Long time, no blog.
It's now been over six years since we moved into our Dream House in the Burbs and now we're moving onto the next challenge.
For many years we vowed to 'never build again!!!', having been scarred for life. Actually, I wasn't as scarred as my hubby. I always wanted to have another go, so we could 'get it right' next time.
Now, while I don't believe we could ever have the perfect build, I do reckon a second attempt would be easier. Surely - we have more knowledge this time around. Surely, we'd do a better job. Wouldn't we?
Well, we've spent the last few years looking for a little holiday house on the NSW South Coast and we've recently stumbled across a vacant block of land. We're currently in the process of negotiating a deal, so hopefully, if the Construction Gods are in our favour, we may have our 2nd chance soon.
Stay tuned...
Monday, 25 March 2019
Sunday, 18 November 2012
We’re here – it’s been a long ride...
When last we blogged, we’d planned on moving on the 8th Nov. We actually moved in on the 7th. The weather forecast for the 8th was torrential rain so we sacrificed our Melb Cup lunch at Luna Park for a mad scramble to pack final boxes to move a day earlier. Can’t say it was the right decision because it rained on our move day and not on the 8th. Nevertheless … we’re in! Yay!
Moving Day was quite an event. I had a two hour meeting I couldn’t get out of so we spent the morning moving boxes, blind man came to fix curtains at 12:30, called my sister in to wait in the empty house until blind man left so I could tear back home, slip on suitable work attire (no time for a shower – pity the person sitting next to me in the meeting) and race to work.
Meanwhile hubby had to meet Foxtel at the new house while the movers started 2 hours late (3.30pm) at the old house. A big cheer for our removalist guys – they were unbelievable. It took them a little under 3 hours for 5 guys to fill two trucks and move everything in before beer o’clock. By 7pm I was delirious as I hadn’t stopped for lunch and was seeing double – and wanted to cry. But, thanks to our neighbour’s son, our beds were put together, McDonalds filled our empty bellies, and we were ready for bed by 9.
Would like to say we slept soundly for our first night but our daughter had been through weird week and didn’t settle well. A teacher from her school had died on the previous weekend, she’s made her Captain’s nomination speech on Tuesday and was nervously awaiting the Thursday result. And she was in a new house. Poor thing!
By the way, proud parent moment, did I mention she was elected School Captain!
So a huge week for us, wrapped up by a visit from the builders with a bottle of wine and a gorgeous flower arrangement. A celebratory dinner on Thurs for our School Captain, and a quiet bottle of bubbly on the Friday night.
Then a frantic Saturday as Telstra and raintank man arrived all at once. Of course, it’s not all over yet - tiling started on the pool around the end of Oct and now just waiting on coping next week.
Also still a couple of outstanding house things – awning not up yet which will give the front of the house a whole new look. A few little electrical things and a few paint touch ups to do. And we need the phone point put in the kitchen – may be difficult now splashback is in. And our back security door needs to come back.
Landscapers have been AWOL for about 2 weeks so expecting them back next week to build our letterbox, replace the fence and do some landscaping. So glad we engaged them over a year ago so it would all be done when we moved in.
So there’s still life in this little blog yet!
It has been great to move back to our old block. It’s wonderful to have neighbours, who have been through hell because of us, warmly greet us back. Our next door neighbour made us a gorgeous sign and hung it from our balcony. Then she brought us wine and a card. Our first BBQ will definitely be for these fantastic people.
And the house – we love it! I’m surprised at how much I love the little things – my double bins under the sink; the laundry hamper; the walk in robe (even though I still can’t fit all my shoes); the rainbows that appear across the family room and kitchen each sunny morning through our louvre window. And that amazing view from our bedroom window - it's an 'ahhh' moment every morning.
Of course, there are many things I’d change – maybe those auto-blind closing things would have been good – I do have a lot of blinds to open every morning! Also hubby lamented about not putting heating under the family room floor to which I had to hold back my “I told you so” retort.
But do I dare say it’s all been worth it? Of course it has. It feels like home and it’s all our creation – every nook, cranny, light bulb and floor to ceiling powder room window. Good, bad, and not much ugly – we love it all!
Moving Day was quite an event. I had a two hour meeting I couldn’t get out of so we spent the morning moving boxes, blind man came to fix curtains at 12:30, called my sister in to wait in the empty house until blind man left so I could tear back home, slip on suitable work attire (no time for a shower – pity the person sitting next to me in the meeting) and race to work.
Meanwhile hubby had to meet Foxtel at the new house while the movers started 2 hours late (3.30pm) at the old house. A big cheer for our removalist guys – they were unbelievable. It took them a little under 3 hours for 5 guys to fill two trucks and move everything in before beer o’clock. By 7pm I was delirious as I hadn’t stopped for lunch and was seeing double – and wanted to cry. But, thanks to our neighbour’s son, our beds were put together, McDonalds filled our empty bellies, and we were ready for bed by 9.
Would like to say we slept soundly for our first night but our daughter had been through weird week and didn’t settle well. A teacher from her school had died on the previous weekend, she’s made her Captain’s nomination speech on Tuesday and was nervously awaiting the Thursday result. And she was in a new house. Poor thing!
By the way, proud parent moment, did I mention she was elected School Captain!
So a huge week for us, wrapped up by a visit from the builders with a bottle of wine and a gorgeous flower arrangement. A celebratory dinner on Thurs for our School Captain, and a quiet bottle of bubbly on the Friday night.
Then a frantic Saturday as Telstra and raintank man arrived all at once. Of course, it’s not all over yet - tiling started on the pool around the end of Oct and now just waiting on coping next week.
Also still a couple of outstanding house things – awning not up yet which will give the front of the house a whole new look. A few little electrical things and a few paint touch ups to do. And we need the phone point put in the kitchen – may be difficult now splashback is in. And our back security door needs to come back.
Landscapers have been AWOL for about 2 weeks so expecting them back next week to build our letterbox, replace the fence and do some landscaping. So glad we engaged them over a year ago so it would all be done when we moved in.
So there’s still life in this little blog yet!
It has been great to move back to our old block. It’s wonderful to have neighbours, who have been through hell because of us, warmly greet us back. Our next door neighbour made us a gorgeous sign and hung it from our balcony. Then she brought us wine and a card. Our first BBQ will definitely be for these fantastic people.
And the house – we love it! I’m surprised at how much I love the little things – my double bins under the sink; the laundry hamper; the walk in robe (even though I still can’t fit all my shoes); the rainbows that appear across the family room and kitchen each sunny morning through our louvre window. And that amazing view from our bedroom window - it's an 'ahhh' moment every morning.
Of course, there are many things I’d change – maybe those auto-blind closing things would have been good – I do have a lot of blinds to open every morning! Also hubby lamented about not putting heating under the family room floor to which I had to hold back my “I told you so” retort.
But do I dare say it’s all been worth it? Of course it has. It feels like home and it’s all our creation – every nook, cranny, light bulb and floor to ceiling powder room window. Good, bad, and not much ugly – we love it all!
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| Bedroom with a view |
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| Lounge room - now we need a new lounge! |
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| Bathroom |
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| Pool tiling - tick! |
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| Landscaping |
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| LBs room - very girly! |
Friday, 19 October 2012
One week to go... (still)
The 2nd handover date has been and gone (21/9); and the next one (12/10); and the next one (19/10) – oh, that’s today! Reckon it will all be done by the end of next week though. The house only has a few minor things to finish up and now we’re waiting on the Landscaper to do the driveway.
I have a new enemy. I’ve shifted my waning ire from the builder to the landscaper. Builder = now friend; Landscaper = not friend!
The landscaping was supposed to start weeks ago so we’d have a driveway and new back gate by the time the house was finished. But delay after delay has meant the driveway hasn’t been started. And the message about a back gate has only sunk in today, after about 3 or 4 previous discussions. I did notice today, though, that he made a few notes as we did a site inspection (which he should have done when we discussed the pool deck).
We had some confusion over who was going to build the pool deck. The landscaper thought the builder was doing it and everyone else at the meeting (me & builder) heard him say he would do it. After builder agreed to build it, if the landscaper gave him the dimensions, the landscaper came back in and said it would probably be a better idea if he did it! Confused? Me too! Not sure who’s doing it now.
Back to the moving dilemma – everything will be ready in a fortnight, EXCEPT me. That week is the busiest week in my year. I’ve spent months organising a huge 2-day event where I need to work every day (and 2 nights) for a week - and it just happens to fall on the same week as our house is ready. Perfect storm!
So, we’ll be able to move in three weeks – booked the removalist for 8 November (can’t move on Melb Cup day :)
Anyway a quick update on what’s been happening:
• Kitchen installed / splashbacks in (look fantastic!)
• Wardrobes and carpet done
• Painting finished (lovin’ the green lounge room)
• Tiled wall around fireplace done (looks gorgeous with the wall colour)
• Deck outside back door done – great colour!
• Lights / alarm / aircon all installed.
• Pool rendered (now curing for 2 weeks before tiling starts)
Hopefully my next instalment will be from our new house.
I have a new enemy. I’ve shifted my waning ire from the builder to the landscaper. Builder = now friend; Landscaper = not friend!
The landscaping was supposed to start weeks ago so we’d have a driveway and new back gate by the time the house was finished. But delay after delay has meant the driveway hasn’t been started. And the message about a back gate has only sunk in today, after about 3 or 4 previous discussions. I did notice today, though, that he made a few notes as we did a site inspection (which he should have done when we discussed the pool deck).
We had some confusion over who was going to build the pool deck. The landscaper thought the builder was doing it and everyone else at the meeting (me & builder) heard him say he would do it. After builder agreed to build it, if the landscaper gave him the dimensions, the landscaper came back in and said it would probably be a better idea if he did it! Confused? Me too! Not sure who’s doing it now.
Back to the moving dilemma – everything will be ready in a fortnight, EXCEPT me. That week is the busiest week in my year. I’ve spent months organising a huge 2-day event where I need to work every day (and 2 nights) for a week - and it just happens to fall on the same week as our house is ready. Perfect storm!
So, we’ll be able to move in three weeks – booked the removalist for 8 November (can’t move on Melb Cup day :)
Anyway a quick update on what’s been happening:
• Kitchen installed / splashbacks in (look fantastic!)
• Wardrobes and carpet done
• Painting finished (lovin’ the green lounge room)
• Tiled wall around fireplace done (looks gorgeous with the wall colour)
• Deck outside back door done – great colour!
• Lights / alarm / aircon all installed.
• Pool rendered (now curing for 2 weeks before tiling starts)
Hopefully my next instalment will be from our new house.
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| Fireplace and green room |
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| Ooohhh! Love the silver splashback |
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| Deck off family room - goes around corner for BBQ |
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| Kitchen from family room - lots of natural light |
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| Ensuite - Rainforest shower head bit the dust - builder 'forgot' about it |
Friday, 21 September 2012
Monday, 17 September 2012
Kitchen arrives!
Today was the first Monday that I’ve driven around the corner and seen a street full of trucks. And big trucks! The Kitchen Truck!!
Our kitchen has arrived and will be installed tomorrow – yippee!! Now I’m getting excited.
I met Blind lady, Carpet Man and Wardrobe Dude on site today to get everything measured up. Carpenter and Painter were on site too with Site Supervisor, husband and inquisitive neighbour. It’s all going on today.
It’s been a productive week with my 11th visit to Beacon today, to sort out problems from last week. I paid them 3 visits last week to swap over internal stair lights for external stair lights (which will work much better EX-ternally!). The electrician is happy to install now – I think! Drama averted.
Saw the bathroom & ensuite today with the tiles in – look fantastic! They’ll look even better when the grout goes in. At the moment the kitchen is strewn all over the house – can’t wait to see it go in later this week. The painting has started last week with the doors and architraves being done today. It’s starting to look great.
Don't think they'll be finished by Friday (as promised) - waiting on new elastic date!
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Ensuite shower |
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The Kitchen Truck |
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Microwave |
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Master Bedroom - with work bench! |
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Guest Bedroom |
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Bathroom |
Friday, 7 September 2012
Getting there...
As our first promised finish-date slipped by 2 weeks ago, I reckon the 2nd estimated finish-date is also in danger - 21st Sept – 2 weeks from now.
I’ll let you be the judge.
As at today:
• Tilers finishing up the kitchen/family/laundry/powder room floors.
• The balcony tiling looks almost done.
• Bathrooms/ensuites next week (and grouting I expect).
• The chippies look close to finishing the skirting/architraves and internal doors are in.
• Stairs installed this week.
• Gas heater is in.
• Grader thingy in today moving dirt around.
• Trench dug to kerb to sort out our underground stream issue that keeps flooding the garage. Next is to put pipes and a pump in to pump the water up the driveway to the road.
Still to come:
• Kitchens/bathrooms
• Back decking
• Light fittings
• Painting
• Balconies
• Flyscreens/security doors
• Wardrobes
• Blinds
• Carpet
• Driveway
• Pool and landscaping but they can be done after we move in.
And the bills are starting to trickle in. Ouch!
I’ve been running around like a mad woman – trying to fit in 3 days’ of work around project managing this house.
In the last 2 weeks I’ve got 3 carpet quotes, 2 blind quotes, ordered pool and coping tiles, picked feature wall tiles, picked up light samples from Beacon Lighting twice, negotiated 3 wardrobes, visited the Council to pick up plans the builder has lost, met with Landscaper, met with pool builders, met with Interior Designer and been called to the site twice in the last 2 days.
Oh, and my 2 jobs in 3 days has just increased to 3 jobs in 3 days as one of the girls went on maternity leave and I’m filling in for her. I’m now planning a big event for November (around same time as I’ll probably be moving in). I also took on a writing course but I’m really kidding myself if I think I have time for that. It may need to be postponed.
No wonder I’m tired.
Our interior designer was really helpful. We’ve settled on wall colours and she’s given us great ideas about furnishings and window treatments.
Latest drama is our stair lights – the electrician doesn’t want to put them in. And I want the electrician to put them in. Not sure how that one is going to pan out.
I’ll let you be the judge.
As at today:
• Tilers finishing up the kitchen/family/laundry/powder room floors.
• The balcony tiling looks almost done.
• Bathrooms/ensuites next week (and grouting I expect).
• The chippies look close to finishing the skirting/architraves and internal doors are in.
• Stairs installed this week.
• Gas heater is in.
• Grader thingy in today moving dirt around.
• Trench dug to kerb to sort out our underground stream issue that keeps flooding the garage. Next is to put pipes and a pump in to pump the water up the driveway to the road.
Still to come:
• Kitchens/bathrooms
• Back decking
• Light fittings
• Painting
• Balconies
• Flyscreens/security doors
• Wardrobes
• Blinds
• Carpet
• Driveway
• Pool and landscaping but they can be done after we move in.
And the bills are starting to trickle in. Ouch!
I’ve been running around like a mad woman – trying to fit in 3 days’ of work around project managing this house.
In the last 2 weeks I’ve got 3 carpet quotes, 2 blind quotes, ordered pool and coping tiles, picked feature wall tiles, picked up light samples from Beacon Lighting twice, negotiated 3 wardrobes, visited the Council to pick up plans the builder has lost, met with Landscaper, met with pool builders, met with Interior Designer and been called to the site twice in the last 2 days.
Oh, and my 2 jobs in 3 days has just increased to 3 jobs in 3 days as one of the girls went on maternity leave and I’m filling in for her. I’m now planning a big event for November (around same time as I’ll probably be moving in). I also took on a writing course but I’m really kidding myself if I think I have time for that. It may need to be postponed.
No wonder I’m tired.
Our interior designer was really helpful. We’ve settled on wall colours and she’s given us great ideas about furnishings and window treatments.
Latest drama is our stair lights – the electrician doesn’t want to put them in. And I want the electrician to put them in. Not sure how that one is going to pan out.
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Stairs from top floor |
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Family Room tiled |
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Stairs going up to first floor |
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Drainage Trench from Garage |
Sunday, 26 August 2012
Lock up!
We have gyprock and a front door. Well, it’s not actually THE front door but it is a front door and it is locked - which means we’re technically at “Lockup”!
Plumbers and carpenters were been busy doing stuff and soundproofing/insulation between the walls. Then the very quick gyprock team moved in and completed the walls within two days. Last week we had a lone cornice-guy in there doing cornice stuff (I think).
Walked through it last week and now it feels like a house. Got upstairs and had a good look at the bedrooms and bathrooms – and my huge Walk in Robe! Actually all feels a lot bigger with walls.
Our Jetmaster heater is going in this week and wardrobes are being measured up.
We have our colour lady coming out on Friday to help us with colours/curtains/blinds and carpets – we haven’t seen her for 12 months so looking forward to our meeting. We picked up some carpet samples today and I’m collecting all my colour bits and pieces.
Kitchen - with pantry door on left next to space for fridge.
Plumbers and carpenters were been busy doing stuff and soundproofing/insulation between the walls. Then the very quick gyprock team moved in and completed the walls within two days. Last week we had a lone cornice-guy in there doing cornice stuff (I think).
Walked through it last week and now it feels like a house. Got upstairs and had a good look at the bedrooms and bathrooms – and my huge Walk in Robe! Actually all feels a lot bigger with walls.
Our Jetmaster heater is going in this week and wardrobes are being measured up.
We have our colour lady coming out on Friday to help us with colours/curtains/blinds and carpets – we haven’t seen her for 12 months so looking forward to our meeting. We picked up some carpet samples today and I’m collecting all my colour bits and pieces.
Kitchen - with pantry door on left next to space for fridge.
Family room with stacker doors and louvre window.
Dining Room
Lounge Room looking out front window
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