A review, a snake, and The RUC
I’m putting my latest update below my thank you to Elisa (Lost Inside the Covers) just in case you didn’t want to be confronted with the image of a snake when you opened my post.
Hey, no need to thank me!
Elisa has been kind enough to review my latest novel The Eleventh Question so if you’re interested in reading reviews and want to know if she loved, hated, or was indifferent to the book, please feel free to take a look…
Update on the Old Farmhouse
I’ve almost recovered from my road trip and there’s a lot to do out at the farm. I was pulling out the bedroom ceiling yesterday only to be greeted by an intruder who was happily feeding on the rats that had moved in when we moved out. He wasn’t too happy with me for disturbing his dinner. He is Boiga irregularis (and I thought I was going to be irregular when I spotted him). I didn’t have time to grab the camera (as I took off screaming doing a silent rain-dance from the room), but I‘ve put a picture of his daddy (below) from Wikipedia.
Hey, buddy – can’t you see I’m trying eat?!!!
Because I don’t like killing things (and he’s not a poisonous snake), I left him there to digest his meal. The rat’s nest has been completely cleared out so (hopefully) he’ll find another vacant homestead to reside in before I walk back inside for the last time…
…due to the Big Change of Plans
The farmhouse is now completely stripped bare and unfortunately this has revealed some structural damage from the last cyclone. We mentioned this to a friend of ours who told another friend and so on and so forth and before we knew it – we were offered another farmhouse to put in its place.
So the skeleton of the old farmhouse is coming down (and will receive a fitting burial) *insert tears here* and a beautiful Queenslander that was once a wartime homestead converted to a Rugby Union Club will be moved into its place. From this day forth our home will be known as The RUC (Rugby Union Club). Hubby is happy because it has a bar, a Foosball table and a cool-room for the beers.
So there you have it. Once the RUC has been moved onto the land (with a fresh lick of paint and new roof) I’ll post more pics of it.
A lot of equipment is needed to move this beauty. It should be on its way to the farm in the next few weeks. If I can get pics of them carrying it on the truck I’ll post them here.
The RUC
I hope you’re having a wonderful new year!!
Hi Dianne, I’m going to hold off reading the review until I read the book. I’ll write a review, too, and as I do that I’ll copy, ops I meant read, Elisa’s review. I am anxious to read more of your house moving adventure. That is a huge house to move – two story!!! Wow!! I’m so happy for you. I’d be happy to get rid of the snake, too!!!! Ours are poisonous here, but in 12 years I’ve seen one dead little one, and saw that the cats cornered one live one. So I don’t worry as much as I used to. Love this post!!!
Thanks, Marsha! You’re wonderful doing reviews for me – I don’t know where you find the time – but I’m really looking forward to it
The RUC is two story – but they don’t take the bottom bit because it’s besa block and they just knock that down and take it away. It’ll still be high off the ground, but there will be nothing underneath (to start with) and we can build that in if we want in the future.
I’m so glad you love this post – I’m so excited I’m jumping out of my skin!!!
I bet. When is it happening? Where are you living in the mean time. You probably wrote it, but I forgot. You can just send me the link if you wrote it already!!!
I’m living at my friend, Joey’s place in the town. He offered the house to me because he went to live at the farm (next door to our farm) when his dad died so he could look after his mum. It’s a beautiful little house so I’m very comfortable
I’m hoping the RUC will be moved within the next two weeks
“Hoping” is the critical word here….
Yeah!!! Then it must take a little bit to get it set up, but basically it will be ready to go. I’m so happy for you!!!
Thank you, Marsha! There is much less work in the RUC than in the old farmhouse (at least it’s got walls)
Yes!!!! That’s a big help. Our little house had walls, but we tore them all down to create a new floor plan. Lots of work!
A ‘new’ house AND a VIP club membership…pretty high falutin’!! Must be very exciting. Well wishes to enjoy!
I’m just too excited – like a kid at Christmas! Woo hoo
It’s a tough decision, but I think I’d rather have snakes around than rats (as long as the snakes aren’t poisonous). I’m glad you didn’t have one of those accidents from the previous post while ripping that ceiling down!
Me too! Could you imagine – I knocked myself out with a rake and woke up to find a snake wrapped round my face! LOL!
What an amazingly eventful life you lead! First of all, you live in Australia which in and of itself qualifies you to be on par with Indiana Jones. You drive through the outback. Come home to face snakes! And then end up getting a new house that used to be The Rugby Union Club all the while writing fabulous novels. You are my hero Diane!! That’s all there is to it!!
WOW – thanks Linda! I never thought I’d be anyone’s hero – ever!
Woo Hoo *happy dance*
Well you are! I have a feeling there’s much excitement and laughter in store for us readers!
I SO agree with Linda Vernon. I couldn’t have said it better, so I won’t even try!
Thank you, Donna! I really feel like dancing down the street now like Fred Astaire – all these beautiful compliments
What a busy time for you… I’d scamper at the sight of that snake too.
I ran as fast as my legs could carry me!
Dianne,
I’m so glad you put up this post. I tuned into your blog kind of late in the story and I wasn’t getting the gist of what you are doing out there.
Now that I know what the RUC is I am so eager to see pix of the move. We have a TV program here that my Son-in-Law introduced me to about “home movers” — professionals who do just what you are having done. It’s always so interesting even though they pack the TV program with all manner of unnecessary angst and drama (after all — TV is all about entertainment, not news).
Good on you.
While I’m on the subject…. have you said what part of OZ you are relocating to. Not mailing address, but general environs? I spent a month there some years ago and would like to appreciate something of the geography and setting in my brain if possible.
anyway…. keep writing
We are in Cairns. Very warm, tropical climate
The house we are moving is classic Queenslander (built sometime between 1870 and 1918) and I’m going to have to do some digging to find out more about it’s history. I’ve never seen a home-moving show, but I’m sure we have something like that on one of the tv channels here. I’m going to try and get pictures of the move and re-location (am I’m really hoping it happens within the next week) 
A friend of our who lives on another farm had it done several years ago and they should have filmed that. The truck carrying the house dropped into the creek because their bridge collapsed and then they had to get it out and stumped in the ground before a cyclone hit. Now that was a drama! I hope we don’t experience anything similar to that!
Cairns — We got a little way North of Brisbane. (Warana) I also have a friend (farmer) who lived somewhere near Gladstone.
Let’s keep the truck out of the ditch! Don’t need that kind of sturm & angst.