Saturday, October 28, 2006
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
The tractor goes again
What I forgot to mention about this weekend, was that Tom the tractor died, totally. Battery fine, just didn't even attempt to turn over. We think it was sulking because it was left outside overnight on Saturday. Anyway, after about an hour in the rain towing the tractor up and down the drive way trying to bump start it with the bike! we gave up and towed it back to the shed. This afternoon, I had a quick look on the net, and within 30 minutes had him going again. I unbolted the starter switch and adjusted it forward a bit so contact is made sooner, and it goes again.
And this morning I noticed there is a Fergy birthday party at the Claireville show this year, I might even take Tom, dispite all the colours being wrong. I'll need to get the exhaust fixed though first.
And this morning I noticed there is a Fergy birthday party at the Claireville show this year, I might even take Tom, dispite all the colours being wrong. I'll need to get the exhaust fixed though first.
Wet Wet Wet - update
Well, now things are a little bit less hectic, I can write a bit more about the last few days, and what happened.
On Wednesday, sometime during the day, a crack, about 1m long, formed diagaonally across the bottom pane in the tank, front to back. This obviously made the tank's water keeping ability radically reduce, to the point it didn't.
The was followed by the dumping of approxiamately 882L of water onto the dining room carpet. As the water flowed down through the dining room, it followed along the west wall of the house, where the camera was on the floor in it's bag, along with the sub-woofer, computer and entertainment unit. All of the above got wet. The camera is fine, the sub is still in being checked (but probably fine), and the computer was bone dry, but the entertainment unit did get a bit damp around the bottom.
In addition to the stuff on the carpet, the carpet also got very wet.
On Wednesday evening, Steph and I had a quick fish rescue operation, managed to save a few, and then started on the big clean up. Then around 8:30pm our neighbours came around and chipped in helping us move the gravel, stones and finally the tank. Whilst we were moving the tank onto the dolly, we managed to put a real big hole in the bottom, oh well!
The next day ChemDry came around and started the drying process. They installed 4 air movers and 2 dehumidifiers (as you can see in the photo). That night we were put up in a motel because the noise of all the kit was too much.
On Friday, we had the assesor out and he ordered the gib to the first dwang to be removed, and he want's the carpet relaided (dispite another assesor told us it would be replaced).
All in all, whilst tragic, and the worst flood we've had, on the grandscale of things, not too bad, at least the house is now habitable.
On Wednesday, sometime during the day, a crack, about 1m long, formed diagaonally across the bottom pane in the tank, front to back. This obviously made the tank's water keeping ability radically reduce, to the point it didn't.
The was followed by the dumping of approxiamately 882L of water onto the dining room carpet. As the water flowed down through the dining room, it followed along the west wall of the house, where the camera was on the floor in it's bag, along with the sub-woofer, computer and entertainment unit. All of the above got wet. The camera is fine, the sub is still in being checked (but probably fine), and the computer was bone dry, but the entertainment unit did get a bit damp around the bottom.
In addition to the stuff on the carpet, the carpet also got very wet.
On Wednesday evening, Steph and I had a quick fish rescue operation, managed to save a few, and then started on the big clean up. Then around 8:30pm our neighbours came around and chipped in helping us move the gravel, stones and finally the tank. Whilst we were moving the tank onto the dolly, we managed to put a real big hole in the bottom, oh well!
The next day ChemDry came around and started the drying process. They installed 4 air movers and 2 dehumidifiers (as you can see in the photo). That night we were put up in a motel because the noise of all the kit was too much.
On Friday, we had the assesor out and he ordered the gib to the first dwang to be removed, and he want's the carpet relaided (dispite another assesor told us it would be replaced).
All in all, whilst tragic, and the worst flood we've had, on the grandscale of things, not too bad, at least the house is now habitable.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Spit Roast
OK, even with the flood, Steph and I decided that the arranged spit roast should continue, so lunch time on Saturday, Matt and myself fired up the BBQ and threw on some big rump steak, and finished off a bottle of wine, just to get started, and then after lunch and moving everything down to the barn due to inclement weather, we started the preparation of the lamb.
It started off taking her from the bathroom down to the barn.
Here she is on the table ready for the spit to go through.
Just like so....
And here we have one suspended lamb, ready for the belly cavity to be sewn up.
Men doing what men do best, drinking and watching meat cook!
Hmmm, looking yummy
Ug, meat...sharp knife...me happy!v
Strider enjoying the spoils (half a rib cage.)
It started off taking her from the bathroom down to the barn.
Here she is on the table ready for the spit to go through.
Just like so....
And here we have one suspended lamb, ready for the belly cavity to be sewn up.
Men doing what men do best, drinking and watching meat cook!
Hmmm, looking yummy
Ug, meat...sharp knife...me happy!v
Strider enjoying the spoils (half a rib cage.)
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Catastrophic failure of 8ft tank
Last night we got home to 880L of water on the lounge, dinning room and kitchen floor, and a completly empty tank. Lost all clown loaches, and smaller fish. Corys, Paradise fish, 1 blue loach and an eel survived.
Lounge carpet probably written off, and maybe kitchen too.
Will update later.
Lounge carpet probably written off, and maybe kitchen too.
Will update later.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Pretty and Pregnant
Yep, we're expecting the pitter-patter of even more feet now, next May, around the 5 to the 11, we are expected our first baby person....Yep, Steph is finally pregnant. As you can imagine this is having a few knock on effects such as me not going to England, and a fair bit of work quickly being done around Littlebush to prepare for them (as in the singular version of them, it is only 1).
So far we've had 2 scans, one at 7 weeks, and another last Friday, still no photographs though, but on November 1st, there will be photos (even if I have to take the digital camera in).
Last Friday Steph and I headed into Masterton for the warrant of fitness on the Safari, and for a 10 week checkup. Expecting the doctors to be typically delayed, I headed up to the testing station and queued up for the warrant. Whilst I was on the pit getting the brakes checked, I was depressing the peddle when it all of sudden it gave way. The front brake hose burst! Obviously we failed the warrant, and I was also told the pads were iffy and the other hose needing changing too. I prompty (well not really, I was going VERY slow) drove to the doctors (with no brakes what so ever), only to find Steph had already gone in. I went into the doctors room and luckly they had just started. He had a listen to the baby's heart, and then did a quick scan, and it actually looked like a baby, and had arms and legs and was waving them around, very cool!
Steph and I have come up with some names, so far "Charlotte Rose" seems to be a fixed girl's name, and Connor is reasonably steady as a boy's first name. Other options for the boys names so far are Rhys and Sean. We have thought about Daemon, but that is too geeky (in programming a daemon program is one that doesn't quit and sits in the background doing stuff consuming resources!). Luke has been suggested as a possible middle name for Connor, which works reasonably well.
Other than that news, both paddocks that I resowed now have grass, albeit the top one much more than the other, but there is grass in both.
Hm, what did we do this weekend, not a great deal, there was a few jobs that needed seeing to, fixing up the rabbit condo, mowing the lawns, cutting the driveway grass, taking Markissa for a walk and weaning the kits.
The rabbit condo was easily fixed up, and made more accessible with the use of a chainsaw, making our fire-pile even bigger! Once that was fixed up I moved the eight kits over, and they are now on finishing food for the next month or 2 (hopefully they will be ready for Christmas). I have worked out that with a bit of planned breeding and management, I can move 1 litter every other month into the freezer!
In the morning on Saturday, I mowed the front lawn and got the weed-eater into the other lawn under the fruit trees. Then during the rest of the day we did our own things and had some friends out for coffee.
On Sunday morning I mowed the driveway with the tractor and then in the afternoon I spent a few hours fixing a neighbors computer which had contracted a virus.
Oh, last Wednesday, I sat my firearms test and passed with 100%, so now it's just sit and wait for the license to come through.
So far we've had 2 scans, one at 7 weeks, and another last Friday, still no photographs though, but on November 1st, there will be photos (even if I have to take the digital camera in).
Last Friday Steph and I headed into Masterton for the warrant of fitness on the Safari, and for a 10 week checkup. Expecting the doctors to be typically delayed, I headed up to the testing station and queued up for the warrant. Whilst I was on the pit getting the brakes checked, I was depressing the peddle when it all of sudden it gave way. The front brake hose burst! Obviously we failed the warrant, and I was also told the pads were iffy and the other hose needing changing too. I prompty (well not really, I was going VERY slow) drove to the doctors (with no brakes what so ever), only to find Steph had already gone in. I went into the doctors room and luckly they had just started. He had a listen to the baby's heart, and then did a quick scan, and it actually looked like a baby, and had arms and legs and was waving them around, very cool!
Steph and I have come up with some names, so far "Charlotte Rose" seems to be a fixed girl's name, and Connor is reasonably steady as a boy's first name. Other options for the boys names so far are Rhys and Sean. We have thought about Daemon, but that is too geeky (in programming a daemon program is one that doesn't quit and sits in the background doing stuff consuming resources!). Luke has been suggested as a possible middle name for Connor, which works reasonably well.
Other than that news, both paddocks that I resowed now have grass, albeit the top one much more than the other, but there is grass in both.
Hm, what did we do this weekend, not a great deal, there was a few jobs that needed seeing to, fixing up the rabbit condo, mowing the lawns, cutting the driveway grass, taking Markissa for a walk and weaning the kits.
The rabbit condo was easily fixed up, and made more accessible with the use of a chainsaw, making our fire-pile even bigger! Once that was fixed up I moved the eight kits over, and they are now on finishing food for the next month or 2 (hopefully they will be ready for Christmas). I have worked out that with a bit of planned breeding and management, I can move 1 litter every other month into the freezer!
In the morning on Saturday, I mowed the front lawn and got the weed-eater into the other lawn under the fruit trees. Then during the rest of the day we did our own things and had some friends out for coffee.
On Sunday morning I mowed the driveway with the tractor and then in the afternoon I spent a few hours fixing a neighbors computer which had contracted a virus.
Oh, last Wednesday, I sat my firearms test and passed with 100%, so now it's just sit and wait for the license to come through.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Stuff happens
No blogging for a while, the projector is still isn't back, anyway onto today. This morning we noticed that one of the baby bunnies had escaped, it had chewed through the cable tie holding the door shut, and jumped out. We were luckly only one was missing. Steph and I had a look around the normal places but couldn't find it..We secured the rest and then headed into town, we needed a new headlight for the civic, the shopping, and I wanted to pick up a rifle rack (I'm in the process of getting my firearms licence). Once we got home, I harrowed the paddock Markissa has been in recently, and then carried on applying some finish to some timber for the "project", then I realised I had a bit more shaping to do before, oh well.
During the afternoon, Steph worked Markissa, and I pickled some beetroot from the vege bed. Then whilst on the phone to Mum and Dad, I heard something squeal and Jag chase something. It was the missing white bunny. Steph finally caught it after the dogs gave chase, and a few of the cats.
Oh and last week, Hollywood (the other adult female rabbit) was mated to Rubin, so at the end of the month (on Amy's B'Day), she should drop another litter.
Tomorrow, I'll hopefully carry one with DevilSpawn's fleece, it's coming up really well, lime the paddock I harrowed today and wean the baby rabbits and move then onto finishing food (ready for the pot in a month's time).
Anyway, it's past bed time.
So till tomorrow..I might get to upload some photos.
During the afternoon, Steph worked Markissa, and I pickled some beetroot from the vege bed. Then whilst on the phone to Mum and Dad, I heard something squeal and Jag chase something. It was the missing white bunny. Steph finally caught it after the dogs gave chase, and a few of the cats.
Oh and last week, Hollywood (the other adult female rabbit) was mated to Rubin, so at the end of the month (on Amy's B'Day), she should drop another litter.
Tomorrow, I'll hopefully carry one with DevilSpawn's fleece, it's coming up really well, lime the paddock I harrowed today and wean the baby rabbits and move then onto finishing food (ready for the pot in a month's time).
Anyway, it's past bed time.
So till tomorrow..I might get to upload some photos.
Friday, October 06, 2006
Yeah, it's been a while
Yep, once more the projector is in for repair so the computer I normally use for blogging is out of action, but I thought I would give you a quick update.
It turned out that the tractor had a worn distributor cap and HT leads, and also a faulty ignition switch. I've replaced the cap and the HT leads, and worked around the switch. Consequently both paddocks are now sown, and just waiting for grass to grow (which is already happening in the first paddock).
The hare was tasty (we had hare and prunes), and I'm planning on sitting my firearms licence on Wednesday..
So till later (when I'll upload a heap of photos)
It turned out that the tractor had a worn distributor cap and HT leads, and also a faulty ignition switch. I've replaced the cap and the HT leads, and worked around the switch. Consequently both paddocks are now sown, and just waiting for grass to grow (which is already happening in the first paddock).
The hare was tasty (we had hare and prunes), and I'm planning on sitting my firearms licence on Wednesday..
So till later (when I'll upload a heap of photos)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)