Moving the shed

It's the little things that count.. In this case moving the not so little garden shed.  This is sort of completion of the wood shed destruction project so that we could have more parking space for the fleet...

After rounding up all of Brads workmates, getting in a slab of beer as payment we were ready to go.  It was all planned for 6.30pm.  However, brad and I decided that we would just try and push the shed ourselves so that we had the technique sorted before the troops arrived.  And yes, you guessed it - we ended up moving it ourselves.  ** troops were cancelled and we are now trying to plow through a slab of Coronas!! **(will trade Coronas for loan of a sheep)

So we now have access the a large portion of the back section and are one step closer to some sort of organisation.

 

YEAHHHH... Only 50000 billion, mizionnnin jobs to go..

Excitement at the Highway House

There has been a major development in the landscaping of our sprawling estate.  I know you are all agog at the idea that we are getting in professional landscapers, that are going to turn our weed infested, overgrown patch of dirt into a home beautiful contender...
But no I am afraid it is nothing as exciting and wonderful as that.
Wait for it.......
Another 1 of our enormous trees has decided that wind and gravity were against it remaining silhoutted against the sky any longer!!!!

 On Friday, Jules, Caitlin and I were happily eating lunch when an enormous cracking  followed by a long and loud crash jolted us from our stunning repast.  (Salad Rolls and Pepsi Max - I put the pepsi in a glasses and everything)
We rushed to the window just in time to see the top of the poplar that is on the Vue Road end of the estate become wedged on some branches of the large gum. The tree had completely broken off at the base. At the time of writing a large portion of the tree is still lodged against the gum tree. 

You can see the results of these events below...
Must say we were very pleased it did not crash on the house - we still have one dangerous tree within reach of the house and considering that this weeks tree is the 3rd to fall within 6 months I think something will have to be done sooner than later!!
Brad is so pleased he now has more chainsawing to do..

The bathroom reborn

After much pain and suffering - well on brads part anyway - I just swanned off to Singapore - Caitlin's bathroom has been updated.
I know that everybody is devastated but YES the beautiful wood paneling has gone.  We are so upset that with it the wonderful fragrance of urine has also disappeared with it as well.

Brad was encouraged into fixing up the bathroom as one day he just came home from work and I had helpfully stripped it out for him. All I was trying to do was help !!!!

 

He was then on a bit of a time challenge as Caitlin was coming home a bit earlier than expected.


Brad installed a window we found at the tip shop  -  $5.00 bargain -  even had a working lock and keys

New tiles, vanity and toilet were installed.

 

When we were demolishing the wood shed we found some beautiful handmade tiles buried in the ground underneath it.  These were incorporated as the splash back to the new vanity.

the wood shed disappears

There is a singular lack of parking space at the highway house.  Especially since our family owns 4 cars, trailer, boat and trailer and camper trailer -  mmm might need to start up a sales yard.  Anyway to improve the parking space we are going to move  the garden shed around the back of the carport and also demolish the old wood shed.

I am sure you will agree that it may have had it's day and was probably time for it to go..  :( 
We are also concerned that lots of snakes will hang out there during the summer.

First all the wood was removed - chucked over the fence onto the nature strip -  It was gone within 2 hours!!

Then it was into the fun part -  yeahhh bring on the wrecking hammer.  Gotta love the wrecking bit (I hate the cleaning up bit though)

Look what we found buried under the wood shed  -   a wonderful old 2 person X cut saw.  This will go straight to the pool room...

 

It was amazing how much room there was once all the mess was cleaned up and taken to the tip.

Just need to get the garden shed moved now!!!

Return from Singapore

I am back in town after a quick trip to Singapore to meet Caitlin on her way home.  It was wonderful to see her as it felt like 6 months instead of only 6 weeks that she had been away.  A very emotional reunion was had at the airport.
We spent the week bumming around doing the touristy things, spending a fair bit of cash on pressies for Christmas - (and ourselves of course!!!)  We did however go to our first soccer game with a group of Aussies who were trying out for the Singapore National Team.  Managed to attach ourselves and got in for free.  Good fun.  Don't think it is my new passion though.  Worse than watching AFL as they never seem to score any goals.  But did meet some fun people which was good.

Before we knew it, it was time to come home.  Caitlin was just beside herself with wanting to be back on Aussie Soil.  I think she really appreciates what a fab country it is and that although it is great fun to travel coming home is always a great thing.

Couldn't believe how hot it was here when we got back and everything has dried off.  The garden is looking a bit worse for wear.  And not just because I went mad with the Round Up before I left!!!

Lovely to be home though..

Termites Rule

Saturday we finally had access to our new home.

Yipeee.

So after much anticipation (4 months is a very long time) we had the keys and were ready to renovate.
With ideas of wonderful polished floors dancing in our heads like sugar plum fairies we pulled up the carpet in the lounge room to reveal not wonderful wide 1930s style floor boards but chewed out timbers. Yes there had been a deadly termite strike.

Ok bit of a bummer but we can handle that, so Luke and Brad climbed down under the house (there was no outside access to get under it) to explore why the corner of the sunroom was significantly lower than the rest of the room.

OMFG - the termites have eaten one corner of the bloody house!!!!!

A sinking feeling (and it wasn't just because we were standing on the that part of the house) came over us. We needed to know the full extent of the damage so all the slate that was in the sun room had to come up. After several hours of banging, crashing, dust and more dust the full extent of the damage was revealed in all its glory.
It was not good.
Many of the floor boards were buggered but what is actually more terrible is that the joists and main beams were also eaten so the north section of the house was not resting on wood that had any structural integrity.

Brad and I did not know whether to cry or go and drink heavily.... Both could be the answer. After standing and looking at the large hole in the floor for a while - wondering if the insurance company would think it suspicious if the house burnt down 1 day after settlement - we decided to go home and drink heavily!!!

Needless to say a sleepless night was had by all...

I will upload some pictures later as have left my camera at the house..

Inspiration from my friends

After having a week of various mishaps, appliance breakdowns, and general not fun but expensive stuff I have been inspired to make everybody suffer along with me. However, unlike my family, my friends can just choose not to read about my sagas.

But I have to admit the real reason I have started my blog again is that I have been inspired by a couple of people who write excellent blogs and I enjoy writing and thought I would go back to it.
So thanks Stephanie and Leone.