The weather is everything when you live with the outside.  The rains have stopped and it is possible to actually do things.  I have been planting trees.  At the moment only around the actual house site as this is my own little project and is one of the most satisfying and happy things I have done in a long time.  There are ash trees, scots pine, alder, oak, birch and willow; all planted up behind the barn.  I have been dreaming and planning planting trees for over 20 years and to actually be doing it feels like an achievement.
On Thursday I have the pleasure of driving the granny bus to the mainland to take the senior ladies to visit their friends and relatives in the care home there, also a fun thing to do.  But tree collecting and planting is my passion at the moment.
What about the house?  After the gravel and cement were dropped off 2 weeks ago now, nothing happened at all, now things are moving again and in the morning cement will be mixed and if all goes well foundations will go in.  Watch this space.

The clocks have changed which is always a bit unpleasant at this latitude.  It gets dark unnaturally early and the artificial change of time cuts into the flow created by the passing of the seasons.  Halloween is an important festival here on Lismore. A dressing up party in the hall was very well attended. I didn't count the numbers but guess there were about 50-60 people all told.  Ages from 2-70, and costumes ranged from the usual purchased scary masks and cartoon characters to medieval damsels in exquisite finery, witches with warts, pirates, zombies and men dressed as ladies.  Really big efforts made with the costumes.  Sebastian and I had the daunting task of "judging" the costumes in 5 different categories according to age as the participants paraded around to music. Everyone deserved a trophy really! Games like pass the parcel and musical statues entertained the smalls and Dr Katy's surgery in the corner of the stage behind "bloodied" curtains created a scary alternative for slightly older children.  Like all event on Lismore the event finished with cups of tea and delicious baking.
Ben left this morning for his long journey back to NZ.  Both Leo and Adam (sons) arrived yesterday for a wee farewell dinner for Ben, and they have also left already.  So now it's just the two of us again.  Work will be slower.
Weather is good in between showers.  Very warm for the time of year
The fence around the building/house site is complete, so I can start to plant some trees, at last.  Sebastian is working on the old barn to get it ready for the new wooden structure which is