True blue

I didn’t really know what to do for the self portrait challenge this month – the theme being blue and then one day when I was carting water out of the house to water plants outside it hit me. One of the buckets I use is blue and it seemed perfect to use in the photo.

We’re currently on level 4 water restrictions which means that we can’t use sprinklers to water at all. We can use a trigger hose once a week on a specified day and to water otherwise we have to use buckets unless you’re eligible for a permit to use a trigger hose because it’s heavy work carrying buckets around.

This photo shows me emptying grey water from the washing machine onto the lawn, or my very poor excuse for a lawn.  I used to have a grey water hose hooked up to my washing machine but the hose came off one day and I had to clean up and dry my new lino in the laundry. Not fun! Using one of these hoses is also a strain on the washing machine and I don’t fancy having to get the washing machine fixed because it’s blown up while I try to reuse water.

Now, instead of the grey water hose I carry it out bucket by bucket. It means being very attentive as to when the bucket’s full but if I am attentive I get about five to six buckets from my front loading washing machine.  It’s also good exercise but it means I’m tied up to a 90 minute washing machine cycle.

I also use this bucket in the shower to catch the water before I hop in.

I know some parts of Australia have been getting far too much rain but other parts have been missing out altogether, or we just get enough to make our dirty cars even filthier. It’s interesting to note the people who still drive around with spotless cars and I wonder how they wash them as part of the water restrictions is not using the hose on your car.