First to Tullamarine to pick up Carolyn who had flown down from Sydney, and then onto Inglewood for Shareena's wedding in our garden at 2pm
Got to Inglewood around 11.30 and gave C a tour of the house - many many bees. In fact there were a vast number on the floor of the upstairs large room (some still alive). It smelled sweet in the room - from the honey. Reminding me of the mallaleuca honey smell in Port Douglas
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| dead bees |
And a swarm had also taken up residence under the eaves near the jacaranda. Will we ever get rid of them?
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| dark round blot under the eaves is the swarm |
Had a walk around town, and then bought some provisions for lunch - settled down under the portico in the front, - smoked salmon with cream cheese & capers, some brie and some crusty bread, washed down by some white wine. Very civilised.
A van pulled up after 1pm, I thought it was a photographer to video the wedding - but no - it was Sam the electrician - as I'd called him up late on Thursday or Friday to see if he could install a powerpoint for the soon to be installed hot water system. I was very surprised and rather pleased when he said that he could do it then and there! And he doubled our powerpoint quotient - from 3 to 6! So we now have 2 outside and 2 in the kitchen (as well as the original 2 in the dining room and the front room) J contends that it was really only doubling, as doubles just really count as singles, - but I'll stick with my doubling claim
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| new kitchen powerpoint |
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| new outside powerpoint in preparation for new hot water service |
Wedding guests started arriving around 1.45 or so, and I suggested that they might like to come into the garden, as they were milling around outside. I had also set up some our folding chairs - even though Shareena said that they didn't need them.
It was getting onto 2pm - and no one had come to lay out the red carpet for the bride to "walk down the aisle" on. Being a little bossy, I took it on myself to go and find someone to do so. Some other people came and "demanded" my table for the signing of the registry book. I was a little miffed, as they weren't so much asking as taking - and Justin had only just brought up the set a couple of days ago - so they couldn't have been counting on it. In fact what would they have done if it wasn't there?
Shareena arrived via the back gate - and the wedding began. Carolyn and I rubber-necked from the back - and luckily the weather was fine and sunny. It had been raining back in Melbourne - and in fact had been a reasonably miserable 4 days of weather in Melbourne - while it was fine and sunny here every day - bit windy on Saturday though.
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| there goes the bride |
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| the vows |
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| after the deed |
So, the wedding went without a hitch (ha ha no pun intended), followed by the wedding party having some photos inside the house - and left around 4 or so. Carolyn and I then jumped in the car and had a look and walk around the Inglewood Botanic Gardens, and then up to the look out point a little beyond there. They had removed the viewing structure which had previously been cordoned off - we assume because it was unsafe. Scrambled up the mound anyway, and looked at all the surrounding bush -with just the flag and town hall clock tower as the only visible attractions in town.
Then back to Melbourne
Sunday evening and I'm back in Inglewood
Dinner at the pub with the family and also Alex and April - not too cold - so didn't have a fire when we got home - just sat in the dining room reading the papers etc - I had a relatively early night as I was tired from my reunion the night before
Monday - and yet more gardening /weeding etc. Gordon had filled the vegie boxes with more horse manure & straw, and J had gone into Bridgewater
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| pebbles and sand (top soil dumped at the vegie boxes) |
J also started the outline of a path on the other side of the central path (forgot to take photos of this)
And he finished off painting the front door frame - 2nd coat? - and filled the right hand path outline with sand and pebbles
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| painting man |
There was also some excitement in the morning as another work van had arrived with 3 guys ready to put our posts up for the replacement fence on the North side. On Saturday the fence was still up (with the exception of the blown down section) - however when we came up on Sunday it was all down.
Anyway these guys started digging post holes and unfortunately nicked a water pipe. This pipe was only a small black plastic? tube that came into our property from under Storm Lane, and then looped along the top of the front fence before disappearing again underground at the water meter approx 10m away from the fence. We couldn't quite figure out how it all worked - as we're still not sure what water comes out of which taps ie town water, tank #1, or tank #2 - and there is a network of surface metal pipes all over the garden. Anyway they fixed up the nick and then cheekily suggested that we put a tap in - near the lane ie before our water meter - and then we wouldn't have to pay for any water... We declined. And speaking of water - hoorah - the water is "miraculously" back on in the kitchen. Whether it had rained more and the tank had filled (unlikely?) - or a rat had dislodged in the tank/pipe - Justin & Alex's unpalatable suggestion - who knows - it's back on - and we're happy!
So - to what I did during the day - well, I planted some more plants that I'd brought from Melbourne - a couple of small angel's trumpets, a small loquat tree, an unusual protea, some marigolds, some small lavenders, some hellebores and some other plants that I can't remember the names of
Also admired some of the new flowers that had emerged such as some poppies that were in flower (I'd raised from seeds
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| poppies in the front |
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| roses - who knows what type? |
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| new yellow iris |
And I also admired the new fruit in my orchard...
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| likewise a rather immature peach |
J had also put the rope ladder up in the tree - as I had cleared away most of wire etc under there - was quite a hit with the kids - now all we need is a tree house...
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| up he goes |
Nin and kids arrived in the late afternoon - after1st having made a deal with Fraser. It was Halloween - and April had said that it would have been great if Fraser had his gilly suit for trick or treating. Obviously we weren't going to go back for it - but I said he could call up Nin and see if would agree to go to our place and pick it up. Surprisingly the answer was yes, but for a price - and the price was that Fraser would wash and clean Nin's car when he arrived - I questioned whether Nin would or could actually collect. However collect he did - F vacuumed and washed like a navvy - as well as Nin and Alex and some of the other kids
While they were doing this, I was putting the top soil on my vegie boxes and then planting various seeds that Kate had given me ie pumpkin, watermelon, onions, parsley, corn, etc. Cesky was a little darling and asked if she could help - I'm so unused to unprompted offers of help from children - it was really lovely
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Worked through til after 6 - and then the trick or treaters started coming by (unfortunately forgot to take photos of them also) The 1st lot were going to walk straight past our gate - so I sort of called them in - were they shy/scared? Well it didn't stop them accepting the hand fulls of lollies/chocolates that April was doling out from a large bowl. Several lots of kids went by, and these subsequent ones didn't have to be urged in. Surprisingly - our kids didn't go - Cesky, Rory and Charlie were all dressed up and had their faces painted, Mad and April had made up some "bloody" bandages (tomato sauce mixed with chocolate sauce) and Alex had put the gilly suit on -and given some of our kids a fright
Meantime I was relaxing on the veranda with a well deserved G & T. Back to the pub for dinner, I didn't feel like making dinner, and obviously no one else did either (Must admit I was hoping that a mythical "someone" would) Kids were once again attracted to the "claw" machine by the lure of lollies/chocolates. Enzo must have seen them playing on it and came across with a key - opened the large glass door and invited the girls to help themselves - 7th heaven! Although we told them they could only take one each. Got Alex to take a photo as proof - as the poor boys - Fraser, Rory and Charlie were in the bathroom - with F scrubbing paint off R's face. Told them of our windfall on their return - and they were understandably incredulous - thus the digital proof was proffered... - and then the howls began - oh it's not fair, why weren't we here etc etc
Back from the pub, and sat in the dining room with a well cut pumpkin which Nin had made grinning at us while J played the guitar
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| rather good isn't it |
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| halloween guitar strumming |
Tuesday morning - Melbourne Cup Day - Nin went and scouted us some coffees which was very nice, and then J made us all bacon and eggs for breakfast on the BBQ. - good heart country breakfast
Bruce and a couple of mates also came by and removed our old outdoor toilet - as it was a bit of an eyesore, and hopefully the "laundry" will be rebuilt soon - given that they're starting on the fence now
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| pre removal |
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| and off it goes |
A little while later Nin introduced an older couple to us - who were on a Reilly car rally - they had admired the house - and wanted to have a chat. They were very pleasant and had told us how they had seen a couple of lovely old Victorian wardrobes destroyed in a worker's cottage in Brighton because no one could be bothered to take them. If he'd known he would have brought them up for us - as it was only a few weeks ago. He said he'd keep his eyes open for any other old pieces - and took Alex's card as a contact point. And while all of this was going on, I was told that there was a man at the door with flowers for me. This naturally piqued my interest - so I went to investigate. It was David at the back door with a lovely bunch of roses from his garden. He proceeded to tell me the names of the roses. The 1st was "seduction" and I advised that it probably wasn't a good idea to give me such a rose in front of my husband - and we all laughed.
He had also brought his dog with him - a large Italian sheep dog - maremma called Gretchen
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| Gretchen, Fraser & David |
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| still life |
Back to the garden, and the kids also had some fun playing chasey around the garden, and then also in the pebbles as they buried Charlie
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| looking comfortable |
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| job well done - and mind the spade |
Nin and kids left before lunch, and Justin and our kids followed a bit later in the ute. We had talked about all making a sweep for the Melbourne Cup - but the others had left well before the race, and we should have really all watched it together for the sweep to be most fun - so it didn't happen
A made us some sandwiches for lunch, and I also had a beer, as it was had got warm working out in the sun (with a hat of course) - and I felt it well deserved.
I had been thinking of doing something more constructive than weeding for a while - so attempted to continue the brick outline of the front path - was ok, but I'm sure that J will rip it up and do it again - as it isn't quite good enough
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| my slightly wonky path - and small section of pebble filled path |
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| and from a different perspective |
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