Tuesday 8th August
The grey skies haven’t dissipated overnight, but their precipitation has stopped leaving moisture laden air. The air temperature is still warm enough to dress in my usual t shirt and shorts again. The house empties out quickly in the morning Calista and Justin going off to band practice and Aubrey to a craft class. It’s their summer holidays, and it seems they have a myriad of activities they can choose to pursue during the break, each gravitating to their favourites. Heather is off to her duties as an administrative nurse in a small Jewish community care facility that specialises in hospice services. Troy has elected to work from home today, allowing him some time to spend with us on our first day here. We will mainly be settling in and catching up on domestics, a trip to the local shopping centre only a few minutes away should provide all the essentials we need plus the ingredients for tonight’s BBQ/grill dinner. As the day wears on the sun starts to poke through, the clouds clearing little patches of blue, a sign that the rain bearing system above is moving on and out into the Atlantic Ocean. Workmen arrive at the house to continue on with the repairs needed after Troy and Heather’s mishap with a hose under a vanity sink in the laundry burst that has left them with a substantial amount of water damage. Still they plan to have the work completed before their Hawaiian post wedding party at the house on the 19th August. Troy and Heathers house is set in a quiet middle class suburb that probably dates back to the 70’s. Typically the houses are two story, of weatherboard construction and in various light colour shades with brick feature chimneys that reach into the sky above. Roofs are pitched and tiled with asphalt shingles to shed snow in winter and keep the rain out at other times. Troy and Heather’s home is individualised by stone pillars that frame a bay window, the entrance and the double garage. Burgundy coloured front door and window shutters complete the facade. For now American and Australian flags fly at the entrance a welcoming nod to our presence. Theirs and surrounding gardens are open, with very little fencing unless an owner has a dog, this allows green lawns to stretch from one property to another in an endless corridor of verdant grass. Large deciduous trees and pines like spruce and fir dominate, giving the whole area a park like feel. Adding to this deer regularly wander through in groups stopping to graze as if they have not a care in the world. Troy has recently upgraded their back patio area giving them a little more level space, where now their coffee table sits with its volcanic rock gas fired centre piece surrounded by alternating turquoise and red cape cod garden chairs. Shaded by large pin oak that will make it the perfect relaxing spot on a summers day.
A neighbours sparkling blue pool sits only metres away surrounded by a see through pool safety fence, patiently waiting for the clouds to clear and the sounds of laughter to return to its waters. As the afternoon closes the houses weary inhabitants return home after a long day at their individual pursuits. Troy and Heather gather us all together for that BBQ/grill dinner of chicken, sausages, hamburgers and salad and for the adults that end of day glass of wine.