Water, water everywhere and all the boards did shrink

Well the boards would have shrunk if they had been in the line of water that was gushing under the house from the water pipe that ruptured sometime today, causing our water tank to almost drain away. Agh the perils of having your own water source and the associated need for pumps and hosing and black poly tubes that loop around under the house like bloated intestines...anyways, the ever resourceful and skilled Steve managed to replace the faulty elbow joint and even managed a smile even while caked in red muddy clay.

And here's a shot of two of our pumps (I think we have four all up) which live under our bedroom, chugging and pumping away, just biding their time until they decide to pack it in and cause us grief.

What do these have in common?

You guessed it, they are all Tender Centre purchases. And what an interesting collection they make: the chest is for firewood, the edger doesn't actually work and will be returned tomorrow and the ergonomic stool, well is an ergonomic stool. Who can say what goes on in one's mind when confronted with the myriad of bargains at Lismore Tender Centre. We've become regulars now, diligently searching the musty aisles for treasures that we don't really want and definitely don't need. But it's what you do when you live in the country.

A bit of this, a bit of that...

Apart from mixing cement and shovelling it into holes, I made a big chocolate cake from a recipe given to me by a colleague..thanks Rosie...

and I mowed the lawn...using the hand mower as Rita the Rideon is out of action until she has her blades replaced...she's a tempermental 'b' that one

Glen wins a biggie

"Stop it, get away, I haven't even got my socks on' squealed Glen as he got ready to go to the Lismore Square Annual Awards Dinner held at Zest Function Centre at the uni on Saturday evening, after he had spent the afternoon cementing at our place. 'What will you say in your acceptance speech? Ya gonna thank us?' we teased. Well, well, well, who won Best Merchandiser of the Year at Lismore Square. I'm sure everyone will want to congratulate young Glen, surely The Donut King of the Northern Rivers! What a year Glen has had so far...pulled up on the stage to perform with the Kransky Sisters, winning this award....what next???

Deck building #2

This weekend marked Phase 2 of Building the Deck. Since last weekend, 8 holes were dug to a depth of 60cm by ourselves and Shane (well mostly by Shane). These will be the footings.

Look at that lovely slurry that those butch lads, Steve and Glen are mixing. It was hot and wet work and we were rained on several times, soaking us to the bone. Never mind, that's the Australian way, isn't it.

And into each hole goes the contents of 4-5 20 kgs bags of cement multiplied by 8 thats almost 800kgs of the stuff.

All the footings have now been completed. Next phase is the bolting on of the bearers and the nailing of the decking. Timber will hopefully be delivered this week.

Maryville moods

'Agh the weather be queer, this weekend, I say', hissed old farmer Tom from the end of the road. Well actually there's no farmer Tom that we know of, just thought it would be an interesting way to start this posting, because the weather was indeed queer with lots of different light, rain, sun, a lot of variety indeed. Here's a few pics of different weather and lighting that we experienced over the weekend.

See the whisps of low cloud starting to dissolve after a shower

and a faint rainbow in front of the Billens

Anyone for toad in the hole?

Several small cane toads fell into the holes that we dug for the deck foundations. I've noticed quite a few small toads around 5cm long at the moment, no doubt this season's progeny growing up.