Rancho Relaxo is Launched!

No, I don't like the name but Tom, Elliot and Hannah say there's no going back; that's what they've named it and that's what it's staying! If anyone feels inclined to suggest an alternative please get your suggestions to me ASAP before the mailman fixes on RR.

Interesting weekend so far; Thursday was suposed to be 'get the keys day' but, surprise, the bank weren't ready to transfer the money! They haven't been too impressive throughout the whole saga. I came across the hill anyway and plonked myself in situ (I know where the keys are hidden). I rolled myself in a duvet and slept on the floor. The house speaks to itself (its basically a log cabin) but not too often and certainly not spookily. The birds and bunnies are cute and the sunrise was spectacular but the bugs are BIG (that's a one dollar coin for comparison).

I have a furniture van booked for tomorrow to move all the stuff out of the storage container. I have been in rented acommodation for the past 13 years (!) and some of the stuff hasn't been unpacked since I moved it from Canada in 2001. In anticipation of the furniture move I went through to the container today to move a whole load of pictures, however, Rabbie Burns had it right once again. The padlock was really stiff and I broke the key off in the lock. No way could I get it out so I had no option but to try to break in. I tried the simple approach - bought some hacksaw blades and a pair of pliars but the lock laughed at them. Next I bought an 18" pair of bolt cutters; no joy there either and the tip broke so they will be going back for a refund tomorrow. Fortunately just across the road from the containers is Magoo's Street Rods and Lloyd loaned me a thing with a carbon fibre circular blade. Away I went and sawed away. Amazing; the thing cut through the stainless steel creating a strange burning smell and then the blade exploded! Lucky I was wearing glasses and I hastily checked in the car mirror to see if I was in danger of succumbing to death by a thousand cuts. Nothing; quite disappointing, really.

Lloyd came up with a replacement blade and it did the trick; pictures transfered and are now on the walls.

Next I sussed out some fridges but didn't find one at the right price and size so went in search of a coffee maker. Woolworths had a Prima PMCM202 which looked interesting but it had no price on it. The customer service desk scanned it and announced $99.99. Well, you have to have good coffee don't you? I troddled (favourite word) off to the check out and the young lad scanned it. '$40' he announced. As I was paying by EFTPOS (Canadians read Interac) and New Zealand has abolished small demonination coins, it actually cost me $39.98 so, all in all, a bargain.

The entrance is looking good; you are welcomed by a pair of affectionate horses, a portrait of, and The Fever Van, by L S Lowry and the Rodin sculpure of Danaid - that doesn't show on the photo because its on the floor waiting to be elevated to the rosewood table when I rescue it from storage. Then on the wall opposite is a Fiji native axe and another Fiji implement which has two uses; you use the top end to crack someone's scull then use the pointy bits to eat their brains :)

Prediction for Scotland v All Blacks; 7-42. TV3 just had an interview with Scotland's oldest surviving international and the interviewer made the point that, at 101 years of age, the old guy is only two years younger than Scotland's losing streak against the AB's!!