BBY Beautification Begins!

Well, it's been a while between blogs! 2007 finished with a flourish and 2008 began in much the same way. Even though Rosi and I have had a fair bit of time off this year (Rosi more than I but who's counting!?!), there's always so much to do....does that cut it as an excuse??

Anyway, we're back online now and that's all that matters. And we wanted to get back online so we could share the beautification of the BBY with you. Now, we think the BBY is already pretty darn beautiful and we love love LOVE our little home. However, we decided we really did need to get a laundry (yes, we've been taking our washing to my mum's at Old Bar or to my sister's at Camperdown for nearly 18 months!) and another bedroom and bathroom wouldn't go astray (hint, hint...plenty of room for visitors now!) and hey, while we're at it, why not put in a big new kitchen and dining room leading out on to a you-beaut bigger than Don-Laing Deck (for those that know Don, you'll understand the joke!).

After a slight delay of about 6 months, this big back yard make over began today and here are some photos of the day's efforts. Our talented and wonderful builders and excavators are Vern, Aaron and Al....here's to them and what they can do with their tools!

The BBY - as it stood on the 9th September 2008 - view from the top

The BBY - as it stood on the 9th September 2008 - view looking back from the north

It's September 10th and the boys have began! The new driveway takes shape.

Ironing out the bumps - preparing the driveway at the front....gravel to arrive tomorrow.

Leveling out the back - it will now be smooth sailing all the way into the shed!

That was close - Aaron doing his thang in the bobcat...bet he's glad we got this on camera!

This is Al in his big toy - he's poetry in motion!

This black snake decided to slither across our back yard while we were on smoko. Bad move. Given this was going to be a work site for the next 6 weeks, the guys decided it had to go....so off with it's head. This is the first snake we've killed at the farm (well, Al did it actually)...sad but a necessary move given current circumstances.

And every good blog post has to end with some cute animal pictures (particular given the proceeding image!) and so here they are, the two newest additions to the Lembke-Lewis household....Viny and Adi. They are as different as chalk and cheese but both delightful in their own way. Sidd's getting used to having them round and treats them with the mix of disdain (when he's not in the mood for infantile behaviour) and amusement (when he wants to demonstrate that yes, he is the fastest ball chaser on the West Bulga thank you very much!)

Hi All

Its been a while I note. Much has happened, been to Sydney, surprised I am sure, moved Mum into her new abode and we are now thankful that 3 years of hard work has finally paid off. Had dinner at Billy Kwongs (birthday) and just have been generally getting into farm life.

Yes of course I worked one day whilst in Sydney, so thats the upper limit these days. Have been on the tractor a little bit, but ran out of diesel, and am not going to town now until Wednesday to pick up Megs. Buy more diesel I hear you say. Thanks for the tip.

Have had the contractor in to start fencing off the front creek, so that is exciting, I've been helping as much as I can but given only one person can drive a tractor at a time, and given he has the big toys to help, I'm good at digging dirt and pulling down fences. But I do enjoy.

Today was my Sunday and forecast was for high wind, thunderstorms, rain and hail. Of course got a little rain, heard and saw the thunderstorm but really apart from dark clouds its been quite an okay day, so I could have been outside working. Instead I did my trust accounting for the 10th time, but the lady on the phone was very helpful and my trial balance balanced. So hopefully I'll finally get marked 'competent' and get my Real Estate Licence. Hoorah.

For those thinking of visiting over Xmas we are not here from around 8th December and then we have visitors from 28th December, which is when we will likely be back at the farm from our trips around the state (thats how it will feel by the time we finish driving, but all for good reasons). So any time after 5th January is good, but be prepared for some work....... very fun, you might get to touch my tractor and have a photo, bring something orange to wear to match.

Megsie planted some seeds in a tray which I have been looking after whilst she has been gone and I am pleased to say that some of the seedlings are coming through, now that is pretty good for me, so fingers crossed when we get them into the ground we will start having fresh vegies out of the ground. And for those who heard of our potato experiment, you will be pleased to know that more are coming up in the garden. That's the Irish coming out.

Sidd as usual has been sleeping lots but did come out the other day and helped with the fencing. The only problem with Sidd is that he doesn't make tea in the morning. In fact when both he and Billie were together they were demanding tea from us. Of course in the end you just get up and do it yourself, otherwise you'd never get one.

So tomorrow, weather permitting I'm going to be out and about fixing more fences. All fun I love my tools. Will need to start spraying those pesky blackberries which are thriving on the sun and rain. A lot more managable now thank goodness, but still pesky. Thanks for listening and would love to hear from you.

Rosi

PS caption from Harry Kerr, he felt that it was fitting....

Rosi's Blog Birthday

I hope you all enjoyed Billie's view of life at the farm. I have to say its pretty much the same for us, except we don't roll in poo or jump all over the furniture chasing flies.

Megsie does love poo, but for gardening reasons, list girl has become poo girl.

Anyway today is my birthday and I had a lovely morning with pressies opened in bed. The full box set of the West Wing (yes, yes and more yes) Shrek 1 and 2 and Kill bill 1 and 2. Love a little bit of girl action, Uma Thurman and Karie Moss both look good in spandex. And for the girl that needs to continue to remain wrinkle (ha) free some lovely aesop facial cleansers and creams. Of course let's not forget the tractor, a minor but important present.

I have to say 41 means I have 9 years till I am 50, a very interesting thought, one which I will surely ponder for sometime. Not much else to report on the big day. Dinner tonight here with Don and Louise coming over, just lovely.

Born Free - author Billie Girl

Hi to all, Billie Girl here. Well it all started a week or so ago. The girls and Sidd came to Sydney to visit and of course stayed at our palace. Sidd and I got re aquainted with sniffs and the like and the humans just sat around, talked, gossiped, laughed, ate and drank wine. Nothing unusual there.

Sidd and I got to woofing on, Sidd telling me delightful tales of the farm, how easy life was (except bath time) and how many fantastic native animals live around the place. This got me thinking, why can't I go, without Sam and Rhys. So I put the pressure on, sad forlorn face, howling inappropriately (did not go so far as to be off my food) and just generally being annoying.

Suffice to say it worked and I'm here. Nothing too worrying about the trip, except Sidd liked to spread out, and sleep with his head on my arse, me I like to look out the front window when I drive, so I pretty much sat up the whole time. Arrived at Dorothy's for the night. Had a great time lording it over Rusty, he really is a funny young thing, so I let him think he was way to clever for me. Boys, they never learn.

So far at the farm, I've met the cows, rolled in cow poo (my favourite), had a bath, ate bones (only those provided by the girls), slept and of course chased the wobblies. My gammy leg is playing up, so resting is a good option.

Last night we watched the lunar eclipse, made for great wobbly chasing, you can get away with totally mad behaviour with a full moon, especially one which is pink (loved the colour). Oh by the way I do like trying to catch flies, I get to jump all over the furniture.

So with Sidd by my side, the farm holiday is proving just as I thought, wide open spaces, plenty of cow poo and food. For a girl of my age this suits me fine. I would send a postcard to Sam and Rhys, its just the post office is too far away and really I can't write that small.

Economic Models explained with Cows

listen and learn from the bovines

SOCIALISM
You have 2 cows.
You give one to your neighbour.

COMMUNISM
You have 2 cows.
The State takes both and gives you some milk.

FASCISM
You have 2 cows.
The State takes both and sells you some milk.

NAZISM
You have 2 cows.
The State takes both and shoots you.

BUREAUCRATISM
You have 2 cows.
The State takes both, shoots one, milks the other, and then throws the milk away...

TRADITIONAL CAPITALISM
You have two cows.
You sell one and buy a bull.
Your herd multiplies, and the economy grows.
You sell them and retire on the income.

SURREALISM
You have two giraffes.
The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.

AN AMERICAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You sell one, and force the other to produce the milk of four cows.
Later, you hire a consultant to analyse why the cow has dropped dead.

ENRON VENTURE CAPITALISM
You have two cows.
You sell three of them to your publicly listed company, using letters of credit opened by your brother-in-law at the bank, then execute a debt/equity swap with an associated general offer so that you get all four cows back, with a tax exemption for five cows. The milk rights of the six cows are transferred via an intermediary to a Cayman Island Company secretly owned by the majority shareholder who sells the rights to all seven cows back to your listed company. The annual report says the company owns eight cows, with an option on one more.You sell one cow to buy a new president of the United States, leaving you with nine cows.
No balance sheet provided with the release.
The public then buys your bull.

THE ANDERSEN MODEL
You have two cows.
You shred them.

A FRENCH CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You go on strike, organise a riot, and block the roads, because you want three cows.

A JAPANESE CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk.
You then create a clever cow cartoon image called 'Cowkimon' and market it worldwide.

A GERMAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You re-engineer them so they live for 100 years, eat once a month,and milk themselves.

AN ITALIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows, but you don't know where they are.
You decide to have lunch.

A RUSSIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You count them and learn you have five cows.
You count them again and learn you have 42 cows.
You count them again and learn you have 2 cows.
You stop counting cows and open another bottle of vodka.

A SWISS CORPORATION
You have 5000 cows.
None of them belong to you.
You charge the owners for storing them.

A CHINESE CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You have 300 people milking them.
You claim that you have full employment, and high bovine productivity.
You arrest the newsman who reported the real situation.

AN INDIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You worship them.

A BRITISH CORPORATION
You have two cows.
Both are mad.

AN IRAQI CORPORATION
Everyone thinks you have lots of cows.
You tell them that you have none.
No-one believes you, so they bomb the **** out of you and invade your country.
You still have no cows, but at least now you are part of a Democracy....

A NEW ZEALAND CORPORATION
You have two cows.
The one on the left looks very attractive.

AN AUSTRALIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
Business seems pretty good.
You close the office and go for a few beers to celebrate.

Credits...thanks to Chantal for sending this hilarious list to us.

Our mate Hugo!

The wonders of nature