The weather down on the fungus farm is foul. Strong winds driving the drizzle in horizontal sheets and the temp peaking out today at 14C. The clouds are clamped on to the hills so I can barely see the next ridge. The grass isn’t growing but the fungus is, with patches of toadstools appearing on the ground. This is allegedly the ‘Dry’ season. I have yet to be convinced. The one consolation I have is a hot shower.
Not just any hot shower. The most luxurious, satisfying, steaming, endless hot shower that anyone has ever enjoyed. I will have to justify that remark. It is luxurious the in ample water it provides at any temperature from icy cold to stingingly hot (thermostat set at 70C). I have it steaming at the moment to counter the chill weather. It is endless in that I am the sole user of a 200L tank. That is a long, long shower. The satisfying bit takes a bit more explaining.
I have with my own labour provided every input to this most enjoyable experience. I built the house which contains it, and the walls which enclose the shower. Much later on the in-laws from England tiled it for me. They are dead now, but their work still finds a use, as they would want. I designed and built the water system that provides the water for the shower. Pumped from the creek by a ram pump which uses the water itself to lift the water to a tank on the hill. I designed and built the hydro power system which dumps the unused electrical power into the hot water system to give me the free steaming hot water. I designed and built the drainage system which takes the water from the shower to a drainage trench which after six months or a year, seeps the ground-filtered water back to the creek it came from. Each shower I take reminds me of the laborious achievements in the past. If this sounds like self-congratulation ….. well it is. We should all look back sometimes and reward ourselves by recognising where hard work and stamina have brought us.
My example was a shower. Far more important is the long and consistent effort parents put into raising kids. Step by step, putting things in place to achieve financial security, to build a loving home, to share the time for fun, stories and experiences that will help the kids grow. The hard yards are now, out in the muddy paddock. The hot shower comes later.
Nice !!! … Marco (growing kid) is in Brisbane with the school orchestra in a statewide competition (Fanfare).. He played his cello on stage with the QSO with 6 other chosen students last week… I am proud.. He needs some more of your guitar tutelage though….