Deck Stain, Shed Power, Dad's got Covid, MatchaBom, Fencing
Stained the back deck this afternoon. We've been meaning to do it for a while, finally got around to getting all scrubbed clean yesterday, all the kids and dogs footprints off it etc. I did the same to the Pergola deck too, but I can't have done a very good job because when I looked at it this afternoon it still looked terrible. Dirt and shit all over it. Doesn't help that birds obviously sit on it and shit, little bastards. Anyway the back deck is looking really good, we were worried that it wasn't a good idea to stain it because of the weather - it was a lovely day but it's been so cold the last few nights and it was still quite damp. But it dried out OK in the morning sun and it even said on the deck stain that it's OK and even encouraged for their to be a little bit of moisture on the deck.
Friday Tony the Laser Electrical electrician came over and wired up the pool shed! Finally! The pump has a powerpoint, Blueberry the Robot pool cleaner has a power point. The pool lights have a powerpoint! There's a spare powerpoint for whatever else we might need out there. And also more importantly, the heatpump finally has power. No longer does there need a be a big long electrical cord draping from the sheds to the pool pump to keep it running, now it's got a plug in the shed! And it's got its own mini switchoard out there itself.
The pool lights look pretty snazzy, there's two of them. You can make them different colours, you can made them so they gently cycle through different colours. And that's about it really. Still I think it's neat but I guess I'm also easily amused.
Saturday Sarah took the kids to swimming while I was out the back getting the deck prepared for the decking stain today. When they got back we went for a bike ride down to "Spew Dairy" as we call it. Theo once chucked up in a cafe next to the dairy so now it's also known as Spew Dairy. They got a bag of lollies each and then rode back home, Theo stopped in at his new mate Ben's house for a play for an hour. Ben lives halfway down our street which is good, he's been up a few times for a visit and Theo's been down a few times too.
I made Pad Thai for dinner, then the kids watched Cars 3 / played iPads on the couch. Mostly the iPads bit.
Today was the morning spent staining the deck as previously mentioned then we all went for a bike ride up to the library to get some more books for the kids. It's a Teacher's Only day tomorrow so they kids are going to stay at home with Sarah.
Spoke to Dad on Friday night, he's got Covid. Poor Dad. I mean I'm not SURPRISED because he's been to two big music festivals, AKA super-spreader events. But still it's a bit crap he's got it and he doesn't sound that great, hopefully he's over it quick though. I messaged him today and he said was feeling a bit better so that's good. I also hear that Uncle Shane has started to get his affairs in order, so I think he's telling people he doesn't have a lot of time left. That's a bit sad, but it's good that people can go and see him and say Hi. Sarah started looking for flights for me, but as much as I really DO want to go back to see him, I'm also worried what I catch Covid over there and have to stay in Aussie for 2-3 weeks. I've got so much work on at the moment, we're right at the super busy build out stage. But just saying that makes me feel like a right shithead, like work is somehow more important than family/life. I dunno I'll talk to my boss about it tomorrow. I think I'll probably end up not going though, the other thing of course is that Dad is due to come over in June and if I was stuck in Australia while he was here, well, that would just be so stupid as to not rate a mention. Anyway enough discussion about that.
Oh yea the Sparky had to come back today, while he was doing some wiring on Friday he accidentally knocked out a wire which powered the back deck lights, the Ring Floodlight and the scullery lights. Anyway it was nice of him to come back on a Sunday to fix it.
We remembered "Matchabom" today while sitting at the dairy after riding back from the library. I realised I have a video of Theo saying it while we ready Fuzzy Farm. He's 5. It's pretty cute. Beth then had to go the toilet urgently so Sarah rode back with her, Theo and I went for an extended bike ride up past school and all the way to the one lane bridge and back. On the way back he somehow managed to get a foot stuck in his front wheel and did a low speed yeet over the handlebars. He was pretty upset but thankfully because he wasn't going super fast he didn't end up hurting himself too badly.
I took him to Karate on Monday, he was doing great but then he had to do this thing where he jumped on a box horse and he was good at the first height but really struggled with the second height. And he got very sad and started crying. Which was a bit awkward. But Sensai was very good about it, gave them a little speech about how things are quite hard the first time etc etc.
Oh the black fencing is up around the pool too, I forgot to mention that. That went in on Tusday I think. It really helped frame ou the whole back space, it looks like a proper area now. It's good. Still waiting for the glass fencing to go in and some concrete to be poured, but it's getting there slowly. It's going to be ready just in time for the utter dead of Winter. Woohoo! Not.
Tim