Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Easter 2015 has come & gone
Easter has come & gone but I couldn't resist this one - hunting for eggs is never boring with a sneaky rabbit.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Hi to all The Old Post Office enthusiasts. I shall, with Dan's input, try to keep the marvelous story of this property, and the families adventures, alive. Though I am missing Edwina and her natural writing flair, and have yet to master the art of adding photos, this I feel is a story worth continuing.
My name is Anna, and I am Dan's Mum, and Lucinda's Granma. Very recently my retired husband David and I have taken on the delight of share ownership and management of The Old Post Office property with Dan.
This turn of events follows my years of devoted looking at country land/homes to potentially purchase and move to. I had never been able to make a firm decision about letting our current comfy cottage near the beach go. As a keen, though a little erratic gardener, I like nothing better than growing a successful crop of eatables to cook up or share with family and friends. Our small suburban block is well planted with easy care native plants, and can be quite productive when I have my act together.
When one is in the latter years, and still harbours dreams of renovating an old Queenslander, and living (at least a little) off the land, the practicalities of what the old bod can do need to be at the front of decision making. Hence after falling in love with The Old Post Office property, (it has felt like home anyway) we threw in our lot with Dan to help keep the family property alive and well. We have been able to keep our lower maintenance cottage near the beach (with easy access to all medical facilities, many coffee shops, stores, etc.). It means more driving than I am sometimes comfortable with (mainly due to other drivers who have not learned simple road courtesy or rules!), but my heart sings when I/we arrive.
The surrounding beauty, wildlife, slower pace of life, and the more physically demanding chores on an acreage is a healthy contrast to suburban living (and we keep our local masseurs and physio in business). I just have to educate myself on all things farm - like driving a reconditioned, bright red 1963 Massey Ferguson tractor to slash the flat paddocks (NO WAY I am going near a slope after viewing Internet videos of tractor accidents!).
Also the 'farm dog' Maisie was brought up in the suburbs, and is a little dippy - chases shadows instead of rounding sheep, but is lovable if one can get used to her manic anti-any engine noise phobias. She has many redeeming qualities - not least is that when I am in the garden with Lu, I will always have a faithful snake guard dog. Lucinda loves to run wildly with Maisie around the large mowed house yard, and throw tennis balls to fetch (forever if Maisie had her way). Our little ancient maltese/yorkshire terrier cross Buster looks forward to our car trips there, and adores Lucinda. Maisie and he are quite companionable even though our dog is beyond games. He is keen then to go home and sleep all day after a visit.
The Big House is having the old internal doors (of which there are many) stripped, sanded and painted up by Dan to suit the heritage era of the home. Not much spare time for him when working so many hours away. For Dan, being an available Dad is first priority when Lucinda is there, and they enjoy much around the house and yard together. I can't wait for the big verandah unveiling when the hideous 1970's aluminium cladding is removed to reveal the bones of the verandah.
So slowly, but surely little things are constantly being done to make a property more of a functional home for Dan, and his daughter has the best of both worlds with her loving parents.
My name is Anna, and I am Dan's Mum, and Lucinda's Granma. Very recently my retired husband David and I have taken on the delight of share ownership and management of The Old Post Office property with Dan.
This turn of events follows my years of devoted looking at country land/homes to potentially purchase and move to. I had never been able to make a firm decision about letting our current comfy cottage near the beach go. As a keen, though a little erratic gardener, I like nothing better than growing a successful crop of eatables to cook up or share with family and friends. Our small suburban block is well planted with easy care native plants, and can be quite productive when I have my act together.
When one is in the latter years, and still harbours dreams of renovating an old Queenslander, and living (at least a little) off the land, the practicalities of what the old bod can do need to be at the front of decision making. Hence after falling in love with The Old Post Office property, (it has felt like home anyway) we threw in our lot with Dan to help keep the family property alive and well. We have been able to keep our lower maintenance cottage near the beach (with easy access to all medical facilities, many coffee shops, stores, etc.). It means more driving than I am sometimes comfortable with (mainly due to other drivers who have not learned simple road courtesy or rules!), but my heart sings when I/we arrive.
The surrounding beauty, wildlife, slower pace of life, and the more physically demanding chores on an acreage is a healthy contrast to suburban living (and we keep our local masseurs and physio in business). I just have to educate myself on all things farm - like driving a reconditioned, bright red 1963 Massey Ferguson tractor to slash the flat paddocks (NO WAY I am going near a slope after viewing Internet videos of tractor accidents!).
Also the 'farm dog' Maisie was brought up in the suburbs, and is a little dippy - chases shadows instead of rounding sheep, but is lovable if one can get used to her manic anti-any engine noise phobias. She has many redeeming qualities - not least is that when I am in the garden with Lu, I will always have a faithful snake guard dog. Lucinda loves to run wildly with Maisie around the large mowed house yard, and throw tennis balls to fetch (forever if Maisie had her way). Our little ancient maltese/yorkshire terrier cross Buster looks forward to our car trips there, and adores Lucinda. Maisie and he are quite companionable even though our dog is beyond games. He is keen then to go home and sleep all day after a visit.
The Big House is having the old internal doors (of which there are many) stripped, sanded and painted up by Dan to suit the heritage era of the home. Not much spare time for him when working so many hours away. For Dan, being an available Dad is first priority when Lucinda is there, and they enjoy much around the house and yard together. I can't wait for the big verandah unveiling when the hideous 1970's aluminium cladding is removed to reveal the bones of the verandah.
So slowly, but surely little things are constantly being done to make a property more of a functional home for Dan, and his daughter has the best of both worlds with her loving parents.
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Addendum
Hi.
I planned never to write another entry here, but with all the support we received along the way for this journey it seemed a bit mean not to come back and let you know we are all alive and well.
Dan and I parted ways at the start of last year and my time at The Old Post Office came to an end, which may seem a little abrupt to you but possibly less so to us.
I moved back to Brisbane with Lucinda, and am still here, living a very different life from the one I shared on this blog, but a great life nonetheless.
Dan has taken over the renovation and continues to transform the house, with a bit of help from Lucinda every second weekend.
He has mentioned one day taking over this space to keep telling the story of the house - I hope he will.
I've had a few people ask if it was the scope of the renovation that ended our marriage and I always say no. It probably didn't help, but it wasn't the reason.
For now, onward and upward. Thanks for following along with our adventures and I wish you all the best with your own.
Edwina
I planned never to write another entry here, but with all the support we received along the way for this journey it seemed a bit mean not to come back and let you know we are all alive and well.
Dan and I parted ways at the start of last year and my time at The Old Post Office came to an end, which may seem a little abrupt to you but possibly less so to us.
I moved back to Brisbane with Lucinda, and am still here, living a very different life from the one I shared on this blog, but a great life nonetheless.
He has mentioned one day taking over this space to keep telling the story of the house - I hope he will.
I've had a few people ask if it was the scope of the renovation that ended our marriage and I always say no. It probably didn't help, but it wasn't the reason.
For now, onward and upward. Thanks for following along with our adventures and I wish you all the best with your own.
Edwina
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