Towards Self Sufficiency

I have always fondly imagined that self sufficiency would be wonderful. There needs to be a recognition when one lives in the suburbs on a sandy block of land which does not receive all that much sun and in a state mananged by people so incompetent they cannot plan for today let alone tomorrow (and we have as a consequence water restrictions) that complete self sufficiency may not be achievable. But we can dream and do our very best with what is to hand.
To that end this year we planted potatoes - we have grown may vegetables but never before had we tried to grow potatoes. Here is the evidence - our own, home grown potato.
We followed the instructions to the letter and all seemd to go as it should. The tubers sprouted and as they grew we covered them with that self same compost that the snakes found so to their liking.
Sometime in December the instructions said, the foliage will die back and it is time to harvest!
Sure enough it did just that and harvest we did. Our own, new potatoes. We shall have them on Christmas Day we determined.
I guess you all wish you could be here to share in our bounty.
There was sadly - just the one, the one featured in both these photos and yes I am afraid the match box is a standard match box.

A Bit of Work in the Backyard

We have had a surprising amount of rain and some lovely warm weather, which have meant the lawn has grown inordinately quickly. Our Buffalo, which is better than some grasses in that respect has still grown enough in the last 10 days to need another mow - so mow we did this morning.
Not very exciting I know but when we finished, we decided to turn the compost heap and incorporate today's offering. Still not very interesting? The heap looks benign doesn't it? Our surprise came when we began to lift and turn and disturbed what had become a quite cosy little home for four, count them four; red bellied black snakes - the largest of which was at least 1.5 metres long although Judy suggests it could have been more like 5 metres.

It took us a little by surprise.... Finding one was a surprise, disturbing 4 was incredible. We took considerable comfort in the fact that they were far more afraid of us than we were of them (hard to believe really).
Sorry there is no substantiating photo but I really was not expecting it!
We have been to the library this afternoon so I looked them up. Highly venemous. Most often seen and attractive snake - must pay more attention next time. We have seen them before in the yard, Lucy and Winston bailed one up many years ago but we were not expecting to turn over the compost and find four of them! I shall be much more careful with the grass clippings in future.

On Their Way

Last night we had a "small" Christmas bash with Jen and James and Jon and Danielle and the boys. It is actually better part of a year since they have been here and that long since Judy had seen them. All suitably silly - the dreadful bon bon jokes and especially silly hats.

Pressies were exchanged and far too much food eaten.
And Molly was introduced to the wider family.
And this morning, of course; Willow and Jonathon headed off to the airport!
Jonathon helped Willow try on and adjust his backpack but here there were some issues. Willow volunteered the information that it; "hurt his boobies" - interesting....
They are on their way!!

Geoffrey Gets Some Exercise

It is strange in these days of hi tech toys that the simple things still appeal.
Geoffrey has seen many miles in many houses under the control of successive generations. Last week he had a workout at the hands of Matt and Jayne's dear little daughter, Eli. He still works perfectly despite (was he originally Jonathon's toy?) being pulled all over the house by our children then the grandchildren.
Eli proved to be good natured and sweet despite the arduous programme of visiting relatives and shopping that the time in Sydney involved. May be her good nature is due in part to the dietary supplements she makes a part of each day (self imposed).
Here she is sampling the hoya flowers, never been tempted myself - pretty though they are. The previous day she had been ingesting some of the white floral arrangement we had intended to supplement the table for the evening meal but not in the way Eli chose to use it.
All, it seems; to no ill effect...