You know you are in Tasmania when you turn up to learn how to build a polytunnel on a day where the maximum was six, the drizzle continued all day and yet a dozen people are there to join you. It was an interesting approach and one that may just work in this environment. Basically, we set treated pine sleepers half-depth into the soil, then raised sheets of reinforcing mesh over them to form an arch. Each end is also reo, with a door cut in one end with a timber frame and a window in the other end to create ventilation to avoid mildew. The whole to be clad first in 70% shadecloth (which has the added benefit off protecting the plastic from any sharp ends that form on the surface of the reo), then plastic over that. Of course we didn't get that far today, but the framework is up and all the bits of reo in one sheet are welded to the bits in the next sheet (it's a long one for the school garden) and next week we will frame up the door and window and insert them, before wrapping it up. Might remember to take my camera with me next time... It's a lot more rigid than the ones bent over polypipe so should be better able to withstand the winds around here. I am thinking my own will be about 3 metres to a side. I laid the fire before setting off which meant the wood had dried to fire-readiness using the last of the residual heat from last night, so the animals are all safely tucked up in front of it. I will be joining them shortly.

The grey misery continues. I checked the gauge and it said 17 mm but I suspect I forgot to empty it last time, so not terribly confident about that figure (since Tunnack only had 6mm). Still, if we get some heavy rain after this lot at least it will soak in well. Firewood is in a dripping heap beside the fire drying out while awaiting its turn. The dog and cats have been incommoded by this arrangement but seem to be philosophical about it. I picked up the machine this morning and had a good chat to Caroline - apparently mine was full of fluff ... hardly surprising really when I consider the number of knit-your-own-dogs that accumulate in this place on a weekly basis. I tried piecing together five one and a half inch strips which should have left me with a 5 and half inch strip. Well, it turned out to be 5 inches, so clearly I need to adjust my marker a wee bit more to achieve a scant quarter inch seam... Celebrated the rain by doing a couple of loads of washing, and dodged showers to cut wood. Rather chilly here with a maximum of 6.7, but not as cold as it could be I guess.

Interview today and the weather was grey and miserable with a constant mizzle on the way down to town (and home) and grey overcast while in town. Managed to complete all my errands - quelle surprise - as well as arriving in a timely manner for the interview. The good news is that my favourite kindling supplier seems to be back in business so was able to pick up a bag of that on the way home as well. For the interview I wore sensible black loafers, charcoal grey winter tights, black pencil skirt, a blouse other than the one i bought yesterday (no surprises there ...), my new charcoal winter overcoat from the Bargain Centre, and a saffron silk scarf. Hair up in a clip, minimal makeup, but enough to show I had made an effort. No idea how it went. The chair did comment on the distances involved which I was mildly alarmed at, but the questions were easy and provided an opportunity to expand on a wide range of experience. So fingers crossed, but not holding my breath. If I get it I would be working Mon Tues Thurs and my anticipated difficulty with evening meetings has now been addressed as Council meets in the afternoons, as do the relevant committees. No flex time, but TOIL instead which is much of a muchness really. Other errands were minor, apart from stopping in Pontville to take some photos of a friend's house which is for sale privately. Apparently the prospective purchaser wants to knock down two sheds and wanted her to tell her if it was OK. Since the place is heritage listed I suggested this course, and I will send the photos into HT with my recommendations as well, so the buyer can ring the directly for advice. Picked up the grafting tape necessary before I can progress any further pruning (I have one tree that reverted to rootstock which I intend to try grafting onto to see if it works) and minor household stuff. So a full day, but hopefully productive.

Sewing group today was noticeable for the lack of sewing machines present. Our arrangement is that a chap from Devonport comes down for the day, services all our machines and then goes home, leaving us with sparkly new machines. I collect mine Friday as tomorrow, of course, is interview day. In preparation for this I went to Mancey's and bought a new blouse in teals on black to suit the black pencil skirt I will be wearing for the interview. Granted I can't afford it, but it is nice and should do the trick. I will doubtless apply a few additional layers en route, but should be comfy in that, with the new woollen overcoat from the Bargain Centre. It finally started raining around 2ish with a good drop falling (for all of five minutes) following by persistent showers. Hopefully they will hang around for a day or two and get things nice and wet. Today was lovely at sewing due to the absence of the toxic one at a meeting. Unfortunately she felt we could not survive without her so joined us after lunch. Never mind, I was planning on leaving early anyway. I have finally finished the hexagon cushion top I was making. Still wondering if I should subject myself to the horror of doing the back in hexagons also. If I do, they will be rather larger ones I feel...

Took the sewing machine up to Caroline's today so it can be picked up to be serviced. Poor thing has not seen a technician since it left the factory and has been running a bit rough for some time (mainly due to me using the wrong thread which has clogged up the works). The man charges $100 so it seemed a good way to spend a recent gift from a very good friend. Also spent some time cutting out templates for this block of the month class i am doing. Not much point really as I can not progress on that one till the machine comes back. Still, at least I will be ready to rock and roll when it does. The weather today was simply glorious - still temperate and blue. Made a nice change from the last few days and lifts the spirits no end. Fired off a few emails and letters to sort out the mess in the UK and am now settling in for the evening to watch the fire and eat some more oxtail stew.

More of that manky weather with clouds but no rain. As a consequence Telstra decided my internet signal was an optional extra for most of the day. Never mind, plenty to get on with, so I boiled all the old teabags I have been stockpiling and added fabric. So now the rather bright poppy reds and the rather bright blue that came with the Civil War fabrics are toned down a bit and the calico is a more interesting shade of beige than it was before. I also read my unabridged Alice in Wonderland which I have not read for some many years. There were entire bits that i had forgotten. Finished today was a rather great story 'The Stolen Child' in which alternating chapters tell of the experiences of both children on the side of a Changeling - the Faery who was substituted and the child who was stolen. Very interesting indeed - kept me awake last night as well. As a consequence of the lack of signal I have, of course, not printed out the emails, but hey, you can't have everything. I have however managed to fire off an email to address the most urgent issues, so all is good and I refuse to feel stressed any more!!

So it was only six last night after all. Briefly. Then up to 10 and back down to six and every stop in between. Makes it hard to work out what bedding best suits. Especially when the cat refuses to cooperate over changes, and the dog leaps to his feet in anticipation of going out when you throw off some covers. But we got through and today was a lovely sunny day. Until lunchtime when the clouds closed in (but still no rain) and the day became grey and dank once more. Dank is an irritating phenomenon as one feels cold, when the temp is quite moderate (like right now it is 10 degrees) but the amount of moisture in the air makes it feel a heck of a lot chillier than that... SO the fire was lit shortly after my friend arrived for lunch and we at in the loungeroom. A lovely visit with conversations that ranged from the new pastor, to goings on at the school, to catching up on family gossips (her family, not mine) and eating ourselves to overflowing on hot chicken coleslaw and teacake (though not all at once). I made the mistake of joining her for coffee (I have not had coffee for months now) and so am a bit jittery right now ... How do we become addicted to the stuff do you think? She brought me a ream of coloured paper so tomorrow I can start the marathon task of printing all out-going emails to the letting agents on that, and all incoming emails on white to be filed into a folder in chronological order for ease of reference while compiling my complaint. Thank heaven for the cheap printer ink I bought a few months back as i suspect most will be gone by the time i am done. Still it will be worth it, and will provide a framework for keeping records on the place in hard copy rather than simply on the hotmail account, so future exchanges can reference back more readily to previous instructions. The oxtail stew was smelling might fine by the time i turned off the hotplate last night, but I added some thyme and salt today and am presently re-heating it with the new potato wedges on top to cook through as it goes through the final cooking process. Should be very tasty what with the half a cup of port in the mix ...