, nor the figs - I assume they're still ok - as they are still green. I also saw that Grant had dropped off a load of horse manure
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| the pile was bigger before I started spreading it on the garden |
and that more poppies are coming up from the seeds that I had scattered. I hope they get to flower as they will look wonderful!
Finally M and I changed into our overalls, and I gave her a choice of "fun" chores - after of course having bribed her with lunch at the Red Couch Cafe in Bridgewater (as per my similar bribe for Fraser when he came up with me) The "fun" chores were something in the garden as it was a relatively nice day (sunny at least) and no, not necessarily weeding, it could have been building the path; or plastering inside (lots of rooms to choose from). She chose the plastering - we assume J wouldn't have let us if he was there.... Made up the mixture and started plastering away over cracks in the front left hand upstairs room. Advised her to make it as smooth as possible- otherwise there'd be lots of sanding to do - and that's really boring.
We finished off a batch - and decided to stop there - didn't really feel like climbing a ladder - and certainly wondered about the cracks in the far away ceiling. Assessed our work, and thought it looked pretty good, also that it looked like some one had graffitied strange letters/tags all over the walls
Visitor #3 was Del from the Car Museum, who told us about the mirror that Becky had spoken about a few weeks back. It was a proper Victorian over mantle mirror - not from the house originally, but imminently suitable for our dining room. He wasn't spruiking it, the guy from the Road house (with the good pizzas) owned it, but it was in Del's wife Cheryl's shop - or actually not really in the shop, more out the back in the hallway. I went and had a look at it - and it was good, but rough, had been knocked around quite a bit, painted over the gold leaf, and the grey paint was peeling off too, and the mirror was speckled /scratched in places. Del had said that a Bendigo dealer would sell it for about $500, at that price I think it's a bit much given all the other things that we need to spend money on, and the fact that it would need to be fixed up. But who knows J can have a look at it next time we're up, and then we can see the Road house guy and see how much he wants for it -if J is interested.
Clare came and visited soon afterwards - bringing a welcome packet of Tims Tams. Showed her around and the we tucked into the tim tams and a cup of coffee. No, didn't fire up the wood fire stove, rather the gas hotplate, and had to send Mad to the shop to get some milk.
M went and had a nap after Clare left, and I pottered around in the garden for a bit and then read the paper in the kitchen. Tried waking up sleeping beauty a few times, but she just wanted to sleep. So didn't end up getting to the pub til after 7pm. No matter, it wasn't too busy. Surprised Enzo with our Nimmitabel. ownership. I was still rugged up in scarf and coat when I went to order drinks at the bar, and I remarked at at least it was nice and warm in there, not like my place which was quite cold inside. He asked if I lived in town and I said yes (sort of, on weekends), he then asked where, and I said Verdon Street, and then elaborated with the Tivey House, as he was still looking on questioningly. He seemed astonished, and told his wife Ros - maybe they wonder about our sanity/presumed deep pockets for taking on such a project. Chatted about it a bit, and returned to Mad at the table. I must say that she is being very pleasant, making an effort to be nice, although her eyes were bigger than her stomach as she wanted both a bowl of chips and a carbonara and didn't get through either.
Back to the house around 8.30, and I lit the fire in my room (just one match this time, and no mucking around mollycoddling it, I'd made sure that I'd put enough smaller kindling on it before adding the larger piece. Watched Emma (Kate Beckinsale version) with M - except I fell asleep about 1/2 way through. M had wanted to watch Poirot after this, but I just wasn't up to it.
Was surprisingly not too cold in the house when I woke up - my test is that if I can't see my breath it's not too cold. Bought the paper, and had some cereal for breakfast. Despite M's late afternoon nap, she slept soundly until around 10.30 or so and was also reading in bed
. She did homework after this and also tidied up while I was in the garden. Yes, more weeding, and also covered the front beds with horse manure. I hope that the poppies still come through. Rained a bit also, so had to come inside then - cleaned out all the fireplaces etc .
As I had said M tidied up, packed up, and washed the dishes, even made me a sandwich for lunch etc - as she wanted to leave around 2
I tried taking photos of some of the flowers/blossoms, but my phone didn't work too well with close ups (granted I didn't change any of the settings)
I also took some photos of what I assume to be some mould coming through in the cellar - on the bricks. Looked like crystals, but was soft and feathery when I touched it. Also a strange sort of musty smell.
Anyway, after my photos and M's packing up, we left around 2.30 and I stopped off at Del's (or rather Cheryl's) shop and looked at the mirror. Del also gave me a quick tour of his car museum. He has a quite a few huge old American cars, and all sorts of other mechanical curiosities. J would probably quite like it. Eventually got back to the car where M berated me for taking so long - I told her she should have come with me to make me quicker. No matter, off home for Indian takeaway for dinner
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