A Saturday evening post

The busier and more interesting my life, the less you see of me here.  Much has been going on of late - work, socialising, tripping around and house and garden projects.   Even when undertaken by professional tradesmen, these take time for planning and organising. 

This week, on the inspiration of my husband, it has been the installation of solar heating for our pool. As the only dedicated swimmer in the household, this was not something I had ever considered a necessity, but it was cheaper than we expected and will hopefully mean extending the swimming season by an extra 3 or 4 months a year.

The job is not quite finished yet, but so far we have black plastic tubing on the roof, white poly-pipe through the garden and a pump and control panel beside the pool.

March temperatures are still very pleasant for swimming, but by April usually not so.  Now I am anticipating some deliciously warm water to entice me into the pool throughout the autumn months.

Another 'project' has been our involvement in the house-hunting pursuits of two of our children.  Both our son and our younger daughter, with their respective partners, have been looking for homes to buy in inner suburban Brisbane.

These days it's usual to tackle house-hunting from home, like this - 

Here are D & M one recent weekend, sitting with laptops at either end of our kitchen table, sifting through listings on realestate.com looking for their very first 'dream' home.

This week they think they have found THE house, so we have been with her parents to check it out - and now we are all waiting anxiously to hear whether their offer will be accepted

For the other couple still living in Melbourne, but anxious to have something teed up by the time they relocate north next month, we have been doing some of the leg-work and checking out likely prospects on the ground.

So here I am this afternoon gathering some salient information from an agent while on a tour of six possibilities that were 'Open For Inspection' today.  Lots of leg-work -- up and down stairs -- in and out of rooms -- and navigation through confusing streets in an unfamiliar city.

There was nothing out of the bag among today's lot, but we took dozens of photos and plenty of notes on the good, the bad and the ugly - the features, defects and deficiencies of each. 

And we came home tired, to appreciate anew our own four walls - and the comparative comfort and convenience we enjoy.  Not to mention the fact that we have more than enough space to swing the proverbial cat.

Comments

[Val]

Jude,
congratulations on getting heating for your pool! I too don't think this is a necessity (although maybe more so in Melbourne), but it sure would be nice to be able to use the pool in those shoulder seasons. It is character-building though to venture into an unheated pool, that's something I never thought I could do. The summer has been hot down here, today was another day in the high 30s, so the pool was very welcome. Splash!

I don't envy you the house hunting though, but I'm sure your daughter is VERY appreciative in her situation.

[pablo]

Gee, I guess I hadn't realized you were old enuf to have grown children. House hunting is an exciting and exasperating time. I remember those days.

[Buck 1936]

Do you know Jude I never realised a heated pool was needed on the Gold coast as we swim here in the sea even after Easter; still thinking about it, you are inland I guess if your Blogs name is hinterland dweller;
I don't think I would go in the briny at that time of the year still my son does.
On the other hand if it is Brisbane well yes I can understand it, it will be great when finished of course; I envy you a little.
I haven't been around much lately been crook.
A good post as always;
Buck

[Tabor]

If that is hubby in the side of the last, he needs a pat on the back and a nap! I remember doing this with my daughter on her first house and now she is looking for the upgrade as she has only two bedrooms and wants a second child in the coming years. Looking forward to hearing about the solar pool systems as they have not worked so well for a friend in Florida, but that was number of years ago.

[Tjilpi]

I would have that that you, Jude, would only swing a cat when outside your four walls. And - when the cat had gained sufficient speed - that you would then let it go, hoping that it would sail over a neighbouring fence or two.

[Jude]

No, regretfully, that isn't hubby in the photo, Tabor. Hinterland hubby has a paunch and a grey beard, and it was he who took the shot. He had been a reluctant starter in the day's venture, and was well and truly flagging by that stage, but his presence was vital. Both the kids and I depend on his input. He drives the rushed course from one house to the next, while I navigate. In an inspection, he has the expertise to pick up maintenance and structural details that I would miss.

[Lesley de Voil]

Hi Jude
Hope your family are keeping an eye on the NSBT/Airport Link projects, as there will be some resumptions, some changes to main road access, and also considerable fallout
(pollution) if the tunnels go ahead as presently mooted. This applies to north and south of the river.
See notunnels.org for plenty of detail.
Regards

[Marc]

Yeah! I thought we were meant to be tough! What is with a solar heated pool in QLD?