The "water feature" - this buzz phrase I have always used with tongue firmly in cheek because it does sound horribly pretentious and really, garden fountains are trivial, decorous frippery. I am now bemused at how many people take these objects so seriously, including myself! I swear this is going to be a really important part of our new space which is ironic as we scoffed at the idea early on. Steve has found the perfectly simple water fall and Greg installed it today. The garden is progressing in that the pond under the feature is cemented in, and the drainage holes from the planter boxes have been made.
Today I had lengthy conversations with "the glass man"; planning barriers and finishes (round, square, brushed metal) on the front windows and the stair balcony.
Yesterday the Newcastle Council had a campaign to celan up Hunter Street. People who registered interest became eligible for a "prize" of a graffiti cleaning kit. It arrived today and it may come in very handy. We had to ask a couple of extremely inebriated young men to move from the surgery doorway yesterday. They were very sweet and really didn't have any idea that there was a door behind them. I am going to have to get used to the neighbours in Hunter St as I have done with the ones in Stocko!
Stocko is looking very bare. The table and dresser went to their next home and Metal Man turned up. We have been planning for Metal Man to arrive for several months by putting all things metal (junk) in a corner of the garage. This included two filing cabinets, a fridge as well as old tools and ladders etc. So finally it was the morning of his arrival. As Metal Man walked up the path he looked at me and said; "Hello Mrs Grace!" Yes, Metal Man was an ex Belmont High student! He was always a nice kid and he has an interesting story. He assured me that this was just a fill-in job. He was really a pearl farmer in Broome but something big fell on his back and he has had to have operations, so at the moment he is on compo. He told me this as he lifted the old drinks fridge and carried it out to the truck.
We skyped Rowan and Sam in Bangkok tonight before they head off to India tomorrow. Poor Rowie, he feels a bit awful about the only home he remembers, being dismembered.
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| The empty back room at Stockton. Lester doing his homework in improvised position |
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| "The Water Feature" and little pond for growing water plants, I hope! |
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| "The Feature" is a simple lip-type water fall |
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| drainage holes for planter boxes. The hoses will run into the big drain |
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