It is getting quite exciting at present here at Fangorn.

With concrete scheduled to be poured on Tuesday, Monte is finalising the footings (not so much footings as a box) for the big day. The concreter had a look at the work he has done so far, and the only two things Monte needed to fix was (a) getting the plumber to cover the pipes with foam and (b) put an extra brace down where the edges of the box meet. The council inspection will take place shortly too.

Our water tanks will be moved before the concreting is done. We will have them filled up once they are in position. To do this, Monte will be making a pad of sand and will ensure it is level before Wally pushes them into place. We’re getting the septic tank installed on Monday, I think, which is exciting.

It is all exciting. Once the concrete is down we can pretty much start putting up the frame. I cannot wait to see the skeleton of my new house! One thing I am excited about is having the pergolas built. Once they are built I will start planting vines, because the sooner we plant them, the sooner we will have a shade of green on the south and north sides of the house. Monte has always dreamed of a beer garden like this, and I have always wanted verandahs, so our dreams are coming together nicely.

Speaking of together, we’re about to celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary, which is something I am very excited about! We met in 1993 – we were but teenagers – and I am really proud of everything we have achieved since.

Whilst I have been stressed making choices about french doors and window seats, there are much bigger problems in the world. It seems unfair that I am so blessed, even with my little cabin in the forest. When people are losing their jobs, houses and everything, I feel glad to have what I have.

It has taken three weeks for me to settle back here in rural south Tasmania, where greenery still abounds and a hot day is something less than 30 degrees. I have affirmed the reasons of moving here: not having a mortgage, beginning to grow more of our own food, and building an energy efficient house is certainly something worth considering, given the outlook for our future. I don’t believe it will be the doom and gloom that some people foresee, but when people say that this “economic downturn” will make the Great Depression “look like a walk in the park,” surely things are set to be pretty awful, soon. I am glad that we are safe on our property – safe even if our jobs are lost, because we have no debt to speak of. Safe, because we can grow our own food when we need to. It would have been so hard for the families in the Great Depression – we have all seen films that represent some of that hardship. I do not want to have a similar experience with my family. If I can feed my family every day, that will make me happy.

There have been a few power-cuts recently due to strong winds, and Adelaide surely has had a blackout or two during this heatwave. Yet we almost chuckle to ourselves, as we do not lose power. Strong winds give us more power by recharging our batteries, as does hours and hours of sunlight. It is very satisfying, knowing that we are being responsible for the energy we use by using renewable energy.