The year began with my left arm still very delicate but by the end of January, I could drive and ride normally. In February, I leave a Clean Energy Council event to have lunch with Chris Weber and I begin German studies again. I also begin riding the Enigma bicycle, as the wheels, groupset and handlebars had all arrived.
The Enigma bike set up for touring at Henderson, half an hour from here, a week ago.
April sees us at Uncle Mike's funeral, witness a turbine lift at the Rossers' latest windfarm in Lancelin and I give my final lecture at Murdoch Uni.
May has me donating blood for the first time in over 20 years as the Red Cross has relaxed it's UK Mad Cow diease requirements. I also buy the Santa Cruz and start riding it with Tamantha in the new John Forrest National Park trails.
Europe
Once again, we fly out to Vienna in the second week of July and return mid September.
We catch up with almost all of our friends and neighbours there - though we were very lucky to see Wolfgang at all since he was away working in Eypt on a Turkish/Eyptian/Austrian soap.
My Book of the year
This would have to be Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner's 'How Big Things Get Done' - a useful reference from Michael Barnard, a regular contributor to the Cleantechnica website (https://cleantechnica.com/).
Stayovers
We had Paul and Pam stay over in February and Idako and Jim in March. Suz left for Vienna for a month mid January while I used the oppportunity to have many meals with family and friends. Graham Wallis continues to drop by frequently and house sat while we were in Europe.
SkyFarming
We organised a deenergising of the Mt Barker switchroom to allow a number of jobs to be done; replacement of the Fuse Switch Cabinet with a circuit breaker, installation of a water removal system in the trench and some earthing around the switchroom. Peter drove down in late April to perform this work with the Schneider Electric people and our electrician, Ross of Powley Electrics.
At the AGM in December, it was decided that we sell Mt Barker Power Co to Dangaragen Energy. The deal is due to conclude in September of next year, almost 14 1/2 years after commissioning. The turbines have a nominal life of 20 years. Everything else is to remain the same.
With Denmark, Jacqueline has retired and Daniel has taken over the administration. We have also bought a large number of spare parts; fans, PCBs, cables etc. In late December, there were two trips to Mt Barker to deliver the parts, including one which enabled a particularly uncooperative turbine in Denmark to get going again.
As for Sleeman, the two bird counts, in September 2023 and in February 2024 were premature as the wind data reveals an insufficent wind speed, and as early as 28th of March we withdraw the Western Power application and in December we retrieve the sodar from site.
The car
We have put around 16,500km on the new EV, mostly in 11 trips down to Mt Barker and Denmark, fast charging at Williams and Kojonup. We finally sell the Golf in late March but not before spending quite a few thousand on a new windscreen, the clutch hydraulic master cylinder and the exhaust gas recycing unit.
We finish the year by beginning renovations on number 9 . . . the first job was the removal of the asbestos, then the stumping (the 20 stumps around the edge of the house were replaced), the ceilings needed a lot of work. Steve and his son managed to work through some exceptionally hot days (40+degrees) to get it done and the results are very impressive. As of the end of 2024, the walls still need cladding and painting, the kitchen and bathrooms are non existant and the back is still very naked.
Wishing you all an excellent 2025!
Andrew