New windows

So today was the big day that the windows were to arrive. We are redoing the old windows cos they are rotting out after 50 years of service.

I rang the place FIVE times before the right person answered the phone. She had not been "at her desk." From the way she chatted, I guessed there was a not very good reason why she was not "at her desk."

Anyway, she said the windows would be delivered "later this afternoon" with the emphasis on later.

So I confirmed a doctor's appointment at 11:30 am and trotted down there. I had to see the doc because my sad shoulder (not the BC one) was unhappy due to the amount of shovelling and wheelbarrowing and moving stuff I had done to get the way ready for the windows to be put in the garage.

I got back at 12:10pm. I had been away 40 minutes.

Guess what was lying in the front yard on blocks of wood?

AUGH!

(I need a Charlie Brown wail)

I got on the phone to them and wailed. It's been pouring on and off here, so unDecember-like. The receptionist said no I shouldn't move them by myself, she would find some guys to come and move them for me.

Then I cried. Our windows, our $3200 of beautiful, western red cedar double glazed windows lying in the front yard. (I shudder to think how much the windows for the rest of the house will be cos one of them is practically as big as four of the ones we just bought.)

Anyway, all was well in the end. Two sales blokes came around and moved them for me. So glad that they did because we've had another half an inch of rain this evening....

Muchos gracias, Canterbury Windows.

%$&#$&% Rain!

Never thought I would say that there's any such thing as too much rain.

It is 1:30am, I've been woken up at 1:10am by the rain pounding on the roof and garden. And the sound of water pouring. There was a weird ba-doing noise that I hoped wasn't the fence falling over (the fence is in a parlous state).

No, the ba-doing noise was the metal strap that holds the gutter extension in place, the extension that directs the jet of water from the down pipe into the water tank. It now directs the water down the SIDE of the tank.

Sigh.

OK the tank is full but at least the overflow directs the water into the storm water drain rather than under the house.

I know I should do something about it but it is 9C out, DARK and pouring rain. And I doubt I can reach it and I don't have a torch to light the way to it anyway.

Heh. If I can't sleep, I'll get some pics of home improvements up....

On chooks

One of the things I find very amusing about chickens is the way their heads bob when they walk. When they run?

Bobobobobbobobobobobobbobobobobobobbob!

As Boldie demonstrates below. Her head and neck are all blurred. OK, so is one foot.



I also find their eyes quite freaky - I reckon if you want to know what dinosaur eyes looked like, look no further! After all, chickens are a recently evolved dinosaur really - like pretty much all birds.


Isoldie was also running away from me - these chooks are mighty difficult to get pics of, but had slowed down some and was in focus and not motion-blurred. I have to say I don't find their heads particularly pretty. I think Isoldie shows her English Game Bird heritage quite well - I would not be surprised if she is a pure bred. Boldie clearly is not, with her big floppy comb. Goldie, who declined to join in the photo shoot, is somewhere in between in comb style.

BTW, if you have free ranging chooks and like nice neat paths and garden beds?

HA! You have no hope unless your favourite thing is sweeping paths and you have LOTS of time on your hands....

Flushed with success

Hooray! At last a new post on our Modest Manor page.

We are rearranging our kitchen, laundry and loo. The old pink porcelain throne has been, well, dethroned, and hooray I say to that! That old dunny had had its day some years ago.

So lookie at our new loo:



Isn't it shiny and noice and clean and new? It is low water use (3/6L I think or less than a gallon and somewhat less than two gallons). And noone has peed all over it! Yay!

Pity about the fact you can see from one side of the house to the other through the new loo's space. We haven't got a door for it yet, hmmm....