Poor od blogger

Moved to Wights Mouintain just over 4 years ago. Freezing cold today, Bernadettte is in the US on business for two weeks while I stay at home nursing my broken leg. Just finished the wettest season on record here after two years of drought condi;tions. Freezing cold (comparatively), and mice in the house. Have 8 ducks and a drake at the moment. Fruit trees ahve stopped growing, too cold and dark.

Post surgery

Recovering from a superficial parotidectomy RHS. Recovery will take a while as I have still some palsy from the operation on the RHS of my face. All Warthin tumours were removed, so it was successful. Jade perch happy to see me and growing well, will smoke one at Christmas.

The renovation is now finished. Very quick and close to budget. Now I have to make the repairs (mostly patching and painting) caused by the lift. Mostly happy, except the builder obviously wasn't listening when we explained how we wanted double glazing for noise abatement, and overlooked the fact that floor level would be 30 cm above ground level when quoting. The lack of on-site management during asbestos removal also resulted, finally, in the loss of 6 cubic metres of topsoil it took me 10 years to develop.
Kitchen then bathroom next, though I think it will probably be a few years on.

Bernadette has been made an Associate with her firm, she deserves the recognition and continues to work very hard. My latest library contract has finished so I have devoted myself to the garden and getting the house in order again.  Order for the house and ordure for the garden.

The ducks are sitting and I have moved the drake to a second pen. Provided we don't get any thunderstorms we should have ducklings in a month.

We are looking forward to interstate visitors being able to come and stay with us later in the year.

Zero Carbon Australia Launch Video

Worth watching, and the downloadable plan is not overly technical or wordy. Good clear graphic models. I don't have any children or grandchildren, but I can see the negative effects of climate change.

House raising and renovation.

Finding it very difficult to obtain quotes and costings, even with engineer's certified plans. Quotes so far have been nearly twice the amount we expected, and we have had to ask for costings. At this time it looks like we may have to do the job in stages. :-(
I was hoping to avoid doing that because of the added cost and inconvenience of moving stuff in and out of the house. Also I have torn a ligament in both my calves, which slows me down somewhat. I am growing a mo' for Movember.
Bernadette is working hard, and long hours, pus she has had concerts last weekend and this weekend. She has also had to attend several functions in the evenings outside working hours.

We fabulous weekend at Mapleton for our wedding anniversary, and marked that special occasion with an 8 course degustation dinner at Le Ralais Bressan ( see Flickr for further photo details)

House raising

Have had the soil test done, site classification M - moderately reactive clay site. Only problem is the draughtsman now wants another couple of $100 to include it in his own engineer's report. Design drafters to visit soon, $400 for measure up.

Well I didn't finish the Hawaii report, not much to tell. The biggest disappointment was being ripped off by the Softball Tour organisers on our accommodation. The best part was snorkeling Hanauma Bay. We had a good break.
Joined the Samford Local Food Growers Group, and have started helping to get Council support for a The Gap Community Garden. Council now appears to be in support so it loks like we will be able to take the next steps with our site of first choice. Bernadette is not playing softball this season, and we have each bought a new pushbike but it's been too wet to ride most of the time. Our garden is going ok and we have a few new ducks, including Khaki Campbells and a Saxony. I bought a Rouen, but it has turned out to be drake. (piccies on Flickr)
We are having Photovoltaic Power cells installed, and have taken first steps to raising the house. There may also be other big changes which I will detail soon.