19 Nov 2009 9:59 PM

Haymaking season is upon us - the forecast is for 94+ temperatures over the
next 3 days, chance of a thunderstorm, which produces lightning, in a
newly classified "catastrophic" fire assessment period.

But one must make hay while the sun shines, so as my brother in law is
cutting his, he has offered to do some for me as well, an offer not to be refused!

So the task of the afternoon (after work) was to collect the hay rake from his
paddock. That simply meant taking the tractor down through 8 gates, attaching
rake to tractor & returning - not a problem, I had an hour's daylight.
Well ........ the rake was found - a series of 5 wheels, with spring steel spokes
which, as they are dragged at an angle, transfer the cut grass to a 2 ft wide
pile, which the baler scoops up & compacts.
Attaching the rake to the tractor was relatively incident free, but once on, for
some reason the tractor would not lift it more than a foot off the ground, so I
was unable to depress the rear end for transport, meaning the front rake
was way out to starboard.
Now all the gates are 12 ft, & if your combined width is 11 ft10 ins -
not a problem; 12 ft 1 in - a definite problem! I didn't have a ruler, but the first
gate had a rear tyre making friends with the LH gate post, whilst the tynes
of the rake were bending back after contacting the other side.
More profanity & juggling saw it squeeze through.
The next - not a scratch! 3rd - at an angle, so i couldn't hit it square, "twang",
first rake now runs eccentrically - Ron will NOT be pleased!

By this time the light had faded, with 5 more gates to go - grrrrrr
2 more with minimum fuss, then the lights of the ute appeared - hence the title!
The next gate - no way is it going through - not even in the light - so there
it - Tractor & rake- shall stay, until Ron can work out how I stuffed up, yet again!
The ute saved a long walk!

Add Comment   |   View Comments (7)

9 Nov 2009 9:01 PM

And this time it was on! (see previous blog)
Well - where to start - why, registration, of course!
Nothing more embarrassing than winning an item & then to be asked for your number - "Uhh - what number?"
Then - as yo've arrived early, you have time to go up & down the rows,
fossicking, opening, testing, & noting - cause no way you can remember where that bit was 5 mins later!
The auction starts - don't need any white goods, so I can relax; nor do i need a
queen size bedroom ensemble - head with radio! Side drawers, separate set of drawers - & a BIG mirror - "does it hug to the ceiling?" - no, lets not ask that!
What - $down to $20 & no bids?? - Hmmm - I could cut it up & use the drawers...

OK - now we're moving into interesting stuff. In a move that became typical,
& as a result acquisitive, if an item didn't sell they put it up with the next one.
No-one wanted the barbecue, but I wanted the garden kneeler (my knees
aren't what they used to be - used to be my ears) so I'm now the proud
possessor of both - yep - now i have 4 BBQ's!
And so the accumulation begins: 3 gas cylinders, a hoe, mattock, and something
called an adze - sounded as though it could help with the accounting, but I can't find a keyboard on it anywhere! - a fire-fighting knapsack, and a fire STARTING
gizmo - it's in the picture somewhere, & has the potential for a future blog!

the meat saw - no blade nor belt, but those are minor faults - got it!
looking at my list it appears I got some frames - don't remember them, nor can I find same - hmmmm. A box of junk, but hidden in 1 corner 6 syringes & 15 needles - $10 , a good pick up - now I need a sick cow.
Poly pipe fittings - one can never have too many (but one never has the right one) - they doubled up - 4 boxes! memo - check if you have room!
A bottle jack - yep - never know when your bottle will need a jack -
another double up - 4 hand saws I didn't need & a tool box I (well, didn't need, but wanted); oh oh - deja vu - another tool box - AND saws!
AEG power drill - good name, 600 watts, go for it (I tried it tonight - sounds like an impact hammer until it reaches full revs - not a good sign)

And so it continued, some goodies, some crap, LOTS of spanners - and at the
end of the day, the iron fencing panel helped hold the overflow on the back.
I even ended up with what i think is a fish trap - either that or it's a string version
of the Sydney Opera House! - now when Loves comes, pole in hand, we can have
a competition - though how you'd tie it onto the fishing line has me beaten!


The return home involved an attempt to get it all in the shed (away from the house) before she who must be obeyed realised I was home - didn't work!
"How much did THIS cost?" - well how do you answer a question like THAT???
so you estimate on resale value - with a good discount (works for me!)

Pics to illustrate in my profile, with 1 as a query -
there is a photo of 3 items - what are they for?

Sadly, the bedroom suite didn't fit ...........

Add Comment   |   View Comments (5)

31 Oct 2009 8:07 PM

At my age there are only 2 things that can now make my heart speed up.
1) the words "Clearing Sale" in the local paper - it means a farm has been sold,
& the contents not going with the property are to be auctioned.
There's one on tomorrow!   
My brother-in-law goes to these to look & chat - I don't think he's ever
            bought anything! - whereas I am the opposite -
                  a day at a sale without a purchase is a day wasted.
The list: amongst it we find -  bike trailer (great for carting picnic goodies)
            4 portable panels - I have 16, that would make 20!
          Band Saw - cutting up wood, sheep or cows
          qty tools - mmm- who knows what treasures may lurk behind those words
          trotting & Horse harness Gear - well I hope that's on about lunch time!
          2 large shelves on wheels - ??? - well, if the price is right .........
          qty books - I shall try to restrain myself - pic is my study       
        Antique drawers - who would bid on grandma's unmentionables? - really!
          Cast Iron Bath Tub - could send to PJ - he keeps coal in his!

oh - & -  2) ?  - well, she knows, but THAT would be telling!

Add Comment   |   View Comments (13)

31 Oct 2009 1:34 PM

1st November - 2am - wind 'em back folks -
Now we have to recalculate who is where when!
So - if you're on the east coast of USA & I'm on the east coast of Oz,
I THINK you are 20 hrs behind - but to make it simple, as I'm in Oz I
just take 4 hrs off the time here & switch the am to pm or vice versa.
So - it's 2:30 PM Sat here, which makes it 11:30pm in  Atlanta - on Sunday
in the states it will be 10.30pm.
So - to see if it makes sense -
what time will it be next week in Oz when it's 3:30pm in NYC?
(clue - I'm driving to work)
If you're in the Old dart - my commisserations!

Do you like the clock ? - I have one (of course) - few do - (look again)

Add Comment   |   View Comments (10)

13 Oct 2009 10:09 AM

I went to pick up my mail this morning, & to my surprise found a Post Card!
It appears our Kkkkkatie has decided Oz is far too far, & opted for Zakynthos
instead - how she'll get on with the locals is all Greek to me!
I've never heard of it either, but it looks to be the closest of the Greek Isles
  to Sicily.
She must be doing ok - how could one not, with all that sand, surf, & -
the rest is up to Katie!

Add Comment   |   View Comments (4)