Christmas 2009

Christmas Eve and the usual last minute panic taking place but at least I managed to record the temperature. One of the cooler days in the week before Christmas. We have been forecast rain for Christmas Day but we have been promised rain before so we weren't holding our breath.



We had overnight visitors on Christmas Eve. Becky, Graham, Alex and Ben came early so that Alex could help me put out the candles on the footpath and around the front of the house. After tea, the family, with friends Rachael and Ramish, went for a walk to see all the local decorations while I stayed behind on candle alert.

Before going to bed, Alex dictated this letter to Santa and it was left out with a bottle of beer and some sweets. I was told we had to leave the door open on the stove so that Santa could get in!



Christmas Day and sure enough Santa has been because the beer is empty and the sweets have gone. Good job that Santa writes like me!! I don't think anyone noticed in the excitement.


Needless to say we were woken early by a very excited young man. This photo was taken after we had collected ourselves and had a cup of tea, notice the time!



The deal was that Alex could open one parcel but then had to wait for his other Grand Ma to arrive. He contained himself very well but when Cathy did arrive there was nothing that could come between him and his presents.





Before Cathy arrived we all had time to catch our breath and Ben took his Dad onto the front verandah for a cup of coffee.





Cathy is here and so off we go again.



Ben is walking around the furniture and will be more involved next year I'm sure.



Cake by Di, decoration by Becky.


As usual we spent Christmas night with our friends the Jordan Family. We were supposed to spend it around the swimming pool but for once the weather forecasters got it right and it turned out to be a very wet evening.

Building catch-up

A visitor came to check out Di's Christmas cake.





Scaffolding at the end of the house so that we can get easy access to the barge boards. Why on earth did we decide to do this during one of the hottest weeks so far this year. This particular day, the temperature reached 42C.



Front ridge boards up and the lead flashing finished. Barge boards also replaced and some of the tile re-pointing has been done.



The tiles have now all been re-pointed, nail holes filled and the next stage is painting which will probably get underway after Christmas.

Building works continued

Another very hot day to be on the roof.



Here the black plastic sheet has been partly removed, just in case we should get a shower, ha ha.



New lead flashing, very heavy and very expensive, has been fitted and packing battens fitted below the windows.



New lead flashing extends to the corner of the brickwork.



Insulation bats being fitted between vertical studs.


The first piece of a breathable membrane being nailed over the insulation.



Membrane in place and the first of the new cladding being put in place.


The complete new front covering.


Next step is to remove the old ridge fascia board and capping and replace with new.

Feast or famine

Can you really believe this, another update so soon. As the title suggests, its either feast of famine on this page.

After many years of facing the very hot sun and some times rain, the Western Red Cedar cladding to the split of the house has become very old looking, dry and splitting. This has been removed and the house is temporary weatherproofed with black plastic sheeting.


The vertical section will be insulated, vapour barrier installed and new weather boards fitted.



The barge boards, at least on the rear section of the roof, will be replaced and the roof tile edges re-grouted.



This project has been a 'round-to-it' for a number of years and when its all finished the whole house and sheds will get a new coat of paint, colours as yet to be decided.

More pictures as the work progresses.

Christmas is upon us.

The time of year again when all the preparations start to happen.

Di's famous Christmas cake mix.


Not enough left over this year to have a fry-up. One cake for us and the other for Becky and family, hope ours is the big one! There were such big quantities to be mixed that my muscle power was bought into action, and not only to lick out the bowls after.



Ready to go in the oven.



Just out of the oven and looking good.



The cakes have stood for about a month and are now getting their first little drop of Christmas cheer.


A mixture of many tastes and flavours.



I'm not too sure what these two blokes are supposed to be doing as we were putting up the Christmas tree.



Here is the finished result. The tree was decorated by Becky who was ably assisted/hindered this year by Alex.


Finally a photo for our Swedish family. As you can see we have gone native!

Where does the time go!

Just had a look at this page and realised how long its been since an update. Have also been clearing off the memory card in the camera so can kill two birds with one stone, so to speak!


Alex in full flight!

Ben with his "I'm not sure about this" look.


A pair of 'grands'.


Despite the very dry conditions we have had a nice garden for the early part of the year but now the heat is starting to effect everything.



A Walking Lily. As the name implys, the flower heads bend over down to the ground and then grow again.




Lovely flower heads in close up.


A favorite very dark red Geranium.


The garden is full of birds and we now have a certain pair of Rainbow Lorikeets that come and demand food.

Cat Flap

It probably doesn't sound too exciting but this story started over thirty years ago.

We are unashamedly a cat loving family!! We had a cat before we came to Australia and we have never been without at least one ever since. For some strange reason they have always been Russian Blue in colour



I have never wanted to fit a 'cat flap' as it leaves the house open to any slithering or creepy crawly things, and it is also a source of drafts. Also no definite location for the flap could be agreed upon as it would be impeded by full length blinds or security screens. A compromise was finally reached, after thirty five years, and I have installed a flap which gives access into the laundry, also helping to contain muddy paws etc.






Unfortunately this meant cutting through the external brickwork and making a short tunnel between interior and exterior.






The upturned black bin is a step up for the cat!!