We've been busy again today

@JudyEv (382068)
Rockingham, Australia
February 11, 2021 6:39am CST
Today, we’ve been making a ‘cage’ to place on our new fire unit. It will hold a small container of extra fuel for the pump. We haven’t had to buy anything to make this. We had some small scraps of tubing and some mesh which was all we needed. In the photo Vince is using the cut-off saw to cut some tubing to the correct length. On the cement, near his feet you can see the mesh which we used on the floor and sides of the cage. It’s all been welded together and the whole lot painted with Galmet, which is a rust inhibitor. I’ll post a photo next time. We emptied out the tanks and refilled the front tank from our big rainwater tank. That worked well so we know we can do that if we need to. The pump is really effieicnet and filled the tank is around two minutes. However, we then couldn’t get the trailer unhooked from the car. A thousand litres of water weighs a ton so such a weight pushing on the car meant we couldn’t unhitch it. So we equalised the water, running half back into the rear tank. It’s good to know about these things before we have a ‘real’ fire. You can see in the photo how close the bush is to our place. The boundary is where the bush starts.
20 people like this
22 responses
DE
@DaddyEvil (174430)
• United States
11 Feb 21
I can't believe you're forcing Vince to do so much work! Hasn't he earned a little rest yet? You two are moving right along with this. I hope it turns out to be wasted effort.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Feb 21
I'm not forcing him at all. He's very lucky to have me helping. I cut myself on the mesh, got sparks on me from the grinder and Galmet all over me because I had to do the painting. And you're right - it will be wasted effort but the 'journey' is part of the pleasure.
2 people like this
DE
@DaddyEvil (174430)
• United States
11 Feb 21
@JudyEv Well, he doesn't look like he's enjoying himself in that photo. Although, I will agree he's very lucky to have you there with him, whether you were helping or not. Just having good company while working is worth extra effort!
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Feb 21
@DaddyEvil Thank you very much for the lovely compliment. I think I'm good company too!
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Ptrikha_2
@ptrikha_2 (49753)
• India
12 Feb 21
That is a lot of work. It will take more time. Here there are certain allergies and cold/flu in the family and well not a good feeling when we have such conditions in the family.
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Ptrikha_2
@ptrikha_2 (49753)
• India
13 Feb 21
@JudyEv Yes I am trying to have warm water in between and trying to take some rest. However, I could not sleep well last night due to nose blockage. Today is slightly better but flu takes its own time.
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Ptrikha_2
@ptrikha_2 (49753)
• India
13 Feb 21
@JudyEv Trying to rest but not able to sleep properly because of nose blockage and even with Vicks Vaporub. I might be able to complete my sleep in the coming days though.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Feb 21
It would be very easy to become paranoid over the least little symptom. I do hope you all stay well. These are such uncertain times.
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Always smiling
@allknowing (153530)
• India
12 Feb 21
Looking at how close the bush is I think you did the right thing - just in case.
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Always smiling
@allknowing (153530)
• India
12 Feb 21
@JudyEv Hope that occasion will never arise Judy.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Feb 21
@allknowing Thanks. We hope so too.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Feb 21
We might lose the woodshed (in the background) and perhaps the workshop but the house has a bigger area of 'nothing' around it.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Feb 21
That's great you'll have that for the extra fuel. It's good you know how much you can handle with the car.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Feb 21
@JudyEv Yes, it does.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Feb 21
It makes a lot of sense to work out how everything fits and works etc before you have the stress of a fire.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
11 Feb 21
Always good to keep busy. You are both getting lots done.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Feb 21
We like having something on the go. Otherwise we just sit way too much.
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CarolDM
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
12 Feb 21
1 person likes this
Scott Andersen
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
12 Feb 21
watching this system being built is truly a lot of fun. I am dying to see the finished product!
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Feb 21
It's finished now and I've just put up a discussion and photo. Don't forget to say how nicely it's painted.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Feb 21
@DocAndersen Aw shucks. You guessed.
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Scott Andersen
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
12 Feb 21
@JudyEv i take it you painted it!
1 person likes this
snowy
@snowy22315 (208906)
• United States
11 Feb 21
So ambitious!! I am lucky if I can persuade myself to do stuff 15 or 20 minutes a day.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Feb 21
We've had days and days where we've just sat in our chairs all day. It's good to have stuff like this that needs to be done or we'd never move either.
1 person likes this
OceanTiara
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
11 Feb 21
You two could run a corporation I tell you Judy
1 person likes this
OceanTiara
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
11 Feb 21
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Feb 21
Our friends sometimes call us 'Team Evans' which we get up a head of steam!
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Four Walls
@FourWalls (86703)
• United States
11 Feb 21
Something I wouldn’t think of. I don’t think I have ever driven a vehicle with something in tow in my life. And I’m too old to start now! I hope all of this hard work you’re doing is wasted, which will mean you never have to USE your fire plan!!
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Feb 21
Exactly but hopefully having done all this work will guarantee we never get a fire. We will use the unit when we burning broken branches, and leaf litter, etc. I've towed a trailer but not the caravan. This weighs over two ton when loaded so it's not exactly light.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502466)
• Italy
11 Feb 21
Vince is very busy doing a good job. I hope you can finish this project and have some rest, summer is hot in your country.
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Anna
@LadyDuck (502466)
• Italy
12 Feb 21
@JudyEv I thought that you can only work early in the morning. Here it is pretty cold, they announced snow but they missed and this time I am very glad.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Feb 21
If it's very hot, we go out early then knock off during the worst of the heat. Most of what we do can wait a day or two if need be.
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Marie
@Tampa_girl7 (54715)
• United States
11 Feb 21
You’ve been busy beavers.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Feb 21
We had some weeks there where we did virtually nothing so it's good to be busy again.
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21497)
• London, England
11 Feb 21
Too true! Test it before you need it in a hurry
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Feb 21
It's surprising, when you do a run-through, the things you haven't thought about that suddenly need thinking about - or need attention.
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Thelma
@thelme55 (79324)
• Germany
11 Feb 21
You and Vince are always busy. Don’t forget to take a rest.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Feb 21
We only work a few hours a day most times. Thanks.
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Nevena Zivkovic
@Nevena83 (66063)
• Serbia
11 Feb 21
That sounds like a lot of work. Are you done now?
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Feb 21
Almost. Then we have a plan to make the area round the big shed a bit safer.
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Belle Starr (Iz)
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
11 Feb 21
Yes, that bush is a little too close for my liking in the event there is a fire. But I guess it is part of living in western Australia.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Feb 21
We do have quite a cleared area round the actual house but the woodshed in the background is much too close for safety. Some people build in the middle of trees which is lovely while there is no bushfire.
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Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (135744)
• Marion, Ohio
11 Feb 21
Its good to know how all of it works now.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Feb 21
Yes, not much good waiting till we're in the middle of a fire.
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Fiacre Banks
@xFiacre (14784)
• Ireland
11 Feb 21
@JudyEv A practice run or two should highlight any hiccups that need to be sorted in case you ever need to use it.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Feb 21
True. And we now know it takes two to fill the tank - one to hold the hose in the tank and one to start the pump. It's also good to know it fills so quickly.
Gary Marsh
@garymarsh6 (24004)
• United Kingdom
11 Feb 21
Oh yes it is quite close l pray you never have a need to use it.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Feb 21
There is just a track between us and the bush at this point. In the background on the left is the woodshed. That would be almost bound to burn if we had a big fire.
Susan
@HazySue (39265)
• Gouverneur, New York
11 Feb 21
You two are busy, busy, busy. It's good knowing that you will be safe.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Feb 21
That's the plan and hopefully we'll never have to worry about a fire.
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222302)
• United States
11 Feb 21
You both are so handy. I hope you never have to use your firefighting equipment.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Feb 21
We're hoping that too. We're lucky to be able to do so much ourselves. We wouldn't have half the things we have if it weren't for Vince being able to do things.
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