2015

After many delays and false starts, things have really started moving forward on the pool project this week. Several dead and dangerous trees were removed by Kevin and his crew. The resulting timber was hauled away to be sold for firewood in due course, and the branches and leaves were all chipped up into an

This week we started moving forward on the long-anticipated swimming pool. We signed the contract for the construction, and things are starting to move ahead. There are several interlocking activities, however, as this diagram may explain (all those years of planning projects have some advantages, especially in understanding the necessary sequence of events). So far,

How long is ten minutes? A lot longer than what the clock says, if our experience is anything to go by. We finally purchased some outside furniture for the two porches, well timed as these things are now being remaindered at bargain prices. However, a table and six chairs were flatpacked in three large cartons

It was hot, hot, HOT again this week, following on from last week. There were predictions are for even more heat, and the forecast was right, as the thermometer next to the hummingbird feeders shows. The feeders are filled with a sugary liquid, and the hummingbirds hover whilst feeding, sticking their long beaks into the artificial flowers. They

It was forecast to be hot, hot, HOT this week. It was bad enough over the weekend, with temperatures into the 90s (getting to mid-30C and hotter for the international reader) when we were away in Athens for the wedding. There were predictions are for even more heat in the coming week and it continued all week. At

It was always going to be busy chez Hall this week. Next week, there are not one but two photo shoots of the house, inside and out. One is for Designer Dream Homes, for the final article of three on “Reality Building”. And then our architect is coming along to get shots for his own publicity materials. And

This week got off to a great start. On Sunday we were at Wolf Mountain for a “Club Members Special” tasting of their sparkling wines. Four sparkling wines paired with five different “snacks” – we went home feeling fairly full. And that was about all that happened. But we were busy with an upcoming photo

Since it was a public holiday on Monday, we decided to have a day out – time to mark off another couple of wineries visited. We drove up to Elijay, about 40 minutes West, and visited Engelheim and Chateau Meichtry. New attractive tasting rooms, passable wines (both have vineyards without a lot of age, so