So just what's been going on I hear you scream. Well I am studying ... and badly too. I started out well with a High Distinction on my first assignment but it's been Credit's all the way since then. Getting a bit late in the term to pull a miracle out of my ass now ... not that I'm not trying.
Things have slowed down around the house as a result, which is not to say that they're not still happening, it's mainly been maintaining though rather than new stuff. Having just gone through the wet season too has put a bit of a dampener (pun intended) on renovations as well. I have started painting again inside. At the moment I have done half the office and the bathroom needs another couple of coats but they're getting there. I promise there will be piccies posted when they're finished.
Solar and Water
The big projects on the go at the moment are the installation of a 23,600 litre water tank and an upgrade to the solar system.
The tank has been ordered and we're only a few weeks away from delivery. Next weekend is going to be a busy one with our friend Dave here to do all the trenching and ground preparation. We'll be collecting our water from the shed rather than the house. The big 3000 litre diesel tank was where we wanted to put the water tank so we've had it taken away and replaced by a couple of 44 gallon drums. It was overkill for us anyway. You can see where it used to be in this photo.
I did mention it was the wet season too. Makes it very hard to use the Round-up so I'll thank you for not making bitchy comments about the weeds in the driveway.
In preparation for the water tank we've had a tree lopper in getting rid of all the trees around the shed so they can't dump crap into the gutters. We also had him clean up the turning circle. For the benefit of the council it was called judicious pruning ... just at ground level. They had to come down to improve our solar window and it was all new growth anyway. Looks much better and the sun now hits the solar panels a good three hours earlier each day. Mark's also been in there and cleaned up all the undergrowth and used the logs as edging.
Check out the carnage. We've just dumped everything into a pile for the moment and will probably have a big bonfire in a month or two.
The three big trees right in front of the house are gone now too.
We need to upgrade the solar system as we still use more than we bring in. The plan is to move the 4 newer panels from the north side of the house and put them with the matching six on the east side. Another five new panels will be going on the east side as well. Those fifteen panels will be put on a new regulator. The ten old ones will remain on the north side on the old regulator. Total cost for this small upgrade ... 10 Grand ... OUCH!!!
It was a nice surprise to hear about the new renewable energy rebate in the federal budget. Who would have thought that the Howard/Costello circus would ever do something environmentally responsible. We were hanging out for the state announcement at the start of June. Mark has called the Australian Greenhouse Office already and while the details are still largely unknown it looks as though we'll be able to get around $4000 back from the federal government. Combined with the state rebate, which could be as high, it's not inconceivable that we could get $8000 back in rebates. Not counting our chickens though.
Speaking of rebates, while we will be able to get around $1000 back on the water tank, the new crappers also entitle us to a rebate. Turns out they're environmentally friendly as well. We just bought them because we thought they were pretty.
We ended up having to get in an electrician from Port Douglas to finish off our electricals as our local guy was continuing to do a no-show after three months. I ended up doing all the power points and light switches myself anyway. But we now have ceiling fans out on the verandah with a couple of outdoor spotlights and the new exhaust fan has finally been installed in the shitter.
I have to include this, not because it has any value but because I feel like an idiot ... and yes it is a magnetic door stopper.
So what's the big deal you ask? Well ... I now have carpal tunnel and have destroyed countless drill bits in this place through trying to drill through fibre cement sheeting. The wall that this door stopper is attached to is fibre cement and I drilled the three holes in around a minute. Turns out I was supposed to be using a masonry bit ... thanks Dave for waiting 9 months to tell me that.
So the moral of this story is ... never give a poof a power tool!!!
Finally, Mark is extremely proud of himself and would never forgive me if I didn't blog this. It's the beginning of our new herb garden ... from seed ... and it's all Mark's hard work, love and attention that have given us this result. If only he payed as much attention to massaging my feet.
Check out the carnage. We've just dumped everything into a pile for the moment and will probably have a big bonfire in a month or two.
The three big trees right in front of the house are gone now too.
We need to upgrade the solar system as we still use more than we bring in. The plan is to move the 4 newer panels from the north side of the house and put them with the matching six on the east side. Another five new panels will be going on the east side as well. Those fifteen panels will be put on a new regulator. The ten old ones will remain on the north side on the old regulator. Total cost for this small upgrade ... 10 Grand ... OUCH!!!
It was a nice surprise to hear about the new renewable energy rebate in the federal budget. Who would have thought that the Howard/Costello circus would ever do something environmentally responsible. We were hanging out for the state announcement at the start of June. Mark has called the Australian Greenhouse Office already and while the details are still largely unknown it looks as though we'll be able to get around $4000 back from the federal government. Combined with the state rebate, which could be as high, it's not inconceivable that we could get $8000 back in rebates. Not counting our chickens though.
Speaking of rebates, while we will be able to get around $1000 back on the water tank, the new crappers also entitle us to a rebate. Turns out they're environmentally friendly as well. We just bought them because we thought they were pretty.
We ended up having to get in an electrician from Port Douglas to finish off our electricals as our local guy was continuing to do a no-show after three months. I ended up doing all the power points and light switches myself anyway. But we now have ceiling fans out on the verandah with a couple of outdoor spotlights and the new exhaust fan has finally been installed in the shitter.
I have to include this, not because it has any value but because I feel like an idiot ... and yes it is a magnetic door stopper.
So what's the big deal you ask? Well ... I now have carpal tunnel and have destroyed countless drill bits in this place through trying to drill through fibre cement sheeting. The wall that this door stopper is attached to is fibre cement and I drilled the three holes in around a minute. Turns out I was supposed to be using a masonry bit ... thanks Dave for waiting 9 months to tell me that.
So the moral of this story is ... never give a poof a power tool!!!
Finally, Mark is extremely proud of himself and would never forgive me if I didn't blog this. It's the beginning of our new herb garden ... from seed ... and it's all Mark's hard work, love and attention that have given us this result. If only he payed as much attention to massaging my feet.
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