Attack of the minions

Just haven't felt up to posting lately.  The whole building thing has gone waaayy beyond funny.
Hugh has been to mediation at the court.  No result and they have to go again in September.
The crew have been back and done repairs that have actually created new faults,
The BSA inspector came back to check as Tony Moran advised they had done all the repairs and observed  they had done very litle and that the deck actually looks worse than when he had first seen it!!!  He told Tony Moran it looked like his apprentices had been let loose with no supervision.  
Hmmm.  I think that is what we had been saying since very early on.
We have lodged two new lists of faults to be attended to.  About another 35 items.

Now they have asked to return for three more days, Today to Friday to fix the repairs and a few more things.
We have Tony Moran here today to supervise.  Pity he hadn't deemed it necessary to do so earlier.  We might not be in this mess.

He is on the roof with his minions scuttling about and cutting and drilling and who knows what destrucion they are causing this time.
Can only pray it doesn't rain.

09 June 2011, Thursday, Drizzly

Examples of Coastal Patios workmanship

Asst size screws driven too deep and allow water to pool

Top of handrails.  No plugs in bolt holes

I think this speaks for itself!!!

Badly swaged wires, ends left jagged and dangerous.

Tony Moran from Coastal Patios and another person arrived at 7.30 am as expected.  After a quick look at the deck, they suggested that the answer they would be using was to punch the already over screwed screws further into the deck, and then fill the resultant holes with something.
Hugh explained that was not acceptable.  We do not want a lot of deep holes with bits of putty coming loose and falling out.
Tony commented that he had tried to contact the guy from the BSA to find out what he actually wanted done but had been unable to.
Hugh told him today was the last day to remedy but Tony said they did not get the letter til the 18th so they still had time.  Tony then left.

08 June 2011, Wednesday, Overcast

Busy again.
Dr Appt with Dr Werchon for both of us .  Hugh's BP has improved.  Looking good.  My XRays show that my back has now fused and that is the cause of all of the pain I have.  No cure,  Learn to live within the boandaries it allows.  Pain medication increased and to be monitored.

Email from Graham Towndrow that they will be here 7.30 am tomorrow.  2 guys for about 1/2 hour.  I have no idea what they hope to acheive in that amount of time

07 June 2011, Tuesday, Sunshine

Tested the system.
Ammonia  0>.1
Nitrate       0>.5
Nitrate       5
PH             6.0,  maybe slightly lower.
Really happy with the tests.  This system has always been so problem free.

Had noticed a bit of a smell but realised later it was coming from the snail enclosure.  A bit of excess food in there probably.  Have to find a way to reduce the snail numbers before the take over.

06 June 2011,Monday, Sunshine

Busy day.  Dropped Che at school, then to Mooloolaba for more X Rays, then to Dr. Werchon, Quick lunch at our favourite bakery.
Did our weekly shop at Aldi, then quick OpShop visit, then Bunnings, The fruit shop on way home.  Made it to Nambour by 2.00pm.  Whew.
Then chemist, and special grocery shop.  Home just before Che's bus at 3.00pm.
Sent response to Coastal Patios to allow them to visit Thursday.

05 June 2011,Sunday, Sunshine

Lovely day, but didn't seem to find time to get out in the garden much.
Picked two nice little pumpkins.  One butternut and the other I think is a buttternut/Jap cross.
There are a couple that look like they will be perfect to put in the show.  Pity we have no ripe kumquats this year
Saw two of the four adult rainbow fish today.  I put a couple new hides into the tank and disturbed their hibernation.  The goldies really need a new tank.  There are too many, really big fish in the tank now.  Hope to get a tank for the plain goldies and another for the fancy and fantails.  Just use this small one then for the babies.  Keep it free of the natives.
Added iron chelates,  A couple days late this week,  Whoops.  Have to get some more seaweed extract tomorrow from Bunnings.  The butter Beans have started to sprout and enough borlotti beans on for another feed this week.  Plenty of salad leaves coming.
Lots of the cutting have struck.  100% of the spider plants, even tho they looked pretty sick when I found them broken off the plant.

So much for the electrician...  We had just started to think that maybe he was not tarred with the Coastal Patio brush...  Then he didn't turn up today as promised  :(   So damn annoying.  We held off going out in the hope he would show until finally Hugh went into town alone to get my prescription filled and I stayed here just in case.  No phone call,  No show.  Bloody typical Qld attitude it seems.

04 June 2011,Saturday, Sunshine

I am determined to put Coastal Patios out of my  head for a couple days.
There has been an Open Garden Day advertised in the local area and we are going....
Wow, what a garden.  It has taken them 17 years to create but it is 10 very steep acres just packed full of amazing exotic plants.   Cycad Gardens of Eudlo
Heaps of earthworks must have gone into the raised beds etc, but it is wonderful to wander through the many pathways.  Something amazing around every corner.  I bought several plants while there and will plant them tomorrow.  Every rock had baby stag horns or begonias or native ferns self seeded on them.  Just gorgeous.  And yes.  I forgot the camera.
We stopped and had Fish and Chips at Smashed-Crab-Seafoods for Lunch/dinner and ate it beside the lovely Maroochy River.   Che played on the playground while Hugh and I relaxed, then we stopped at another playground near Bli Bli for him to use a bit more energy.
On way home we filled up with petrol and bought some bargain fruit trees at the Service Station.  Not sure if they are selling out of them, but great price for 3 good looking plants.
A Jackfruit, a Coffee Arabica and a Loquat.  Get them in the ground and they should take off.
And home in plenty of time to see Dr Who.
Now that is a good day.

03 June 2011, Friday, Sunshine

The Coastal Patio crew arrived at about 7.30 am.  First request was to use some power as all their tools had flat batteries.  They didn't think to charge them overnight at home of course.
So the day was spent with the house full of guys trying to fix the mess they had created.
The electrician also turned up to get the lights and power points connected up.
That was somewhat of a revelation.  We found they had been told not to finish up back in December.  All manner of reasons given at a meeting that was called by Tony Moran.  Basically, they were told the job had turned toxic, We were at fault, Tony was the person being hard done by.

Razor sharp edges on gate

He was rather surprised that Tony's workers were here under instruction from the BSA.  And that they were fixing 11 category 1 defects.
We  were just sooo happy to see the back of their trucks as they laod rubber up our driveway.
It was horribly shortlived joy tho because on opening my email I found a further request from Graham Towndrow from Coastal Patios to enter the property again ..

Coastal Patios is requesting entry to your property on Thursday June 9th at 7.30am to inspect the decking before repair.
What the....  9th is the last day of the 28 days they were given to fix the job.
I feel like we are just being held to ransom by this mob.  How much longer are they going to be arriving at dawn, Fiddling around all day and then wrecxking our garden and drive with their trucks.

 

02 June 2011, Thursday, Sunshine

Interesting assortment of washers used

Coastal Patios guys on-site to "fix" the category 1 faults in the building work.

Due to arrive at 7.30 but got here at 8.00.  By 8.30 Hugh has called BSA re Matt's mouth.  Comments like "I thought your Missus dug this out.  You could have got her to do a decent job".     I really do not need this.
Tony Moran also arrived about 8.30 as well.  He seemed to be acting as the go-fer, running to and fro dropping off the gear the boys needed.
Not sure how the expect to fix all the faults in just 2 days.

01 June 2011, Wednesday, Sunshine

Dr appointment made for next Wednesday to coincide with Hughs appointment.
Found three floaters in the AP system today.  Hope that it is just the drop in temperature that has caused it.  All 3 were natives in the bathtub and quite big fish.
Coastal Patios guys due here tomorrow to "fix" their category 1 defects as ordered by the BSA.

31 May 2011, Tuesday, Sunshine

Rosie to Dr pm.

30 May 2011, Monday, Overcast

Another storm went through about 4.00 am.  The day mostly overcast with drizzle.
Bought some capsicum plants to put in the AP but too wet today.  Hope it is better tomorrow.
Che had accident at school and hit his new front teeth on a wall  :(  They took him to the dental clinic and did xrays for the dentist to check on Wednesday.
Cold.  Brrr.  Loving the new heater.
Got home to find two emails from Coastal Patios requesting permission to enter the property to fix the category 1 faults on both Thursday and Friday this week.

29 May 2011, Sunday, Sunshine

The storm passed over last night and sunny all day today.
Hugh cleared up around the big camphor laurel and i scooped out a lot of leaf litter from around the front garden.  Need to get in some decent mulch and the leaves seem to create an impervious air pocket and take ages to break down.
AP auto syphon has started to play up.  Cleared out any roots etc and moved the containers of coir in case they were causing it.
Noticed the fish in the sump tank have almost doubled in size???  Must be the lower number of fish and larger tank????
Planted a lot of sweet potato slips for Hugh to plant on the front bank as ground cover.
The beans I had planted have disappeared, along with the 2nd lot of peanuts.  Possums probably.
Re-re-planted them and covered til the shoot this time.  Need to get the vermin proof shade house.

28 May 2011, Saturday, Overcast

Big lot of work today in the front garden.
Hugh has put the boards in under where CHe's cubby will go and we started filling with all the rocks from around the yard.
I did a bit more of the wall.  Can see an end in sight now.  Finally...  It started to rain as we finished upm, but not enough to test the drainage channels..

27 May 2011, Friday, Sunshine

Another day of gloreous sunshine.
General work in garden trying to get ready to lay the turf before it gets to dry.
Bit more on my wall as well, and pruned a few of the little cottage garden plants.
Added weekly iron chelates to the AP bed.
Looks like the salt may have worked as did not see the fish flashing at all.
Email from Peter Arthur about the court case with Coastal Patios about the add-ons.
We need to send him any info from BSA and QCAT as received. 

26 May 2011, Thursday, Sunshine

Hugh to dr in am.  Now on tablets for his blood pressure  :(
Bought some hot food from our favourite bakery and ate it near the canals behind Mooloolaba.  Very relaxing,  Good for a chance to wind down.
Checked the AP garden when we got home.  I don't think I will get anything from the last seeds I planted.  They have all disappeared!!!   A rat or mouse??  Or maybe a pidgeon??  I feed the birds in the trees nearby so something has found an extra snack.
  I planted a few butter beans but covered these up a bit better.
Picked a lovely fresh mixed salad from the AP and a few mini capsicums from the Dirt Garden.

25 May 2011, Wednesday, Sunshine

Busy day in the garden.
Did some more of the stone wall to separate the front garden from the front woodland area.
Planted about 15 new plants in the extended area.  Mainly little perennials and another brugmansia.
Loving the new heater.  Need to get out this weekend and get some decent wood for it.

24 May 2011, Tuesday, Sunshine

More pruning.

23 May 2011, Monday, Sunshine

Shopping day.  Did a quick run and back by 2.00pm.  Wow.
Added 1 kg of salt to the system.  Will have to wait to see if it helps.
Lit the heater agin.  It is sooo nice.  Looks great too.

22 May 2011, Sunday, Sunshine

Another nice day.  Sunny and warmish.
Planted Lima Beans, Turtle Beans and Peanuts.
Hugh spent the day between the house, ceiling and roof installing the heater.  It looks and works fabulous.  Couldn't wait 'til the plumber signs off on it, and figured we should check there are no leaks etc.  The dogs have allready given it the thumbs up.

21 May 2011, Saturday, Overcast

Dull and drizzly.  Great day to be inside.
Hugh up and about and getting on with installing the heater.  The hearth is in place with the heater on it and hole in the ceiling for the flue. 
Hope the plumber can come Monday to sign the paperwork and we are up and running.
Noticed the fish are "flashing" a bit.  Must get some salt and add to see if that helps.

20 May 2011, Friday, Sunshine

Earthquake in Mooloolaba today, and a water-spout just off the coast.  Weird day....
Hugh and Che both sick. :( 
Plus the dogs off colour after being dosed yesterday.  :(   :(
Nice day and the AP looks great in the sunshine. 
First real leaves coming on the Carrots and Radishes.
Rainbow Chard seedlings coming up and the Peas are climbing the trellis.
Added Iron Chelates
Lots of Rosella Parrots coming in to be fed.  The trees must be flowering less.

19 May 2011, Thursday, Overcast

Brr..  Chilly day.  Still waiting for the plumber to return our call about installing the heater.
Dosed the dogs for fleas and ticks again.
May get our first feed of beans today.  Will have to go out and get them and another pumpkin.
Peas just starting to climb the wires.  Need more sunshine to keep them growing.
Snake beans and rainbow chard seedlings are looking good.

Mmmm.  Fresh beans were YUMMY.. Plus HG Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, Capsicum and Salad

18 May 2011, Wednesday, Overcast

Generally cold and grey.  Appt with Che's teacher.  Went well, no biggies.
Nothing really happening in the garden.  The fish all seem to be hibernating and not a lot of growth in the beds

17 May 2011, Tuesday, Sunshine

Another day at home. 
Received the response from BSA inspection.  Coastal Patios have been given 28 days to rectify the 11 category 1 faults in the building.  Hmm.  I'm not comfortable about this.  At least it helps with the court case at QCAT.

16 May 2011, Monday, Raining

Started out nice but deteriorated to rain by lunch time.
Usual trip to town to drop Che at school and do basic grocery shopping.
Also bought the cement sheet to go under the new heater and tiles to go on top of the cement sheet.  Nice shiny cream ones that should match the ones in the hallway to main bedroom.
Got some more coffee mugs for the fish as well.  I put them into the tanks and they were checking them out straight away.

15 May 2011, Sunday, Sunshine

Nice day.  Hugh has finished with the grass (I think).
My plants all look good, but the burgundy grass looks a bit sad.  Maybe I shoule cut the top off and hope it sends up new shoots
The snake beans are shooting but no leaves yet.
Hope to pick beans from the borlotti beans soon.  The have set a lot of pods and I don't want them to think they have done for the year.
Rainbow fish still hiding.

12 May 2011, Thursday, Sunshine

Another beautiful day at home.
Hugh moving more grass to the back.
It is looking much neater and less likely to get washed away now.

11 May 2011, Wednesday, Sunshine

Quiet day at home.  Lots of pruning done around the yard.
Hugh started to move some of the grass from the front lawn we are going to mulch to the back ramp down to the paddocks.
Sump tank fish have accepted their new pagoda home and seem to like it.
Pulled out the trellis that the tomatoes had been on but became over-run by sweet potato vines.
Found two lovely little pumpkins under all of the growth.  More pumpkin soup I think.

14 May 2011, Saturday, Sunshine

Freezing night last night but nice day today.  Clear sky so will freeze again tonight.  Brrrrrr..  Can't wait to get the heater in so it is easier to get out of bed in the mornings.
Potted up 25 little Spider Plants that had been broken off the mother plant.  And an assortment of other cuttings to see how they go in the AP bed.
Rainbow fish must be hibernating.  Have only seen one in past 3 days and it was in one of the hidey hole pots.
Lots of leaves broken off the water lily.  Willl have to watch in case another bird has discovered the fish.
Hugh planting more grass and extending the drain to take the water away from the centre paddock.  Still too boggy to mow it.

13 May 2011, Friday, Sunshine

Mum's birthday..
Did a quick trip to Bunnings to buy a little wood heater we had been checking out.  Combined with the flue kit, just over $1,000. but should warm the whole house.  Can't wait to get it installed and running before winter is over.  :)
Hugh busy again planting more grass.  Looking really nice and neat.

Bought some more seedlings.  Spinach, Chinese Veg Mix, and Mixed lettuce.  All happily planted into the AP Bed and looking good.

Added Iron Chelates to the AP System.

10 May 2011, Tuesday, Sunshine

Another beautiful day.  Hugh to Dr. so had lovely lunch next to the river,
Bought some pea seedlings and seeds at Bunnings.  Plus a nice big chinese lantern for a hide for the fish in the sump tank.
Also some old pots and cups for hidey holes from Op Shop for the fish for winter.
Home in time to plant the seedlings into pots in the grow bed.  Found a happy healthy worm in the pot.
The beans have their first little pods forming.

9 May 2011, Monday, Raining

Rainy day..  Started early in the morning and looks like it has settled in.  Feeding the fish will be about the extend of out doors today,

8 May 2011, Sunday

Mother's Day.  Hoped for a relaxing day, but with Che that was a bit much to expect.
The fish all look to have coped with their rather hectic day yesterday except one that looks like it was crushed by a rock in the move.
Looks like the unknown have been identified now as an endangered species "Oxleyan pygmy perch"  Thanks to Mr Damage on the AP Forum.  Will have to keep close watch on them and hope all the disturbance hasn't upset them too much..
Hugh did more mowing.  Slowly getting into the sodden area.  Water still pouring out of the yabbie holes in the paddock.  Maybe one day I will manage to catch a few of the yabbies.
He also pruned quite a bit off the big camphor laurel to let light and air into the lillypilly trees we planted.

07 May 2011, Saturday, Sunshine

Decided to stay home and sort out the fish.
If they really are feral they will have to go.  Eventually.
After spending most of the day to the elbows in water I find there are at least 4 varieties of fish in the bath tub.
One I have identified as a native glass fish.  Unfortunately only one of them.  Stayed in the tub.
About 20 still unidentified.  Have asked for help on the AP forum to see if any one can help with them.  They are still in the bath with the glass fish.
About 100 that are probably the feral Gambusia.  Moved them to the sump tank.
And a few that look to be baby rainbow fish.  Put them into the Rainbow Tank.
Hugh had a major pruning day and took two big limbs off the fig tree.  Much more sunlight getting into to Grow Beds now.  Plus cleaned up and removed a couple old palms.

6 May 2011, Friday

Tested the system.
Ammonia  0
Nitrate       0
Nitrate       5
PH             6.2,  maybe slightly lower

Looks like the coir has made the water more acid  :(  It is always on the acidic side due to the rain water we use.  Will have to get something to buffer it a bit.

Planted some Rainbow Chard and Snake Beans.
..Chard into a thin layer of coir on top of a gravel pot.
..Snake Beans into Gravel Pot.  Some into plugs, other into the gravel.  See how they go.
Borlotti Beans that were planted in plugs in gravel pots a couple weeks ago have their first flowers

Moved the last 4 GoldFish to the GF tank.  These had refused to be caught til today but I want to let the native (Rainbows?) have a tank to themselves.  I think they have been eating the babies :(

Looks like we will need to prune another limb off the big fig tree.  My GB is getting a bit too shaded.

5 May 2011, Thursday, Sunshine

More sunshine,  Great growing weather.
Added 5 drops of Iron Chelates to the AP system.
Put SS Nuts onto the silk flowers and dropped them into the FT's.  Within minutes the fish were busy exploring them.  They seem to enjoy the new hiding spots.
The Coir pots now sitting up on bricks to raise them higher in the grow bed.  Now will rely entirely on capiliary action to get the moisture up into them.

4 May 2011, Wednesday

Big storm last night with heavy rain.  The seedlings looked a bit bruised and battered this morning and the lettuce is pre shredded.
Can't wait to get a hot house tunnel  built to protect from the elements.  It will be nicer to work in the winter as well.
Been thinking we may make just 1/2 tunnell with the poly pipe going in an arc from the ground and attaching under the house.  The other wall would then be vertical.  Hmmm
That would make a bigger space to work in and much more useable height.
Today was sunny again but we had a day down town.  R and R from the garden.
Bought some more silk flowers to put in the Fish Tanks.
Plants have cheered up by this evening and some of the lettuce may still be ok.
There are a lot more carrots now germinated.  Looking good, but I think I may have planted them a bit thick.

3 May 2011, Tuesday

Gorgeous day.
Che at school so we got out with the chain saw today.
Cut out a lot of palms that were getting scruffy and the acacia that was shading the lawn.  Looks a bit open, but things should grow better now.
I put a few more rocks into the wall I am building.  Slowly slowly.

Potted some cuttings from one of the bushes along the side fence. Trying out AP for striking.  Hope to get enough to strike to make a hedge of them.

Now I need some more Coco Peat.  Hope to get Canna brand this time.

2 May 2011, Monday

Unbelievable.  Another perfect day.
More weeding and mowing and Hugh whipper snipped the fence lines and the last of the pumpkin patch.  Shrekkie managed to break the biggest pumpkin off the plant so looks like pumkin soup in the near future.  Yummmm
Getting a bit worried that the coir may be too wet how I have it.  Reading the AP forums and may have to raise the pots so they rely on water wicking up into the pots only.
All the seedlings still look very happy and more showing up every day.
The egg fruit is looking very healthy and the old chilli plants are looking a bit better now.

1 May 2011, Sunday

Sunday and another perfect day.
I weeded again and Hugh zoomed about on the mower.
The yard is starting to look loved again.
More of the beetroot up and I can see the first of the carrots.
Replaced the chilli that shrekkie ate.

30 April 2011, Saturday

Saturday and woke to glorious sunshine.
First of the beetroot now just starting to show.  They like the sunshine as well..
Started weeding the pumpkin patch while the ground is still soft enough to pull the weeds.
Hugh started to mow the paddocks on the ride on.  Most is still too boggy but he managed most of it.
The little chilli plants don't look like they noticed the move at all, except the one that Shrekkie pulled up and ate.  LOL

29 April 2011, Friday

Most of the day shopping so not much got done.  Another long weekend coming up.
The radish plants are looking great and now starting to develop leaves.
Added a few drops of iron chelates to the garden to see if it greens up the lettuce plants.
Potted a few baby chilli plants from the dirt garden into coir and into the AP grow bed.

28 April 2011

Water in the AP system has a very definate stain now.  Not unpleasant, and the fish seem happy enough.
Added a few more sea shells we found at the beach last visit.

27 April 2011

What a surprise..  The first of the radishes have sprouted already.  First time I have had successful seed germination in the bed.
Looking good.
The eggplant we repotted into the grow bed has cheered up and the tiny fruit is now quite obvious.
The chilli bushes still looking pretty sad.

26 April 2011

Moved the chocolate Mint to the back of the grow bed to make more space for more of the 10 litre pots.
The mint is looking much happier since it has been potted up and now draining completely with each ebb and flow of the auto syphon.
Really happy so far with the changes.  The syphon is working and the bed now draining properly.

25 April 2011

Created pots from old 10 litre water bottles and filled with coir.
All with aprox 20mm blue metal gravel in base for drainage.
2 cut at about 2/3 height and planted with Golden Beetroot and Radishes
1 cut at full height and planted with Purple Carrots.
Placed into the main aqauponics grow bed.