A New Septic System, and rural Amazon

And a new lifestyle...

Wow. Septic systems have sure got more modern and hi-tech. Because we have a very high water table our new septic field (not pictured) is several feet higher than the lawn. Thankfully the sewage pump (under the white post) has a really loud alarm if it goes down.

Green mushroom A is the actual septic tank, which gets pumped out about once a year. Green mushroom B is the other end of the tank, with a long plastic filter that captures fibres and such, and need to be cleaned off a couple of times a year. Green mushroom C is a separate concrete chamber for the pump.

Which means when we replace the big wooden deck (it was removed to one side to dig and install the new septic tank) I also need to plan for access hatches, and try to hide the dumb white alarm post.

Meanwhile, I’m trying to get a handle on the local deliverer of Amazon purchases.

Rather than a full-on Amazon van, we rely on an outfit called the Canada Parcel Network. Except that the email from them is from Bonshaw Distribution Network.

Usually the driver arrives on time, or even a day early, and we know him by name. Twice though, despite emails claiming that the package is out for delivery, nothing ever arrives. There’s no explanation from either Bonshaw or Amazon, but eventually the latter says we can cancel the purchase.

Why? I have no idea. I do know that all shipping addresses now include a note that if the driver is relying on Google Maps they need to look for Breakwater Road, not Lighthouse Road.

It turns out that the Bonshaw Distribution Network is actually a spin-off from a Nova Scotia newspaper publisher, and has caused no shortage of problems for people relying on them.

This does though explain the horribly spam-like email I got from Stephanie at… PostMedia in Toronto??

Dear God. Life in Nova Scotia does have it’s challenges!

And, speaking of newspapers, the Halifax Chronicle-Herald has, in the course of two weeks, announced that a) they are ceasing to publish a print edition on Monday and b) will be cutting off home delivery to some unnamed “rural” locations. Although given the way that the paper decimated their reporting staff a couple of years ago it’s not really a great loss.

Meanwhile Beatrice the cat surprised us late last night by rediscovering her roots as a Mighty Hunter. Thankfully I didn’t step on the dead and disembowelled mouse that she left in the bathroom doorway.