In my last post I flagged that we were spending some annual leave at the Charlton House over cup week and the time simply dragged waiting for that time to arrive.
We took 2 cars this trip as I had to tow a heavy trailer with some furniture, boxes, tools etc and it was a bit beyond the VW’s towing capacity. Unfortunately both Shirleen and Skylar don’t fit in the ute so 2 cars it was.
After an uneventful trip up the Calder with the usual coffee and toilet stops we arrived early afternoon, going through the ritual of unloading cargo on arrival. For the first time in months I didn’t need to immediately start mowing – Grass just doesn’t grow in Charlton come November. The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing before heading to neighbours Ross and Peggy’s for 5 o’clock drinks followed by a relaxing night by the TV.
Sunday was the start of an all out attack on stripping the paint from the dado in the entry hall and we worked well into the evening until we had returned the walls to their former unpainted glory.
Monday had been earmarked for Phil and I to add an additional ladder rack to the trailer so that I can carry long lengths of timber up to the house so that I can buy timber in Melbourne and transport it up rather than buy locally at hugely inflated prices over those in Melbourne.
After working inside all day Sunday I decided to spend Tuesday outside building a new front step, which kept me busy for much of the day. We were very happy with the result.
Wednesday saw Phil and I take a trip to Bunnings in Bendigo for Phil to buy some mesh and plywood for the cat cage he was building for Kristy and for me to stock up on paint stripper (given we had decided to strip the dado in the lounge room as well) and some treated pine sleepers for the rose garden. Whilst we were in Bendigo Shirleen and Janet took a trip to Wycheproof for lunch.
Thursday morning was spent in the garden – Shirleen hacking back a banksia rose next to the driveway which had gone crazy whilst I put the sleepers around the rose garden. Thursday afternoon I returned to work in the entry hall, this time removing the pink and yellow obscure glass flanking the front door so hat we could get more light into what was a very dark entry. The difference was quite amazing.
With the temperature rising and predicted to be in the mid 30’s for Friday to Sunday, Shirleen decided to return home to Somerville on Friday rather than stay in the heat given cooling in the house is limited to just 2 rooms, leaving those rooms we are currently working on tough going in the heat.
After seeing Shirleen and Skylar off on Friday morning I started patching, sanding and sealing the plaster walls in the entry in preparation for paint, a task which saw me through until Saturday evening, although I did take some time on Friday to take Shirleen’s garden clippings to the tip, and on Saturday morning to take the fridge to Wycheproof for repair. After finishing up for the day and heading to Phil’s for a drink, I stumbled across a baby brown snake slithering along the street towards the driveway. As it looked distressed, disoriented and unwell I did the right thing any animal lover would do and euthanised it.😉
Sunday was the usual packing up for the trip home, something which I never like doing.
Prepped and ready for paint
Let there be light!
Front garden taking shape
Front step