Nice tank, shame about the water
August 26th, 2007 - Posted in Building, Kaimata Croft - by Sarah|
26th August 2007
We made another significant step on our way this week when our water tank arrived. As there’s no mains water here at the Croft we will be collecting rainwater off the roof of both house and garage. This will be our only water supply so the tank is quite large (25,000 litres / 5,500 gallons). It arrived on a specially designed truck…
My God that’s BIG!
The choice of tank was quite difficult as there is no particularly sustainable material for making large water tanks (that we could find anyway). The choice is between concrete and polyethylene. Concrete keeps the water cooler and also conditions it, ie raises the Ph level and makes it ‘harder’. Polyethylene is 3/4 of the price of concrete. Our local concrete tank maker 2km away imports his cement from the North Island. The polyethylene tanks the same people sell are made just across the mountains from us. We decided that the carbon footprint was probably about the same so we went for the cheaper plastic tank.
But it fits.
Once we’ve got nothing better to do we plan to cover it with netting and plaster it. Probably with lime plaster left over from the house. This will help to keep the tank cool and protect it from UV degradation – greatly extending its lifespan.
The only problem we have now is that the tank is empty and we don’t yet have a roof to use to collect water! A special licence is required to deliver drinking water and we’ve been told that no-one on the coast has one. The most helpful suggestion so far has been to call the fire brigade…
Film Fest ‘07
August 22nd, 2007 - Posted in time out - by Sarah|
22nd August 2007
As a complete change of scene (and to remind ourselves that we’re not really all that far from civilisation) we took a couple of days off at the end of last week and hopped over to Christchurch to catch some film festival action. We only managed to see 5 films but the chances of any of them making it over to the West Coast are pretty small so it was definately time well spent. Short reviews follow for anyone interested in our recommendations.
Noise – A classy Aussie thriller with fantastic character acting and insightful writing. The film has very high production values (sound and image depth and quality) throughout. There’s no sensationalisation or sentimentalisation of the character’s reactions to the (pretty horrible) events that befall them. The audience is left without all the answers they thought they wanted but knowing that the ones they have are more important. Confused? Just watch it – a great film that may never make it to general release because it’s an independant and doesn’t fit the mould.
The Planet – This year’s global warming doom and gloom movie with techno soundtrack and hordes of library images cut in with ‘expert’ soundbytes. The ‘experts’ include ‘a writer’ and someone from the ‘forum on the environment’ as well as people with extensive academic credibility from some of the major centres of learning in the western world. Lots of ‘teaspoon in the atlantic ocean’ type statistics. No new info that felt particularly reliable and no sign of solutions or rosy outcomes. Indeed, we were told that the planet may explode! Don’t bother if there’s anything else on.
Paprika – Japanese anime (subtitled) about a psychoanalytical dream machine that allows a therapist to literally see your dreams. Couldn’t have come out of Hollywood in a million years. An intricate surrelist plot, some music that you keep humming for days and a final scene like Ghostbusters on acid. Phillip K Dick would have loved it. Go see if you possibly can.
Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten – if, like me, you grew up with the music of the Clash and the voice of Joe Strummer you will probably enjoy this biopic of his life, thoughts and music even if it’s just for the nostalgia value. The views of those who knew him may be a bit rose tinted but then the guy’s barely cold in his grave. Some of the early clips send a shiver up your spine – the energy of the live performances is amazing. I loved it but then I know I’m biased. See it if you’re open to the idea of being a fan.
Red Road – A touch of nostalgia here for us as this is set in Glasgow and the characters certainly ring true. A woman watching a bank of CCTV screens spots someone she knows from her past and takes matters into her own hands. Probably made on a similar budget to ‘Noise’ but with an appalling lack of care taken over finishing the film properly. Terrible live location soundtrack and almost no music (a bugbear of mine). A great idea that’s just never followed through but allowed to drift off into insignificance. See it if you’re a film buff or homesick for the Schemes.
That’s all for now folks…
