Moon shot from the southern hemisphere

Dramatic pictures are emerging of a new space mission apparently targeted at the moon. At the secret high-altitude launch site our cameras have exclusive access to the new rocket system as it is being developed.

The lunch site has been chosen so that the rocket is carefully aimed at the moon from lift off onwards.
Aiming at the moon

Aiming at the moon

Here we see the all important nose cone developing against a backdrop of distant peaks and troughs
Nose cone

Nose cone

As engineering continues to work on last minute adjustments to the crew capsule …
Engineering in the Main Cabin

Engineering in the Main Cabin

… the crew takes a moment to relax on the newly built launch tower during the rigorous training and selection procedures Happy crew on the launch tower

Happy crew on the launch tower

We are told that moon juice will be collected via this retractable arm – now being re-programmed for low gravity cheese. The amount of R.AN.DEE (Ranting All Night & Day Endlessly) that has gone into this new exploration system is sure to excite fellow space-fans – it is clearly in-excess of anything seen before in such a mission.
Retractable arm

Retractable arm

The crew decide they want to see where they are going so aerodynamic potholes are added to the cabin
Portholes to aid navigation in space

Portholes to aid navigation in space

An early morning test firing of the rockets leaves no doubt as to the tremendous cheese-melting thrust the newly developed power system will generate
Cheese melting thrust

Cheese melting thrust

Now all we need to know is whose shirts they will wear….

Petra has puppies!

Labour pains

Labour pains

Back in August Petra gave birth to seven small Jack Russell puppies in the high-tech Hornbydale birthing suite.  Yours truly was midwife for the day – though in the end Petra was an excellent mother and knew exactly what to do. Extra heat lamps provided as it was still winter here in Zim. In the end five pups have survived and are doing well. More ‘cute’ pictures and their names to follow (after much lively discussion,  a high level board meeting and a shareholder vote).

 

Petra resting

Petra resting

 

 

 

The puppies

The puppies

 

 

The birthing suite

The birthing suite

 

Petra nursing

Petra nursing

 

Our play pen outside

Our play pen outside

 

Three puppies

Three puppies

 

 

World’s View

Over the weekend we went to look at 1.8 metre high veld fence (also called bonox) at a nearby house and ended up at World’s View.

World's view Nyanga

World’s view, Troutbeck, Nyanga

Looking at veld fence

Looking at veld fence in Troutbeck

From World's View

From World’s View

Relaxing at World's View

Relaxing at World’s View

From World's View

From World’s View looking west

 

At World's View

At World’s View

 

Aloes at World's View

Aloes at World’s View

 

Silhouette at World's View

Silhouette

The Tadpole Building: Part 2 – Utilities

Tadpole after plastering the outside

Tadpole after plastering the outside

View from the septic tank

View from the septic tank

Routes were chipped out of the brickwork for the electrical conduits prior to plastering the interior. (No nice cavity walls here)

Routes of electrical conduits

Routes of electrical conduits

The electricians covered in brick dust

The electricians covered in brick-dust

Brick dust

Brick-dust

Next Mr Patrick 2 ‘plasters’ (with cement)  the exterior and interior. Chicken wire was used to add strength to the outside of the existing round rondavel.

Mr Patrick 2 plastering

Mr Patrick 2 plastering

Mr Tadoka and Mr Paul the plumbers chipped out the shower

DSCN7765

Place for the shower

And finally the most important part of any building and the one you have been waiting for … the septic tank.

Here being inspected by ‘Mr Huckle’

'Mr Huckle' at the septic tank

‘Mr Huckle’ at the septic tank

Mr Farai plastering the septic tank

Mr Farai plastering the septic tank

The plumbers had to spend a couple of extra days burning a route through the stones for the pipe connecting waste pipe

Burning rocks in the trench

Burning rocks in the trench

Mr Tendai looking safer than usual!

Mr Tendai in hard hat

Mr Tendai in hard hat

Danger! Men at work

We have a few tricky overhanging tree and branch projects. Something that Tendai and I get up to with the 6 ton winch when everyone else is away (pure coincidence)! Obviously he is the brave one here… (with me safety on the ground working the winch and taking these pictures).

Mr Tendai tree cutting

Mr Tendai tree cutting

Pulling tree branches with 6 ton winch

Pulling tree branches with 6 ton winch

6 ton winch pulling gum tree branch

6 ton winch pulling gum tree branch

Tendai at work

Tendai at work

Wind damaged gum branch

Wind damaged gum branch

Tendai making rope holds in gum tree

Tendai making rope holds in gum tree

Tendai using rope to shin up gum tree

Tendai using rope to shin up gum tree

This row of tall gum trees remains a pending project themselves.