We start in the overcast but as the morning wanes the sun comes out. This causes an argument/ I can see Kahu's neck getting redder and redder and he refuses to take my advice and wear a hat. In the end, common sense prevails. It's that or he gets a painful burn and creates a historic predisposition for melanoma later in life. Kahu starts to get into the swing of it and decking oil swishes the length and breadth of the back verandah. His technique improves and a rich red glow lights up the wood. Well, it looks glorious. And smells like diesel. Grant pops his head over the fence which he's repairing and adding a post to so we can put up a trellis top for extra privacy and to train the jasmine and honeysuckle. He's planted potato vine...hmmm.
It's boiling by the time Kahu moves into the shade. I'm watering and tidying new planting down the fence. I pop back and forth to tidy up splashes and oil smears on the weatherboards and doors. Ripped up boxes are the first line of defence. They respond well to turps which stinks. We speed up on the front verandah. That's because it's nearly 4 pm, kick off for the first big footy game in ages and totally out of the ball park in Covid times. It's the All Blacks v the Wallabies. I want to watch too but when Chris offers to take Kahu back, I settle for tidying up. There are lots of little jobs and the game is nearly over by the time I get back. I've texted ahead for beers and these are in the fridge. The boys have waited to start. Very sweet. I wouldn't have. The AB's are tied and straining their very taut muscles to cross the line and win the game. There are 9 minutes of extra time, tit for tat edge of the seat rugby. New coaches for both teams and the Wallabies have brought their A game. It's a draw.
I'm happy with 2 newly-oiled, vibrantly red verandahs. Thanks buddy boy.
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