I have been cursing Telstra for some time over the absence of signal of recent weeks. But today I moved the laptop out to the kitchen table and voila - a good steady signal (so far). So perhaps we upset the equilibrium with the insulation and sisalation (though you have to wonder why when most houses have it these days).

Today was bit of a tidying up business day with phone calls to DPI (bee keeping registration) and to Mental Health Services and ARAFMI seeking advice on how to deal with the neighbour. The general consensus seems to be that i am dealing with either a psychotic or a personality disorder. The first responds to medication, the second only to long-term counselling. The worse news is that she has apparently not sought treatment in Tasmania for some years (not sure they should have told me that, but there you go). Apparently, by making the call and expressing my concerns I have commenced a process that will expedite matters in the event of a major problem - not a result i had anticipated, but reassuring nevertheless. Their advice is that being assertive with her is counterproductive and the best idea is to walk away (much as the police have said), but that is not so easy when you have vital matters to discuss regarding the fence, and she is, herself, prone to take any response apart from immediate apologetic obedience as offensive. I also noticed today she has broken down the fence around the top vegetable garden, no doubt to create difficulties when working on the paling fence ('but your chooks - which are house at least 50 metres away) might get in an destroy my garden' sort of thing.

I also re-read her latest missive and drafted a response which I will post tomorrow after sleeping on it. She is wriggling around and avoiding providing any description of the fence she proposes to build. So I have basically said I want it in seven days or will refer the matter to the Fencing Tribunal for a ruling. I have also indicated that the three days notice prior to commencement that she is presently proposing is a little unrealistic given I would need to knock up 40 metres of fencing, relocate the chooks and the geese etc and give them some settling in time (about 3 days work, certainly, but not something i can guarantee I will be available to do on no notice whatsoever, especially if I have either tradies on site, or am working full time). So I have indicated that three weeks is the minimum acceptable notification period. I have no doubt this will precipitate yet further correspondence but this has now gone on too long and referal to the Tribunal is the only sensible approach given the shenannigans she is indulging in.

What else? I got the Derris dust and liberally sprinkled every brassica in sight (though I think a caffeine spray may also be in order as I have noticed a fairly healthy snail population). Almost finished embroidering the book cover, but a few fiddly bits to go before i make it up into the final shape (more hand-stitching) and my bees don't quite look like bees so I hope they settle down into shape with a bit of handling.

Also cut loads of wood for the fire as it started out very cold and gloomy this morning and really did not pick up noticeably till late this afternoon. So basically the fire has been ticking over all day.

I'll be off to quilting tomorrow so will have little to report for the next couple of days.