I've been sitting here trying to put a realistic price on possible alterations to The Shack. Its prospects are plummeting, as far as I'm concerned. I haven't even bothered to investigate into AC, solar water panels, greywater recycling, irrigation, redoing the deck completely, shutters all round, bricking in the base of the house, and it's already overcapitalisation of $220,000 on maximum possible resale value. I simply don't want to end up paying that much for a weatherboard home. In fact it would almost certainly be more economical and resaleable to knock down and rebuild, but in that case we might as well just buy something different.
So, there we are, back to square one probably but it's all good stuff, interesting and useful to know more rough estimates about what can and can't be done (and possibly about what shouldn't be done).
It was definitely a Contrary Mary day for the Littles yesterday - following on from Saturday's episode, too. She was already in deep disgrace for recalcitrance when Daddy came home early specially so that we could go and have her passport photo taken - we really need to do this as we need to get the permanent visa under way, without which we'll be paying school fees ad infinitum. Went out, and she was in even more disgrace as she totally wasted everyone's time by refusing to look at the camera in any even vaguely normal way. No photos taken. Arrived back home an hour later none the wiser, just hungrier and even more grumpy than when we set out. She was absolutely appalling.
However, she did make an effort and at least ate her pasta sauce for dinner without being urged as usual (though I had told her that if she so much as stopped to look about her before she finished, that was it, I would take it away and she'd be in bed before she knew what was happening and I think she knew I wasn't joking) - it's not bad as she's so far refused to eat tomato sauce at all, so that's one more meal we can all have together ticked onto the list. Then this morning she was good as gold, got ready, brushed teeth and dressed nicely, did her maths flashcards (which were the core nub of the most violent discontent, though there were plenty of other issues) in 15 minutes flat (that's pretty fast, considering what a stack of them there are), and stood nicely by the wall while I took some more passport photos of her. Discussed what she was going to take to school for News (the Wild Things), talked about the Cupcake day they're having today (you buy cupcakes at 50c a pop - I wonder if she'll manage), and was generally very much trying to haul herself back into favour, so perhaps the storm has subsided.
Last night was it seems Wildlife Parade round 5/172 Scenic Drive. First thing we knew was there was constant rattling and dropping of bits from the trees outside the front window as what we assume was a possum ate the flowers and nectar up there. It was infernally hot so all the windows are open - we've got bug nets but they're frankly not very effective. Then we retired to bed and as we were sitting there reading spy a spider of a large variety crawling on the coving. Hmm. Looks like a white tip. (Look closer). (Look up on internet just to be sure). It IS a white tip. Shit. Get broom. Get spider down (with much shuddering). Get shoe and squish to a ghastly mess on the windowsill, and use oodles of paper to wipe it up so that no possible contact can be made. None of this was helped by the fact that as it was bedtime we were both starkers - you can't imagine how much more vulnerable it makes you feel, as if wearing a T shirt would make any difference but you know, psychologically. Plus we were sweaty enough to begin with what with the god-awful heat and the eternally squeaking blow-up mattress that is the bane of our evenings, we were both quite dripping by the time we'd flushed the remains down the loo. During the process, there's an eruption of hellish squawling and hissing from down below, which we assumed were possums fighting it out. Sounds like a cat on steroids with a bad cold. All extremely unsettling. Neither of us could get to sleep for absolutely ages what with the thought of more spiders and the heat and the eternal squeaking every time you moved a muscle, so tempers weren't at the best this morning. Well no, that's not accurate - the poor Mr was sweetness and light as he always is no matter what but the same CERTAINLY could not be said for myself.
Well there we are. I'm not sure there's a great deal more - I'm due at the Non's school tomorrow to help out with the Jolly Phonics 'rotation' classes (they have some incredibly complicated system, god knows how the non will cope if at all), I've signed up for all the Wednesdays. We tried to find the librarian again this morning but again, no joy. I am beginning to suspect she doesn't exist - the library just runs itself, I think. Lots of love to all of you, hope the W&W are having a good time over in the UK, V xxxxx
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Hurrah! Got the phone up. Now I just have to battle with the leftovers of the others and somehow get them on line (herculean effort) to cancel them in time. Shuddered at the spiders; yuh!!! UUUh. Glad they aren't over here; hope the heat dies down soon, is it dry heat or rather soggy as well? Sounds a lot of stuff for kindergarten over there- good of course because it keeps them busy, but it took us a whole half a year to actually fully get into the rhythm of project days test days and all the small things that the rest of them already knew from kinder; after 5 months now it's really a lot better. It's amazing how they let you (and really good too) go all along with her; here they don't generally, shut the gates at 9:00 and unless you're actually a volunteer doing paperwork you aren't allowed in, or rather with permission of sorts. Hello, go in, ohayo, goodbye parents. Which of course suits me just fine. Every week news for a 5 year old seems a lot of work though.
ReplyDeleteI HAVE to tell you before I miss out on why I7m actually sitting down and typing; your parcel from ENGLAND arrived today; can you imagine?! THe one with the cardie and some trousers and such. Thank you ever so much, it must have gone 4 times around the globe, it's a wonder, really. And in all that rush you had the time... we will be able to use them next year with ever so much relish, thank you once more!
Oh and one other REALLY strange coincidence- can you imagine- just ontop of the package outside sat a postcard, now wait for it (it's REALLY strange) handwritten in a 5 year old's handwriting, I don't know, it still might be from you for all I know- the front picture of all things was a photograph of PRAIRIE DOGS and on the other says " Dear ama, am having a good time maby when i come how we can have a playdate LOVE LARA PS I miss you!" - I SWEAR I told Leo LOOK at Lara how she's written you a card- oh no wait a moment, urm... and the address says just "Anna Stump something something Ohio". No " to Hirose family " or our address or anything, it just came. Who knows who Anna is, and I guess she's the mother of the aforementioned Lara Stump- but the manner in which it arrived and the prariedogs were just so absolutely weird, if I might be so American. There, there is my surprise of the day, once again, thank you so much- and to the US postal service who are as always, so very generous with their time and customer service.
That piece of vital information disclosed I have to run, there's load to clean up after the drilling and the moving of furniture, some things to prepare for the auction tomorrow and to top it all it's Nea's hair washing day today- something dreaded. Well done on the Tomato sauce; I must say it got a lot easier on this side too, he was exactly 5 when he suddenly started eating it again too, although tomatoes themselves are still a complete OUT zone. Never mind. Mako is so busy, he's almost never home, and is going to Japan at the end of the month, in the meantime he has to go both weekends to San Diego again; and he never gets any money for any of this so one always ends up just paying for all the petrol and parking. What sods. I hope it'll be April soon and things will slow down, I really miss having him around, it's so different than what things were like in Japan. I guess I7ve grown up a trifle too, only marginally though, don't get your hopes up. Chuckle. The kids are having a fight again, Nea quite holds up to anything and it's generally Leo that ends up crying, she just huffs off and bangs the door, after which she's put into time out, then Leo gets all uppity and promptly is told to follow her suit. There, she's gone off, crossed her arms and is standing in her room staring belligerently at a wall. If Lara got anything of me, I say once again that our kid is definitely a Nancy. She's even learned to say "MO! SHIRANAI!" from Leo.
ReplyDeleteAnyway gotta go, LOTS of snogs and loves especially to the NON and promise to send some postcards or something along, it's been shameful! Pusses, hope it's not so hot today and that the possums come to an agreement( I know, I pissed my pants at the description- we have them as well and that's EXactly it- at least we don't have the skunks like they do just a bit to the North and South, Lisa is perpetually complaining about them even in New York. Still, a lot better than poisonous spiders if you ask me- that's really scary.
XOXOXOXOXOXOOS