Hi All,
A busy day with a bit to show for it. The guys worked on the driveway, trimming, mowing, sweeping, chainsawing, brush cutting etc. After tidying we had lunch and then set about moving the house that the goats normally sleep in to the dam for the ducks. It was pretty heavy. We then built a containment fence with old fishing net to hold the ducks there while they learn that this is their new home. Of course we then had to get them there. I started off by decoying the chickens behind the hay stack with some grain. Mael and Morphine then enticed them with grain in a bucket the whole length of the resort down to the dam. The hiccup was when one flew from reception back to the pen. He was moderately traumatised when I caught him against the fence and carried him down to the new home and placed him in it. The rest of the ducks eventually made it. Mael said it took an hour. Anyway hopefully the watering and feeding will convince them it is their home!
We then returned to the driveway and started the removal of the blackberries. Me madly slashing with the brush cutter and the boys raking the rubbish up and putting it in the trailer.
The girls worked on the interminable tidying that accompanies the reorganisation and further preparation of the shed for the weekends conference.
The community tea tonight was prepared by Rose a short term visitor from Hawaii. Once again we had a few good laughs over dinner washed down with wine and beer. Tomorrow is our day off so we will take Nik and Rose to Hobart as they both depart, We then have to do the shopping and drive the Toyota van back from Sorell. Did I say it was our day off?!
In the past I have joked that the *quid pro quo* for the free boat Tasman Island cruises is probably scraping the barnacles off the boat. Funnily enough it looks like we will be cleaning and painting a hull on Tuesday!
I have accumulated 3 occurrences on tour that have reminded me of past working lives.
1> Brickenden historic farm tour near Launceston. In the farm machinery shed a diesel engine lay on its side with a hole punched in the crankcase. A familiar failure from my Mitsubishi days. Exactly the same mode. A bolt fatigue failure at the conrod joint face on one side with an overload failure on the other side. The big end comes off the crank and punches a hole in the engine block.
2> Franklin House Launceston. Whilst touring the building a familiar smell permeated my nostrils. The distinctive smell of metal fume from a melting process. Looking from the balcony I could see the source. The Launceston plant of Bradken a company I worked for in Adelaide from 1975 to 1982. We also did some work for the Launceston branch when I was working for Bureau Veritas.
3> Today working up a sweat in one of the old "chambrey" short sleeved shirts I used to wear at Mitsubishi. The distinct odor of the fume from SG iron magnesium treatment Assailed my nostrils! Must have been nearly 10 years since the exposure!
Anyway enough of that.
Cheers Simon
*Quid pro quo (From the Latin meaning "this for that") indicates a more-or-less equal exchange or substitution of goods or services
No comments:
Post a Comment