The 110k Swap

We've been in the new place for 2 1/2 weeks now and we've been in stealth mode. One reason is because this is the first chance I've had with no interruptions to sit and use the computer. The other is to do with outside showers and peeping toms! We've been up late making the place liveable, kept up at night with an unsettled baby and woken up early with an exuberant toddler (she has curtains now which helps a little bit). The minor dwelling has windows walls and a roof but is just a shell. We've got the baby cot in the bath room which just has a shower tray in it, and the toddler bed in one bedroom and ours in the other.  Every day has had a new drama. And a new luxury; the Thursday night that we moved in we had an extension cord from the big house to plug in a lamp. The next day, we had a power point and light switch in each room and a makeshift sink with running water in the main house kitchen. The next day, a Saturday, we were able to move the fridge int...

At a social gathering someone was having a whinge about various conspiracy theory governmental issues turning the world to custard. It wore me down over about an hour or so and I finally asked "well what's the answer to this problem, you're clearly upset about it, what are you going to do about it?" The person most likely had no idea, and they turned the question on me. So I replied that I thought permaculture was the answer. And they agreed and that was the end of the conversation, and the whinge. Thank God almighty! Natural and pure is definitely a big trend in food circles these days. Having run a food manufacturing business myself, I'm very aware of what the bigger companies get away with when it comes to food additives. It made me realise the only thing that's 100% trustworthy is food you've grown yourself. Then I stumbled across "permaculture" and completed a certificate in permaculture design. Essentially this word refers to harness...

I was driving the girls home yesterday when our two year old asked me if Daddy was home. I said he would be home at dinner time. Then I added "He's very worried about some things so you'll need to be gentle with him. How about when he gets home you give him a pat and say "it's OK Daddy". To which our daughter replied "Daddy's crying Mummy". I responded that Daddy doesn't really cry, but if he did then he would be crying today! We've had one or two issues with the new windows which have all been delivered now (although at least they look great and the service person has already been out to assess, they're just waiting on metal for replacement parts and the front doors which apparently is a couple of weeks away). We also had some delays on the plastering in the bathroom which means it can't be waterproofed til later which means it can't be finished before we move in. Which is in less than two weeks! On a positive n...