4th November 2005:

Gales last night and this morning. Various bits vanished. Nothing fatal, however, and all trees survived. If I can summon the energy, tomorrow morning before 5 am I am out snipping plants.

11th November 2005:

The landscape plans are all but done, contractors soon to put in quotes (well, soonish), perhaps to start in New Year for a perhaps finish date in April. Lots of perhapses, but it is all suddenly starting to seem very, very real. The verandah and roof are almost done - the house looks amazing now the decrepit verandah and roof have been replaced - so much nicer. An old, old lady has suddenly shaken herself and discovered herself elegant once more. Everything has been done in rich creams and shades of grey edged with brass - looks stunning.

More cuttings to be cut this weekend - so many shrubs will be needed in the garden! I am having so much fun planning and dreaming.

28th November 2005:

The builders have one more day to work on the verandah. I will be so glad to see them go. They have left behind them the must awful mess - the first time a builder has ever, ever done this to me. Not impressed. A nice man with fivemore nice men at his coat-tails will be arriving later this week to do what the builders couldn't - clean up. Then ... the lawnmower man can get in and cut down some of the jungle.

What I am impressed with is the rain. Over 650 mls since I arrived here - that's about 300 mls more than Bendigo could ever manage in a year, and I've only been here seven months (or at least only keeping rainfall records for seven months).

Went with a friend to visit a private garden late last week - very beautiful. Corinda is an 1880s house in Glebe that is now run as a B&B - the stables and gardeners cottages have bee turned into guest accommodation. The garden featured a lime tree walk, which I have often heard about but never seen. I'd love to have one at Nonsuch, but I'm not sure where it would go. Something to mull over ...

Need to chase up the landscape architect about quotes for the garden. My entire life seems to be taken up with chasing up people who don't do things on time.

The verandah - before and after. Click on the thumbnails for a larger image: