The Great Gundaroo BBQ

The Great Gundaroo BBQ started around 3.30 on Wednesday afternoon with a bushfire burning on Lot 1 of our road. By 5o'clock that night, it had spread over the main road, through a couple of properties, up over the Lake George escarpment and down the ridge to Lake George. We were very grateful that the winds were not blowing our way. Had the car packed with all the important stuff - saddles, hats, some photos. Also had some transport arranged for the horses in case the winds turned and came our way. Our evacuation plan was if the road was cut off and we couldn't get out, then we would get some people to help hold the horses on the arena until the fire passed. The arena is 50m x 60m and there is nothing to burn so all we would have to worry about would be smoke and embers. The one good thing about not having a house - you don't have to worry about it burning down. Thankfully, the district's rural fire brigades managed to get the fires under control fairly quickly.

Last Thursday, our 106,000 litre water tank arrived. It arrived in pieces, so the water tank guys put it together and 13,000 litres of water arrived that afternoon - just in time. We estimate that we also have around 2,000 litres of water in the tank off the machinery shed. It is a nice feeling to know that we do have water other than the dam water, especially with the fires we've just had.

On the building front - on Saturday the besser blocks arrived. These blocks will go under the slab so that the slab will be all even. Simon the blocklayer arrived this morning to lay the blocks, Hindsy arrived with his bobcat to dig the trenches for the pipes and also to level the ground in the three open bays of the machinery shed and Steggy, the concreter, arrived to form up the slab for the garage. The drainer is coming on Wednesday to lay the pipes and Steggy will also form up the slabs for the house and the garage. On Tuesday next week, the council will inspect all the formwork and on Wednesday, all things going well, the slabs will be poured. Between now and then, we have to organise for the termite guys to come and put in the termite protection.

James has now set up a laundry tub near the water tank on the machinery shed so that we can wash dishes and clothes (separately, not altogether mind you) in something other than a little bucket. As we don't have the washing machine set up, we can wash the clothes in the tub with the washing detergent and then drain that and put a bucket fresh water in for a rinse cycle. We even have a spin cycle which consists of whirling undies around in the air. Marvellous what you can come up with when you have to!