Now a bit older bathroom

Have added some pictures to the webalbum of the final results. We're pretty happy with it. Just need to shorten the curtains and all is done. (working on getting the rest of the blog up to speed!)

New bathroom

Album-click here 0710_Upstairs...

The guys who did our ensuite called and left a message last Wednesday, along the lines of 'We have the energy to start work on the bathroom tomorrow'. We had last seen them in August, when they popped by to check out the work, and said they could start in September. We tried to convey that it would be nice to have a bit of notice before they actually started - but obviously didn't get very far.

So we have dust again.. and noise... and running around etc. What we don't have is the hard yakka and stress of poor Fi's forced DIY renovations due to dodgy builders. Things are progressing faster than our ensuite, which needed lots of plumbing reworking. They are already onto paint prep, so hopefully we wont go into next week, or not too far. We are also getting them to paint all the bright orange doors in the house ivory white - which will be bloody fantastic. Hopefully the toilet will be back in and functioning for our weekend b&b&b guests Jock and Ali.

Chooks

We have finally started getting some eggs from the chooks. Seems there are only 2 layers - Henny is one (black chook with large red comb). She is a certainty as she's gone back into the henhouse to lay quite late in the morning. The other we're not too sure about. Generally we are getting one small egg (Henny we think) and one medium to large egg - often a double yolker. I'm not sure how our cholesterol levels will cope if all 4 do start laying.

I gave the eaves a lick of red paint. Unfortunately, I didn't check to see if we had turps in the house before I started, and before I really made a mess of my hands and the laundry sink trying to clean the paint with whatever was handy (derr). Unlike in Oz, hardware stores are not usually open on Sundays here. Jamie did a mercy mission (had to take Jasper as I couldn't use my hands) to the Sunday mini supermarket and came back with nail polish remover. It worked enough. Lesson learned.

We had transplanted a couple of rasberry plants to the corners of the runs. One of them has been going off - rasberries on cereal each morning, yum. Wanting to take this to excess we went out and bought 5 more plants. Hopefully we will be swimming in rasberries next Spring to Autumn.

There are some recent pics at the end of the album - click on pic at top.

The lovely Eri and Heath

It took a while - with such busy schedules between them - but the long since booked trip to visit (& meet Jasper) finally arrived. We had a great weekend, gasbagging, eating tim tams, playing with Jasper, a succesful shopping mission (Jamie, again, sent strict instructions that there would be no purchases for himself or Jasper - I only cheated a little), and more gasbagging. : - D

Jasper was spoilt with a gorgeous giraffe height measuring thing from Erica, and Golligosh the monkey from Heath. Can see the receipt of the latter if click on the pic below... as you can see, the wrapping may have been even more of a winner. We chanced to all wear red on their departing day - feisty ladeez!

Les Parishes Trois

Album 0709_JaseGia

We had a whirlwind visit by the Parishes in September. They were on some crazy jetsetting itineraries, criss-crossing the globe and rendezvousing in Lyon and London and can't recall where else; mixed purposes of rugby games, work conferences and friend catchups. They got the train up from Lyon on Sunday and the weather was kind enough to allow for a barbie for dinner. Had a pretty laid back evening, just enjoying catching up. It had been some time.

Hmmm...now thinking to Monday, I have to correct myself about the Sunday laid back evening... Gia and I had a laid back evening. Monday morning Gia had to get the train to Munich. Original plan was for Jase and Jamie to drop her off at Midi before heading to Ypres. As the boys did have a lot to catch up on (and Jase had been eyeing off pictures of Belgian beers on the blog for a while), I wound up doing the drive to the station in the morning. By the time we returned, the boys were ready to adventure west.

They were to be heading near Westvleteren (sp?) where the best beer in the world is made (apparently) on a day that they were to have new stocks for sale. However, despite spending the whole trip to the station redialing the Monkline, we were unable to get through to put the order in (You can get a carton per car with a pre-order). They still swung by though, and were able to pick up a couple of 6 packs.

They also went to the Commonwealth cemetary Tyne Cot, and into Ypres, and stayed for the Last Post at Menin Gate. As I wasn't there, I can't go into detail - but gather it was all quite moving.

Tuesday, Jase was off to gay Pareee, but we managed to go out for lunch first. Beforehand Jasper did a fine 'I know you want me to take a nap NOW, but despite or because of that, I simply will not' performance. All good training for Kylie. Speaking of whom, Gia was looking only slightly bumpy. Looking forward to our end of year visit when she'll be fit to burst. Jamie and Jason can't agree on whose child is liable to be more of a corruptive influence on the other. I'm guessing it will be equal, given their own performances.