Journal A Clothesline and a Glasshouse

Well our new rotary clothes line is now in place and in its original position where the aviaries used to be. It has a turning circle of 4 metres (circa. 13 feet) and it is galvanised then painted environmental green. With plastic line which we were not too keen of at first but it does have tighteners to take up any slack of stretched lines. The lines too are green. It has a 10 year guarantee and is an Australian Hills product much respected for over 40 years that I'm aware of.

I borrowed our neighbours post-hole borer and soon had the 2 ft. 6 in. hole in the ground to take the centre post. Then a bag of pre-mixed concrete, Pat holding the post and the spirit level and hey presto there it was in place. Oh, and the centre post base is in a sleeve socket and the whole rotary line can be easily lifted out of the ground if need be.

I have started building the glasshouse from the kit set which is all aluminium construction and everything fits together like a glove... so far. I have 4 sides constructed, no roof or door on yet and of course no glass fitted. I am building it on the concrete pad of the old aviaries, or at least the half pad that is still left. Then when I get the 4 walls joined together Pat, Tahlia and I will hopefully be able to lift it and fit the glassless glasshouse to its final position and complete the construction.

We have had a few fine days this week so I have been able to get on with the work. But rain is in the offing for the next 2-3 days. Rain showers mostly with the equinox winds still persisting. At least they are from the tropical north so the temperature is up around 18C. most of the time. The garden is growing rapidly.

Journal A Glasshouse, a Clothesline and a Dryer

Today I ordered a Glasshouse. I have been considering one for a while now. Deciding to retire soon and as I like gardening I will get lots of pleasure from the glasshouse, I think. It will be initially be 6 x 8 feet with provision for extension later if I so wish. To erect the glasshouse I need to move our large rotary clothesline to fit the glasshouse in. The clothesline is 15 feet across, the winding mechanism gears for elevating it have long since broken and the upright pole is bent at an angle from our son(s) and their mates swinging on the bars in their young days. So we will dig out the concreted in pole and pension off the clothesline for it must now be 40+ years old now. We moved into this house in 1967 and it was well worn even then by the previous owners.

We will get a smaller clothesline; again it will be a rotary one and erect it where our aviaries used to be. It will be one of those ones where a piece piping is inserted into the ground with the top of the pipe set at ground level and the clothesline piping can be inserted into the ground level pipe. The clothesline can then be pulled out and tucked away when not in use for we only use the clothesline now for large articles, sheets, blankets, washing Venetian blinds... we have many and other such things. The rotary arms fold away when not in use. Or will we be lazy and just leave it mounted?

I shall be sad to see the old clothes line go, it does bring back many memories.

The life our electric drier has also come to the end of its life the noise from it became unbearable. The appliance mechanic thought it was just the tumbler drum bearing worn out but when he came to repair it he found a piece of flexible curtain wire lodged internally probably many years ago and it had slowly worn the stainless steel drum rivets down until they popped out.

The drier was purchased in 1976 but as the appliance mechanic said this old drier was normally just like the old Holden car, they usually run forever. For those who don't know the Holden it is an Australian designed car, which would go round the mileage odometer and still give good service. They now belong GM Motors. Well another little piece of history to look back upon in a year or three.

Back to Secondary School tales next time.