Happy New Year from the Valley

Hi family and friends, my new year wishes from the valley are a little bit late, as you know I do not have internet service at home for the time being and rely on updates on my blog at either the library, which is fabulous by the way, or as in this case from daughters home.
2014 crept in quietly, dancing around the town clock a way distant memory of seeing in the New Year, counting down the minutes, sharing drunken kisses with strangers (yikes did I do that).  House and dog sitting for daughter on the night and although I was still awake I was in bed and heard a few explosions from crackers being let off to know that another year had rolled over and an exciting new year had begun.
Back in the valley, we are still looking for things amongst the packing.  As this is only a temporary abode we are only unpacking the barest necessities, amongst that is my art supplies and hope to get into that when we go home on Sunday.

Now that the block is finally ours we need to hire a whipper snipper and get some of this long grass cut down.  Met the lovely neighbours and finally found out what the fruit trees where.  At the moment there are a lot of plums ripening on the trees, about 5 or 6 different varieties, one I am really excited about is the prune plum which is a long way off ripe.  love prune plums.  Apricots all finished.  Pears and apples with little green fruit on, Nashi among the pears.  The trees will need a good prune at the relevant time and neighbour has offered to show us how to do this.  They are also still watering the trees for us as our water supply has not been connected yet. Neighbours are really friendly.

Lots and lots of planning to do now, Storybook homes agent will be meeting us soon to get all the dimensions and layout of the block and we will need to supply them a list of what we would like our new home to be, within our budget of course.  The fifteen metre width is going to be a challenge but nothing that we can't work out, have lots of ideas.

In the meantime the delightful old house in the valley we are renting is wonderful, although certain aspects are taking a bit of getting used to.  The skinks scare hell out of me and I am learning to make a lot of noise when going down the side of the house.  While sitting reading on the verandah (went home a couple of days) one shot out from under the house onto the veranda, I swear it was about 20 inches long, seemed all fury, it was so quick and noisy I shot out of my chair calling for John.  We followed him, from a safe distance no less, he lashed his way through the woodshed under the wall into the shed then out the other side behind a panel of wood and presumably into the field where we lost sight of him.  Our next door neighbour the delightful Thelma informed me they are scared of humans and will run at the sight of us (wish they did it a bit quieter) and the scarey part is she said they climb up inside the walls into the roof cavity.  Hell, I had to get that fireplace firmly covered, didn't want one coming down into the bedroom in the night.

Another thing we city dwellers aren't used to is Huntsmen spiders, ewww, they are so big and scary. Don't mind if they are outside but I am ashamed to admit I cannot live with them inside and had to kill one that was watching me lock the door.  Out came the fly spray, took a lot to get rid of him too.

It is extremely hot here now and an expected high of 44 degrees is forecast for today and fortunately daughters house has a pool.

Now the pool lies another story.  Decided that as it was hot and no one around I would take a dip in knickers only (well this is the country and I had no swim suit) it was lovely.  Got myself dressed when I heard a noise next door and went to see what was going on (they where getting a new gas bottle fitted) when a huge removal truck pulled up outside.  Daughter had ordered a large outdoor setting which was to be delivered on Friday and this was Monday.  Yikes, if they had been 10 minutes earlier I would have been caught out.  Went and bought a cheap swim suit, don't want to frighten anyone that turns up unexpected now do I!!!!

Well till I catch up with you again, enjoy the new year

best wishes

Jacky