Fark, but it's hot ...

... 11pm, still 28 degrees, though it seems a cool sea breeze has kicked in.
I'm so glad we leave on the coast, not inland, it's even hotter there, and burning too boot.
This is why I insisted living within 6km of the CBD! (Actually, that's a fib, I just didn't want a long commute, but it's paid off in so many ways!)

It's true ...

... but you should worry anyway.

From here.

I'm a bit of an anarchist ...

... or I would be if I lived in much of the United States* (thanks to Lee over at Pink Granite for the linkie). Yes, that's right people, I dry my laundry OUTSIDE on a clothes line and everything (listen to the song!).
Our sheets, shirts, knickers and socks flap in the wind and the sun and dry without using any energy. Well, sometimes my arms get a little tired, and I've been known to snack after hanging about a whopping big load, but, seriously, not much actual electricity is expended getting the washing done at the Brown-Mouse House.
We don't actually own a dryer, this is by choice, it's only inconvenient from time to time, during a prolonged rain spell for instance. But when that happens I whip up the racks in the spare room and leave the window open.
Granted, this is no good for sheets, but we own so many sets of sheets we could go months without running out.
Our line is a folding, rotary Hills Hoist. We can fold it up, pull it out and set up our outside table in a couple of minutes.
Mr Brown & I grew up with fixed rotary Hills Hoists. We both swung from them and used them to make tents. Our parents didn't get dryers until well after we left home.
Now, I understand dryers are handy, particularly when you live somewhere where it snows 1/2 the year, but when the sun is shining, give it a go. Nothing smells better than sun-dried clothes. And there's not much better than climbing into a bed made up with crisp, smooth, sun-dried sheets. It's blissmaking.
A few tips to novices, learned from my mother, I pass them to you.
* Peg your socks by the toes, not the tops.
* Use 3 pegs across the top of towels, it makes the dry shape better.* Bright colours and dark colours, peg them inside out, the sun fades things. You can use this to your advantage though, sun bleaching yellowing whites.* When it's important to keep something's "shape", hang it on an old hanger from the line.* Don't use wooden pegs, if they get wet they grew mold & mildew and can mark your laundry.
* Beware of bat poo and early morning bird poo, bring your washing in before it gets dark.
* And finally, enjoy the bringing it in experience. Feel and sniff your sun-dried laundry. Stand outside enjoying a quick shot of vitamin D folding your laundry straight off the line, it reduces the need to iron. And, if you have nice neighbours, chat over the fence while hanging out/bringing in. If your neighbours are dicks, turn your back and sing to yourself, who cares what they think anyway!




* Or in most strata-title homes in NSW, an issue that makes me froth with rage.

Fun Theory ...

This is sad ...

... Poor wee fellas.
I had some pet axolotls way back when I first left home. To make up for the loss of the family cats, dogs, birds ... they were not a very good substitute. I never quiet warmed to them, as I have done to fish. I've loved long and hard fish, wept over the death of fish, so it wasn't their non-furriness that was their downfall. I think it was that they appeared to be terribly, terribly stupid. They were very hard to feed and made a terrible mess of their tank.
In the end, my flatmate's cat got them out of the tank, in the night. I rescued them, revived and healed them, and gave them away to a bikie. They were a gift for his "lady wife".

On taking your own bags to the supermarket ...

... We do, sometimes. Other times we "forget" because we need the plastic ones hold the kitty litter leavings, I can't bring myself to put the "stuff" straight into the bin, just can't.

My favourite bit is when he releases the dove.

What I did on my break ...

... Day 3.
I made initial enquiries about installing a Chili Pepper hot water saver in the kitchen, made a cake (simple butter cake) with fantastic passionfruit icing (I found some more under all the leaves), spent some quality outside time with Ping & Small and read a book. One doesn't want to over-extend oneself!

This morning I took my very last shower ...

... I should clarify, my very last shower with water heated by an ancient, inefficient, energy-guzzling, Jurassic, electric storage hot water system. A very nice young man is installing a slim, saucy, super-efficient, gas powered instant hot water system, as I type. Ping is supervising him (through glass) most diligently. Lucky we put in that window door.
On a completely different topic, braised duck legs with leeks, does that sound bliss-in-a-bowl or what?
Edited to add - bugger me but it's cold, dropped to 17 degrees (yes I know, I'm an acclimatised wimp). No gas, no water, I've only just managed to make a mug of tea to wrap my pale blue hands around, brrrrr.
Edited to add (again) - all in, and working splendidly, hot water gushing like a pro. Apparently, should I ever feel like being a wasteful environmental terrorist, I could stand under the hot water in the shower until I DIED and it still wouldn't have run out - continuous you see ;). And popped the heater on too, it's dropped to 16 unspeakable degrees (sorry Lee).

Is it cheating ...

... if, during earth hour, I tape the 80 treasures show on the ABC? All the lights will be off, Mr Brown & I intend to wander to a good viewing point and watch the city go dark. But I really don't want to miss the 80 treasures show, something about that presenter really tickles me. I think it my be his boundless, energetic enthusiasm.
Oooo, and lookie, you can type bunnies!
(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

Edited to add - Fzzzt. What a fizzer, Mr Brown & I wandered down to the bridge over the railroad to see what the city looked like sans lights. Pfft, you could still see it. I don't know exactly what I was expecting but it was something a little more dramatic than this.

Lights out! My bottom (photo thanks to smh ...)

Still it was kind of fun to eat dinner by candlelight, we may do that more often.