I hope that 2019 is treating you all well.
Jan went to the US on 2 January and is now in Grayling Michigan until 13 March. He is starting work at 6.30 each morning, leaving at 6 with a car-load of colleagues, and getting back to the hotel at 6.30 in the evening (12.30pm our time). They are doing somewhere around 70 hours per week, working 7 days.
The temperatures are pretty grim: mostly in the minuses, with the coldest temperature being about minus 36 C, thus far. He has had a cold which he is now recovering from, but is usually in bed by 2.30pm our time. We are using Messenger to stay in touch, usually talking on our Monday, Wednesday and Friday at around 12.30 or 1pm NZT.
He has sent me some video which I have compiled of him driving around the area (as it is too cold to be outside):
Last week in January in Grayling, at the plant, and then the drive home (2.40 min):
(if this doesn't work, try here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/bzAUTCo3XKZkREuv5)
Sunday, late January, from Grayling to Gaylord and back again to buy warmer clothes (6 min):
(if this doesn't work, try here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Tz8pZhxnQLC5TrTf9)
As the 'polar vortex' is coming in, last week of January, the drive from the plant to the Ramada in Grayling town centre (2.50 min):
(if this doesn't work, try here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/xrf4pjoTDbxgat3f7)
A couple of times a week something breaks here, and I have to get a neighbour in to help me (they are all going to start evading me, I am sure). Even simple things like trying to get onto our roof without someone to hold the ladder becomes dangerous when you are on your own and your closest neighbours can't see or hear you. I asked my neighbour Simon to come over when there was water running on the roof. He found to find that the top off the pressure relief valve on the hot water system was missing - and that it may possibly have been missing since it was installed, as it was sitting neatly on the top of bolt, like it had just been put aside for testing. Because it has suddenly started leaking, it may well have blown the wee spring and ball out of the top, but at least Simon found the top and put it back on. A plumber call is now needed for Monday, because - of course - this happened on a weekend.
There is a surprising amount of stuff that works perfectly with two of you, but which doesn't work when you are on your own; even more so when have two dogs trying to 'help' you. I think Finn will stay away from the wheelbarrow now that I have partly run him over though...
I got a truck load of gravel delivered last week, and have been barrowing it around the house to cover the lack-of-lawn (technical term for weeds). We had put shell around the house four or so years ago, unfortunately over weed matting so the shell never compacted and kept sliding. With this gravel, I am trying to decide if I pull the weed matting up and let the gravel compact down with the remains of the shell, or if I leave the weed mat down in the hope that the gravel will sit on top more heavily and not slide away into gaps with the matting shining through. Quandary. However, I now have a piece of work in progress with an all-weather path to the clothesline, which is good (though I need to make some more concrete tiles)... without weed matting. My mother always used the tail end of a jug of boiling water on weeds, and I might try that too.
It has been very hot, with a bit over a week of 30 degree days. I bought some outdoor furniture off TradeMe (sort of NZ Craig's List) so, at long last, there are places to sit outside in the shade. West in the morning, East in the afternoon. I got some excellent bargains - some of which needed repair, but that was part of the enjoyment.
Since Jan left for the US I have been into NMIT for my first meeting of the year, I went to pick up all my 'new' outdoor furniture purchases, and went to John F's birthday party.
Sharon & Ian invited me out for lunch at Moutere Hills Vineyard, which led to a Danube cruise being booked for November which should be quite fun.
Jan & I are also heading off to Fiji in July for the Naenae 50ths, and there is talk of me going to the US in May. However, I suspect that the latter won't happen. In teaching for two organisations, organising deviations to delivery (and deadlines; and dog and house sitters) has to be arranged well ahead. As there seems to be little structure around Jan's start and finish dates, leave, time in lieu etc, I am already suspecting that there will not be a magic conjunction of planets which allows me to tee up cover, sitters and to get a flight at the last minute... !
My brother and I picked up some new furniture for my mother, which 'may need some assembly'... to find that "some" assembly meant entire assembly. I think we spent four hours contorted into some interesting shapes and swearing at drawings. However, all the parts were present, and we put together two new Danish-style lounge chairs with footstools, and a new Danish-style table and chairs. All very light, small, and makes her wee house look a lot more spacious.
I sometimes catch up with some of the neighbours when I am walking the dogs, and a few of them have dropped in for coffee. As it has been so baking, I am going at 7am before it gets too hot, and again at 8.30pm as it starts to cool down. Other than that, I scoot into town to pick up groceries, milk, veg and to clear the post office box once a week or so.
While we have had a couple of friends come out and get firewood earlier on in January, until we have some significant rain, I am not letting anyone else come. The fire danger is now extreme, and it will take a good bit of rain to correct that.
I have half my courses entirely prepared and ready to go for 25 February. The remainder are about halfway through. I have tried to get into writing, but am finding it hard to settle. I am not enjoying Jan being away.
The neighbours down the road are having a party next weekend, which I am going to. Warren is coming for a visit in March, as is Justine, then Jan is back mid-March.
A friend of ours, Paul Tunley, sadly passed away a few days ago following an illness. We miss you, cardigan man :-(
'Til next time
Sam
