Nimmitabel: A Work in Progress: November 2025

Well, at long last the extractor fan has been installed - it has literally taken years

We had initially purchased a Grampian Qasair extractor fan - but unfortunately found that it didn't fit, couldn't be manoeurved into the space as there was an unexpected arch behind the hearth

Another solution was provided by the builder - but I wasn't really happy with it - ie a masonite board with a small plastic fan in the middle and a couple of downlights. I tested it with a pot full of water, and the steam just circulated above the pot - it was not extracted

So it was disassembled

Therefore we had no fan, and just had a sheet of plywood covering the chimney cavity - which was only ever an interim step...

We had thought that our clever nephew Curtis who trained as a boilermaker might be able to make us a box to fit - but we didn't really progress with this

I also spoke with a number of other manufacturers/retailers - but no good either

So, back to Qasair, who came out a number of times to try and come up with a solution

And, yes they did - and here we are - after a multitude of other trades had to be involved - ie first had a hole cut in the back wall, and a lintel installed (also repointed the bricks on that side), then had to move the powerpoint (electrician), and the hot water service & gas bottles (plumber) - so a lot of preliminary work

I came up on the night before (after the Port Phillip CWA AGM)

Both Qasair and the electricians got here around 9.30 or so

I prepared for them by putting that big quilt on top of the aga for further protection

However they swapped it over for their one

And so it began - the electricians had been previoulsy - setting up for a control switch on the left hand side

The boxes of bespoke goodies

Daylight and a wire through the hole

Electricians feeding through the wire

Unpacking

The filter box - which was custom made for the space

I was also in the garden and planting some plants that I'd bought from friends of Burnley Gardens. And I brought some passionfruit plants from home to replace the dead ones at the garage - hopefully they'll survive - they look a bit wilty in the below photo

Was also thrilled to see that the medlar had produced some buds

And the chives were about to flower

Planted the "new" passionfruits

And the grass looked amazing - really knitting together - and a gorgeous green

Putting in the filter box

The filter box from the outside

Further protection for the aga

Tidying up the mess of wires

Waiting to attach the fan and engine - these are on the outside - which is great - because if anything goes wrong - it is easily accessible

All in place from the inside - however because there is the induction cooktop on the right, the fan has to be a certain height above it - which means that there is approx 10cm of bare brick - which should really be covered up for hygienic reasons. You can only really see it if looking at the aga - you would need to look in and up.

Jason - the Qasair guy measured up to give me a quote for stainless steel. to tuck in behind the unit and the cast iron. He had thought that Justin was going to organise this ie get masonite and tile it or something - but no, we'll go with the stainless steel - let's hope its not too expensive..