Had a funny moment when I went to refill the coffee container and ended up making myself a very strong coffee!

Each day as this week goes on my shoulder feels better. I have also bruised in my ribs. No actual bruising to show for but quite sensitive. I just take it easy this week.

We avoid Palmerston all week, I am sure the builders will have it under control. I have a lot of decisions to make about kitchens, fittings and fixtures so we focus of the Bedford truck and getting organised. As you can see it is a Project with a capital.

Rowan sisters up the rotten beams and we replace the wooden floor. We are aiming to use as much of the materials we already have and spend minimal amount of money on polishing up this turd.

I plant out the island but I can’t plant the rest until the bobcat comes. Since that is a while away I have 200 natives to keep alive until then. All were on clearance and all were root bound. So here is me dividing a Harakeke (flax) from one pot into 6.

Also here are my awesome bruises!

Physiotherapist appointment went really well. After we headed to Timaru again. This time it is for a washing machine. Rowan and I are over using the laundromat and asking friends to do a load of washing. Please see last pic of Rowan loaded up with a washing machine and a dehumidifier. He had to also take the backpack most of the way because it was killing my shoulder!

While there I popped into Bunnings to talk more about the kitchen and bathrooms.

It has been in the works for months, we have attempted several times to go to a crop swap in Palmerston. Well here we are, what a great experience and a great way to keep in touch with the community. I got rid of a few items and got several back. A delicious homemade tomato sauce. Lots of fresh ingredients and making new friends. Joan (who we have known for years) came to take a look at our houses and is really interested in one. She wants to move into a more modern home and absolutely loves the layout. We have been meaning to show her for weeks but we haven’t been around. Also a new face Viv, who is looking to downsize and build herself so want some advice. Look at the awesome ceiling height. I am in love!

Beautiful sunrise on our early ride for breakfast. Jim was up for some breakfast with us before we did some work. We helped move a bus he is taking up to his other place and in exchange we got our fire pile pulverised by his mower and he did the lawns too. We ended up helping with a fence for him, talk about scratch each other’s backs!

Paperwork, so much paperwork. But look at these beauties. Porcini mushrooms! A few hundred dollars worth. Rowan and I are so excited to eat these. Our awesome neighbours Kathy and Andy gave us some amazing venison he hunted. I gave a koha of 2 cabbage trees and some cherry mint kombucha. The trees are for their new place which Andy was stoked about as he loves them. We have also had some great lamb from Leona’s dad who butchers a few sheep every year for his kids. Talk about spoilt! We ended up having one of the mushrooms with the venison! Delicious.

The bottle jack finally arrived and now our truck is level.