Living With The Virus

[icyfroth]

Ok. So we're all staying home, wearing masks when we go out, sanitising surfaces, madly washing hands.

How else are you coping?

Had to go to the post office this arvo as I had a cpl of sales on Ebay, having to send parcels. Bloody lined up for half a block because they were only allowing 8 customers in at any given time. 

Staff are all behing perspex screens. Sheesh!

How's everyone else getting along?

[lyhargr_0]

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@*kazumi* wrote:

I am busier than ever.  I am knitting a jumper, that takes couple of hours every day.  Then I try to spend another couple of hours through the day taming my feral garden, which is a total mess as I was unable to do much there for few year, and last year I had 2 hip operations and another spell in the hospital, and only now I am able to actually do something.  In between I have been making masks for myself and family members.  When i finish knitting i have some lovely fabrics that I want to make trousers out of.  The kitchen windows need to be painted from inside.  I would really like to paint my sewing room, but it is big and has large heavy wall units, which are full all sort of handcrafts treasures...   Then there are stacks of books I have not read, and some that I did read but would like to read again.  Then I want to plant more veggies.............

My chickens arrived, and so I have been doing last minute  preparation, like making sure the latch is secure.  Then it took me last night half an hour to get them into their house to lock them up.  Lot of sympathy for the Tower of London Raven Master who has to round up the ravens and lock them up for the night. 

In between I talk to friends on the phone or exchanching messages, emails, photos ....etc.  Last night I read my book till 2am

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Wow, you are really keeping yourself occupied.  Great that you are able to get around a bit easier than you were before your ops.  Love to see a pic of your chickens, nothing like fresh eggs straight from the nest.   I don't bother, cause so many people around here have them, so fresh eggs are never a prob.

My time is being spent outside getting the gardens ready for Spring/Summer planting. All my Winter crops are planted, so hopefully there will be plenty of red and green cabbage, snow peas,  carrots and beetroot.  I can freeze the carrots and preserve the beetroot ready for when we need them.  I am also planting heaps of bulbs in pots, so there should be plenty of colour out there in Spring

Hubs is building a gazebo, only the roof to go, so that keeps him occupied. There is plenty for him to do around the here, so he's never bored.

Only the roof to go and it's done

[go-tazz]

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@zanadoo_56 wrote:

The screen door has one of those spring closing gizmos but even with using my walking stick I can't slide it across to keep the door open.  It is VERY stiff.  I've also tried it with a broom handle but it doesn't seem to 'catch' the thing to move it, because of the rounded handle end I guess.

There would be ways to hold it open but it would need something that can push in behind the door handle and

then down towards the step so do you have a mens shed around your area as they can help out in situations

like yours.

You can lead a person to delivery instructions.....but you can't make them read 'em.

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We had similar at one place where often they would leave things in front of the screen door and we ended up

leaving it open permanently and then ended up removing the screen door.

[zanadoo_56]

There would be ways to hold it open but it would need something that can push in behind the door handle and then down towards the step.

I can't quite figure that one out.

You reminded me of another pet hate.  The Aust Post delivery contractor who comes to the front door (instead of the back for safe drop), doesn't leave the parcel (some will fit between the front and screen doors), but leaves a card instead......rolled up and tightly wedged into the middle of screen door grille where I have no hope of reaching it.

I don't want to remove the security screen door.  The doorway is in the best position in summer to get a cool breezeway if the inner door is open and the kitchen window as well. I have a cat and leaving the front door open with no screen to stop her getting out is not an option.  Also, when the screen doors were installed I had Burmese cats who could be rather destructive.  So instead of conventional fly screen mesh they have grid mesh which has the advantage (when unwelcome salespeople call) that I can see the person outside but they can't see me at all.  I love that mesh.  It puts them right off their spiel.  🙂

[zanadoo_56]

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@*kazumi* wrote:

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@zanadoo_56 wrote:

Deliveries to the door, such a simple thing and so difficult to manage the result for some.  Sigh.

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Last year when I could not pick up anything from the ground without my claws/grabber, I put a small table on the front veranda and made a large sign for delivery guys to leave it here.  Now, after my 2 operation, I can pick up things off the ground, but it is still better  when it is on the table. 

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A verandah is on my long list of things that need to be done around the house but there's other repairs and improvements that are more urgent.  It won't be a big one either as there isn't much space at the front of the block.

I don't use a grabber if you mean the plastic kind that occupational therapists suggest.  I had one but it was too weak so I gave it to my mother.  What I use instead are long kitchen togs, and for extra reach - longer BBQ tongs.  I have them in the kitchen, lounge, main bedroom and craft room.  They are good for picking up tiny stuff or (as I've found in the kitchen) even a small dollop of ice cream, to pulling awkward heavy stuff to within reach.  They are very durable too.

[domino-710]

One thing I have noticed - my telephone rings less.

Where have all those computer virus experts gone.

Where have all those Solar panel peeps gone.

Bit of a relief really - got sick of blocking each number as it came in. lol

[*kazumi*]

When i said I am going to get laying hens, I was imagining Isa Red or another ordinary choock x 2.  But when these 4 were offered, I jumped at the chance.  Not sure what they are, except the black on the right, she is "Frizzle"

[lyhargr_0]

Awww they are lovely, such pretty colours 🙂

[rogespeed]

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@domino-710 wrote:

One thing I have noticed - my telephone rings less.

Where have all those computer virus experts gone.

Where have all those Solar panel peeps gone.

Bit of a relief really - got sick of blocking each number as it came in. lol

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The upside of no tourism - maybe after this calamity has ended we should hold off a year or two migration and tourism so we can consolidate as a nation in year 2020 who we are. 

[davewil1964]

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@rogespeed wrote:

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@domino-710 wrote:

One thing I have noticed - my telephone rings less.

Where have all those computer virus experts gone.

Where have all those Solar panel peeps gone.

Bit of a relief really - got sick of blocking each number as it came in. lol

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The upside of no tourism - maybe after this calamity has ended we should hold off a year or two migration and tourism so we can consolidate as a nation in year 2020 who we are. 

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Who we are is a service economy. No tourism would result in a situatuion analagous to what we have now. Lots of people who can't feed themselves, even if, under your scenario, they can gather at the local with their mates and whinge about it.

As Pauline said - please explain. Given you seem to come up with simple, Hansonesque, solutions to complex problems.

[chameleon54]

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@lyhargr_0 wrote:

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Only the roof to go and it's done

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Not trying to be a smarty pants or killjoy,  but as an ex licenced builder I,m a bit concerned about the size of the purlins ( cross timbers to support the roof. ) If it is a shade cloth roof it is not such a drama as it is unlikely to injure you if it warps or cracks over time, but a solid roof, even polycarbonite sheeting is a bit different.  ( you can see sag in the roof of the small shed in the background behind the upright post at the front of shot ) . It might just be the angle of the photo, but it looks to be a fair gap between the trusses and fairly small timber on top. For a solid roof, anything over 3.0 metres wide will need something with a higher profile than 75 x 35 or even 100 x 45's.

Once you get to 3.6 metre gaps between trusses you really need to go to 140 mm. high purlins and even higher for wider spans. Anything less and there is a good chance the roof ( even with shade cloth ) will sag in time, eventually splitting the purlins and collapsing. For shade cloth the 50 x 50mm. fence post steel may hold its shape better over time and is a relatively cheap option.

The rest of it looks to be nice job and should last a long time.......