Here in Tasmania it’s (supposed to be) Autumn (but we’re still getting temperatures up around 26 – 30 C. What gives???) so I spent the last couple of days doing some pre-Winter jobs.
Firstly I got my ladder & really long flue brush from hibernation in the shed, chucked it up on the roof & cleaned the chimney.
I had also noticed with some heavy rain recently that most of our guttering was overflowing. We’ve been in this house 4 years & I’ve never done them before. By the amount of what was mostly a build up of dirt I’d say the previous 20 tenants have never done it either. They were all well & truly blocked up. All up I had 6 large bucketfuls of stuff just from the guttering.
OK Mister Winter, I am ready to go. Bring it on!!!
That is such a wretched job — but once it’s done, the water will actually flow out of the gutters properly instead of down the sides of the house. So, well done, Tony. I expect the extract would be great for your mulch pile.
Yes it was mostly just dirt & moss so the whole lot went into the compost
What Penni says. Is the dirt a buildup of soot from the chimney, or just years’ worth of composted leaves?
I suppose it’s warmer where you live than up on top of that hill in photo#2? Must be windier up there.
No leaves as we don’t have any big trees close to the house. It’s mostly just dirt from dust & stuff that the wind blows onto the roof then washes into the gutters when it rains. Plus moss & small particles of old roof paint. It does get quite windy here at times when there is a northerly blowing in from the ocean. Launceston is in the Tamar River valley & up on the surrounding hills does get the wind even stronger.
Oh dear. Did you just tell winter to bring it on? See you when you thaw out in nine or ten months …
I am a cool climate person. Tasmanian Summer (and Autumn) isn’t supposed to get as hot as it has been lately. Darn global warming!!!
Same here. 30 yesterday.
Isn’t it silly, I want cool Autumn weather
Reckon will be a cold winter to so you’ll need the chimney clear Tony. I like my new fire lighter……..pick up the remote & go “click”, gas is wonderful though do miss the flames of a wood fire.
Wood makes a lot of mess & a lot of work but I do love the warmth from a wood fire.
The first photo looks like what Billy Connolly would recognise as part of his childhood memories of first aid equipment in Scotland.
A wire brush and….. detol
I didn’t understand your comment, so I Googled “Billy Connolly Wire Brush”. Ha Ha Ha Hilarious!!!!
can I hire you at an hourly rate? My gutters could use a scrubbin’.
No problem, however it would be a very expensive hourly rate to cover air fares to America
Good that you’ve got it done. Now you can take a break. We spent 6 hours pulling up weeds to get ready for summer. Oh my aching back… and arms.
I spent yesterday afternoon weeding. Still got more to do but it’s raining today. Rest & relaxation day by the looks of it
I miss the wood fire too – central heating just aint the same!!!
We got some sort of fiber stuff for our gutters. http://www.needle-leafwedge.com/
I like Winter as well. Summer is just too hot.
Summer & Autumn never used to be this hot here in Tasmania
To be honest, Im getting sick of labor saving devises. I would love to hack away at the wood. Building up strong shoulder and back muscles in the process.
But sadly, no need for a fire in western Sydney.