We have had another busy weekend at the Lodge.  Well when I say busy, Demo Man has been busy, Billie and I have been devoting ourselves to doing our best in the supporting side kick and eye candy roles.  We feel it is important that you work to your strengths.

Billie and I did walk down through Mum and Dad’s farm to the beach.  It is about 2.5 km. down the race, through some paddocks and then down Dept of Conservation Wetlands to the beach.  When we got there, we felt like we had all of the Kaipara Harbour to ourselves. 

Billie also got to see cows up close for the first time, she was very surprised to see them and they were equally surprised to see her.  They mutually agreed it was best to ignore each other.  Which I feel was a very wise decision as playing a chasing game could have ended very badly.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, Brett continued to pull things down.  He is actually at the getting ready stage for construction, which meant he battled with Insulfluff, removed nails and screws and started lifting up lino.  FYI a hell of a lot of insulfluff, nails and screws were used in the construction of The Lodge, and Brett has got to know each piece far more than he would like.

But it is all for the greater good, as we (I hope you appreciate the we there) are getting some awesome spaces developed that will be fantastic rooms.   The lounge, kitchen, dining area will be huge, but it should be a nice room to relax and be convivial in.

Brett has not been the only one who has been working hard at Tapora.  Dad who is in his 70th year, has been very busy under sowing, drenching lambs and calves for facial excema and gathering mushrooms.  With the autumn rains, the mushrooms have been growing like crazy and he hates the thought of all that free food going to waste.  So he has been bringing buckets of mushrooms home each day.  Unfortunately they can be a bit sandy at times, they require careful washing.  But it is well worth the effort, as they are delicious.

Yesterday he outdid himself and brought in a huge amount.  I froze 7 containers of mushrooms, I have a couple of boxes to take into work tomorrow and we discarded quite a few.  Hobbits would be going crazy at Tapora at the moment – that’s all I am saying.

So while this weekend’s work does not look as dramatic as the other two weekends,  progress is being definitely being made and we are definitely moving onwards and upwards.  And who knows maybe the following questions will be answered

• how many more tonnes of mushrooms can Dad gather until Mum’s freezer is full and she bans him from bringing anymore home?
• how many more tonnes of nails, screws and insulfluff are still lurking for Brett to dispose of?
• what exotic wildlife will Billie and I get to meet on our walk, and for how long can we get away with our roles of supportive side kicks and eye candy?
• and finally when will Brett get to use his tractor?