With a very cuddly little boy at my side it is hard to type about what is happening for us at Fangorn. I’d much rather snuggle into the crook in his neck and tickle his little belly.

Monte and I have been watching “Lord of the Rings” again – must be the tenth time! This time, we watched half a disc each night – with 6 discs, that makes 12 nights of wonderful viewing. I love the film, and want to read the books again (alas, they’re in storage; alas, I don’t have time). Fangorn Farm features heavily in the second film/novel and there are some great quotes. Gimli’s “What madness drove them in there?” is my favourite.

What madness drove us here?

I am revisiting the reasons I moved here. I remember how much I wanted to be in the countryside; I wanted to build a house, and not just an ordinary “plastic” house, but a good quality, energy efficient and space efficient house. Sometimes I think I must be mad. So many of my friends claim that they could never do what I have done and am doing. I can see why: it is hard work. It is hard living in this small space, although it certainly has its pros. For example, it is quick and easy to clean! However, I miss my friends and family back in Adelaide. It is not easy being far away from those I love. I would just adore a pot of tea shared over the table with my dearest, Amanda! I would love to sit on my nanna’s bed, and talk about the weather and the flowers outside her window. I would love to be picked up in my mum’s car and driven to a shopping centre and have a hot coffee and a quick look in a few choice shops before going back to her house, drinking tea and looking at family photos.

More than anything, I love to build a house with my baby.

When my mood wanes, my beloved is quick to want to pick up the pieces. Like many blokes, he wants to fix anything that is broken, so when he sees me feeling down, he sets out to fix my mood. Just recently, Monte set out to do just that. Getting a large sketch pad, he sat close to me and started talking about our garden for the new house. He got me thinking and talking about my plans and dreams for the garden, and before long I was excited again. Rambling pathways beyond a circular driveway (possibly featuring a kitsch cherub fountain) and a outdoor kitchen, complete with benches and barrells of herbs will feature in my garden, as well as delicious blooms of pink, purple and white. That kind of thing would make anybody happy!

Another thing that makes me happy is the daily spotting of the wedgetail eagle that flies over our property in the early afternoon. If I ever think for a moment that I’d be better off in the big smoke, I see the eagles and am reminded of the freedom I experience living here, surrounded by green and beauty and space. There are few things more magnificent than the soaring eagle, and I can experience this regularly, so blessed am I.

So it is here that I excitedly discuss what is happening at our house site, where the most wonderful man I know is slaving away to build a home for the family he cherishes.

Entitled “Pods,” this post is about the next development on the foundations of our little house. Although the house is not so little. With five bedrooms (in case we double our production – unlikely), it is a compact home that is very economical with its space. Lovely in built cupboards are snuck into every nook and cranny.

I digress. Such thoughts of ample storage are wonderful for me, given my present circumstances!

Pods.

Me, carrying a couple of pods

Monte can carry three pods (showoff!)

These environmentally unfriendly yet structurally sound polystyrene ‘pods’ form the platform of our foundations. I’ve mentioned before that we are using them because of the condition of our soil. First, the pods are locked in place with “podlocks.” We had to cut into the pods so we could fit them over areas where our pipes are. It wasn’t too difficult; once we measured where the pipe was, the cut and placement were both straight forward. Steel rebars were also positioned on each side of the pods, and tied into place with wire ties.

Georgia was very helpful; she fetched and carried the podlocks. Georgia is fascintated with the entire building process, and seems to want to know every detail. People who have told us of terrible memories of their parents’ renovations during their childhood are not as excited or interested as Georgia; she wants to be involved, and has been involved in decision making (the thing she is most insistent on at present is that she will have Austrian blinds in her bedroom – just like the room she stays in at Grandma’s house!).

This is me, tying a wire tie with Jamahl’s very nifty wire-tying tool. The hook of the tool is positioned in the wire loopss; when you pull upwards the wire tie twists securely. Monte’s hands were sore after tying 420 wire ties. Of course, my hands were sore as well, but according to Monte I only tied 6 ties (more like thirty, actually!).

This is detail of the outer section of the box. There are four rows of rebar, which are secured with wire ties. You can also see the bars resting on the podlock in the top right corner.

At present our foundations look like this. The wire mesh still needs to be lifted off the pods with ‘chairs.’ Also, we need to place the mesh over the areas where there are pipes. It will involve cutting the steel. Carrying the reo mesh was difficult; it was so heavy my arms are bruised! I felt bad not being bigger and stronger because it was so awkward carrying these sheets of mesh, but Monte assures me that I am a ‘tough chick’ and that he found them ‘bloody heavy’ as well.

There are still a few jobs to do before the concrete is poured. Monte is actually pulling the plastic sheeting out from under the box; it is neater and rainwater will flow away (it has been so wet). The chairs will be secured under the mesh and the rest of the mesh will be put in place. Hopefully we will be in contact with the concreter soon, and the process will continue to move at a good pace.

For now, we are excited that our straw is being baled today. We would’ve loved to go to the Midlands to see it being done, and to check the quality of the bales, but it was not to be; Georgia has swimming lessons and Matty is in childcare. Besides, driving all that distance for a few moments is hardly worth the trouble. We are now waiting on a truck to transport the bales here, where they will be stored on pallets, under a heavy-duty tarp. Mont has researched how to secure them properly in this way.

Good things, nice weather and the watching of the Eagles soaring in the early afternoon keep us afloat here at Fangorn!