Backyard progress ... mega photo warning

Firstly, lots of photos in this post so my apologies if it bores you (just don't look I guess!!).

The weekend was an extremely productive one. We didn't even go for a bike ride on Sunday when it was perfect weather!!! Insane? Possibly, but when somebody offers to come and help, you don't turn it down.

Anyway ... for those that are interested .... photos below show the progress of the weekend.

Site Supervisor - Zach

Site Supervisor Andy (with Zach)

What you looking at?? Roxy

Dad arrives ... construction zone gets set up

First posts in (that's Dad .. Andy's Dad)

John and Dad covering up the joins

All done - ready for sanding

John sanding the joins ... and a bit of painting to test the colour

So still to do .... second coat of 'joining stuff' on the blue board then another lot of sanding back. Brickwork to be rendered and painted and the blueboard to be fully painted once John has done his thing (the sanding thing).

The other job started on the weekend was the posts for the garden bed at the back. Just 1 sleeper high but enough to make a bit of a garden at the back.

Good one huh!!

Digger's gone .. and a hole in the fence

To copy Perry's comment 'wow - two posts in one day!!'.

The backyard is virtually flat ... just some tufts of grass/weeds that I need to get rid of around the boundary and it will be quite barron. Not for long hopefully!

The plan is to get the retaining wall (just one sleeper high) along the back fence done this weekend. Frank is coming back on the 24 October to bring in the dirt for the grass and the crushed rock for the patio area. Lazy? Yes but at $60 an hour it's much better for our marriage than barrowing it all in for 2 days.

The only mishap was a small hole put into the paling fence (in the gate). There was a star picket in the dirt that Frank didn't see and as he went through the gate it pierced the wood. Oh well ... worst things could have happened.

Getting very excited about this area now. I can visualise how I want it to look .. just hope it comes out that way.

Looking onto patio area

Looking from gate to back

Alcove area outside the formal lounge - this will be a lush garden one day (hopefully)

Back - the bit that will have a small garden bed and grass

Back - can you imagine the grass there and trees along the fence??

Backyard progress

Well our dingo guy is here (Frank) and he's doing an excellent job. He postponed from Tuesday because of the heavy rain that we had on the Monday. So today the sun is shining and he is flying through the job.

Progress photos below ... I reckon he'll be done in another couple of hours!!! Finished photos to follow later today.

Looking from family room onto patio area (OK .. try and visualise a patio area)

Looking from patio to side gate

Looking the other way .. from gate to back

Digger having a bit of a rest at the back

Back of house

Sleepers ... how many???

Our garage currently looks like a small Bunnings trade area!!! Yesterday we headed down to the local Bunnings to pick up the sleepers and concrete we need for the retaining walls.

I'm super excited ... the guy is coming tomorrow with his little Dingo to clear the backyard. He's going to remove the top layer of weeds and flatten the area. Next weekend we will put up the retaining wall for the garden bed and then once that is done, in comes the dirt and the grass.

Pavers have been putt off for about a month as my car needed repair (which took all of my paving money ... dam car) but we will get the area ready with crushed rock. Unfortuantely that money tree that I planted last year seems to have died!!

Dad will also come down this weekend to build the frames behind the brick garden beds. Poor old fella' has Shingles at the moment so he's in a whole lot of pain, but the trooper that he is, he'll still come and help us. What a guy!!

The Coffee Table

Lights dim .... queue background music ......

Toni - this post is for you....

Lamp Tables

And to anybody else reading this post you may think I've gone quite mad!! Well, I may have but it appears that Toni (H2B) and I have the same wooden furniture!!!!!

Sorry sir .. how many cushions???

Well ... the couches have arrived for the formal lounge. YAY!!! Don't know how all the cushions are supposed to fit across the back but I've done my best. Not sure about the green ones yet ... they were a gift from a friend so I'll try one day with .. one day without ... and see how I go.

Anyway .... I am absolutely ecstatic about this room. It is exactly how I'd pictured it when we built the house. Just need to find some really nice prints for the walls and that room is done!!

I think it will be a lovely spot to sit and read and look out on the garden (when it gets done).

Hi .. I'm Bruce

Hi there humans ... my name is Bruce and I am a Blue Tongue Lizard. I live under the deck of some people called John & Andy. Some days, there is even a little person that comes and stays for a few days at a time. She is pretty noisy and she scares me sometimes because she bounces a ball right above my house. Very annoying!!



I quite like my new home as I can hide from other humans and animals but when they are all working, I sun myself on the garden bed or on the driveway. It's very warm there sometimes.

I think the humans quite like me as they tried to feed me some strange meat the other day. I didn't really like it so I hope they don't try to do that again.

The lady human (Andy) got a bit cross with me yesterday because I decided to play in the front garden bed as it was such a lovely day .. but apparently I put all of the red bark into the white pebbles, and that really annoyed her. I heard her say something about making me into a small handbag!!

I'm not sure how long I will be able to stay here as the people were talking about fixing up the pathway leading to the deck. It didn't sound like a very good plan to me as that's where the hole is for me to crawl into my home.

I'll cross my claws and hope they don't block me in when they fix the path!!

See ya,

Bruce

Couch MIA and a new tree

Where the hell are MY... sorry .... OUR new couches???!!!!!! Who knows. We were told 3-4 weeks, and I'm sure it has now been closer to 5 weeks since we ordered them. A stern phone call to Freedom is in order today I think.

John's two little snodgers arrive on Sunday for a week (from Hobart) and I wanted the lounge room to be done for when they get here. Not that they can use that room of course ......... only kidding. Ha ha ... I'm so funny.

Anyway ... we arrived home last night to find that the council had been and has planted trees in everybody's nature strip. Nice. Pity we haven't done the nature strip yet but I guess now we'll just work around the tree that's there!!

Not sure what type of tree it is and I'll take a photo on the weekend. It's decidious so looks quite ugly and bare at the moment but I'm sure it will be lovely.

A new bench, some lounge room furniture and a lizard

After 14 months of the dryer sitting on the laundry bench, Dad came around on the weekend and put it up on the wall!!!

It is nice to actually see how the laundry was supposed to look for a change!!!

Now all we're waiting for is the weather to fine up so the dogs can go back outside and my laundry floor can be clean for a change, rather than paw prints and mud all over my tiles!!!

Note to self: if we ever build again, get the builder to concrete down the 'wasted' side of the house.

Also, some of the lounge room furniture was delivered on Friday and we are anxiously awaiting a phone call to say that our couches are ready for delivery. The coffee table & two lamp tables are quite 'chunky' (a bit like their owners really) so all of a sudden the room looks like it won't fit the couches .... but I'm assured that they will!!

Work on the backyard will also re-commence shortly. Stay tuned for arguments .. I mean, progress by J and I.

We also have a few visitors in our garden .... the noisy frogs are back (which annoy me at 3:00am but I'm told that it's a good sign of how healthy the backyard is) and we have a lovely Blue Tongue Lizard (whom we have named Bruce) living under the deck at the front. He kept me company on Saturday when I was weeding the garden.

Furniture joy .... DVD major bummer

We braved the freezing weather yesterday so that I could show J the couches I had been looking at for the formal lounge room. They are more expensive than I had originally anticipated to spend, but I figure this room won't be used as much as the family room so they should last us a good 15-20 years!! Here's hoping anyway.

Fortunately J liked them too so we ordered them ... due in 4 weeks. Yay!!

We have also chosen the wooden furniture (coffee table, lamp tables etc) for that room so the only hard thing will be choosing a nice rug to go under the coffee table. I doubt J really cares that much about a rug so I'll enjoy looking around for one.

And for those that know me .... yes, a bit disappointed that the lounge room will be done before the backyard but I have every confidence that the back yard will be done by christmas.

So happiness all round for how the lounge room is going to look.

We also FINALLY bought some new cordless phones. Friends and family are getting sick of ringing the home phone because we only had one handset .. in the bedroom .... and it used to kick in to the answering machine before you could get to the bedroom and answer it. So most of the time we would just let it ring.

Well loved ones, you'll be pleased to know that we now have 3 handsets so too much wine will be the only reason we can't answer the phone!!

We were also very excited to purchase 'Contiuum' .. the final movie of the Stargate saga. Again, for those that know us, you'll know that Stargate is a big hit in our house and we have watched with delight as Jack, Sam, Daniel Jackson (mmm yummy) & Teal'c have fought all kinds of strange & evil creatures.

So you would think the final movie would have been pretty awesome ...............

Wouldn't you???

Well ... I can assure you that it wasn't!

Very disappointing. Shame on you Stargate writers. If this is all you were going to deliver you shouldn't have bothered!!!!

They're finished!!

Matt has had this week off and been coming down every day to finish off the garden beds.

Slow .. yes but he has done a great job. Matt - you're a legend!!!

Just so you know what you're looking at ..... the 2 garden beds will be rendered (have been looking for a good colour and I may have just found it by stealing Bern & Perry's front render colour!!) ... the pavers are a cream colour, but more 'yellow' cream than 'pink' cream (that makes much more sense when you see the differences) so it's going to be important to get that right.

Anyway ... I'm rambling .. where was I ... oh yes, rendered garden beds which will have a bamboo panel behind each bed. Plants of choice ... yukka heads with some other plants at the bottom (can't remember their name but they are purple and green ... common name is 'moses in a cradle' or something similar).

The gap in between the 2 beds will be a blueboard panel ... again colour is important but I'm thinking green or red .... and that area will be where the BBQ will sit.

All the bit in front (where the rubbish & weeds/grass is) will obviously be paved.

So there you go ... one job done ... 593 to go!! Can't wait to try and render ... should be fun!!

Bedroom update & backyard mess

OK .... I have been feeling very guilty about my lack of 'love' for the house blog, and my fellow house bloggers have shamed me into posting something!!!

So a few things have happened around the house.

We ordered the entertainment unit for the bedroom while we were in Brisvegas and it got delivered upon our return. We absolutely love it and it's perfect for the room.... the colour of the wood is almost identical to our bed!!! I say that our bedroom is now complete however J says 'it will be complete when we get the bundy fridge'.

The other very slow changes are to the backyard. As you may recall, we had to build the bricked garden beds (which will be rendered) before we could flatten the area and pave it. Unfortunately 99% of the brickies in Melbourne wouldn't do it because it was such a small job and the one guy we did find, fell off the scaffold the day before he was due to come over and broke his hand so couldn't work for 6 weeks!!

In hind sight ... waiting for him for 6 weeks may have been a better option as they would now be done and the paving would also be done!!!!!

I shouldn't complain though ... one of our great neighbours (man it's good to have tradies in the street) agreed to do the beds for us for a few hundred dollars!! Great, cheap as. He's a lovely guy but slow ... boy, you have no idea.

In all fairness to him however he is not a bricky so I can't expect him to get it done as quickly as a bricky would ... but it doesn't help my desire to get it all done before the big rains come (yes .. I'm sure they will come!!!).

So about 6 weeks into the project and he is ALMOST finished. I noticed last night that he had been down during the day and on one of the beds, he has almost completed the top row ... just needs another couple of rows on the other one.

I took a photo a few weeks ago so you could see the start .... and took a photo last night (not a good pic) to show what has been completed so far.

And now to the bike :-)))

No .. won't bore you with bike stories on this blog but I thought I'd post a pic anyway!!! After all .... you can never have too many pics (isn't that right Perry!!!).

And just for your info ... her name is Scarlett :-)

Distraction...................

J here,

I dont know if we have any loyal readers left out there but on the off chance we still do I would like to apologise for the lack of blogg action of late.

A, (also known as geek girl) has been somewhat distracted the last few weeks by something shiny........ Her new Motorcycle.

Just in case you folks havent clicked on the new blog page listed to the right of this post. I will attempt to update you.

I have been away quite a bit of late (weve been married about 10 months and 5 of those I have been in Brisvegas and I thought it was time I got the girlie something nice for being so understanding.

A has always wanted to ride a bike and a couple of years ago year 'grumpy santa' got her a voucher for some riding gear that so after a bunch of research on line while I should have been working I Brought her a suzuki GS500F.

We picked up the bike last thursday and I have had it surrounded by razor wire in the Garage until such time as she can ride it. Come to think of it A did have some rather suspicious cuts on her hands the other night and when questioned about them she told me she got them '...... cooking your tea you bastard !!'

So Today A is off with her dad doing her learners course so that we can go for our first ride together on the weekend.

Ok.... On the house front. The new entertainment unit has arrived for the bedroom and the garden beds for the outside bbq area are taking shape.

Hang in there dear reader and Im sure her ladyship will update you all with pictures when she eventually gets her licence.

J

Syonara Brisvegas

Well my 2 weeks stay in Brisbane has finally come to an end! Has been a good 2 weeks but very glad to be getting back home. Husband will be staying for another week however.

Not sure how much rain has been in Melbourne but it will be interesting to see how my garden is looking and how the drain in the back yard is holding up.

Things I'm looking forward to when I get home:

- sleeping in my own bed
- watching our TV (getting a bit sick of watching a 52cm screen)
- seeing the puppies
- cooking in my own kitchen, not the electric hot plates in the apartment!!

Matt from up the road was supposed to build the garden beds out the back while we were gone but I haven't had any reports from Sarah that there has been any movement in the backyard. Oh well ... it's been this long now, what's another few weeks!!

Things I'll miss in Brisbane:

- not having to wear scarf, hat, gloves and overcoat to brave the outside world

- cheap petrol

- our beautiful niece Grace .. now 9 months old.

Where else but Queensland

Where else do you find muggy weather, frizzy hair and unhelpful people!!!

I think the folk in the hospitality industry have forgotten the meaning of the word 'hospitality'!!

Experiences so far have been:

1. We go to Brisbane Botanical Gardens, have a coffee in the garden restaurant and ask them how to get to Mt Tamborine.

Us: Hi - can you tell us how to get to Mt Tamborine?
Brisbane-ite (insert stereo-typical blonde voice here and tilt head to one side): Noooo ... that's on the Gold Coast
Us: Yes we are aware it's near the Coast however can you tell us how to get there:
Brisbane-ite: Noooo ... we don't go to the Gold Coast
Us: Thanks for your help

2. Had a meeting in Mansfield yesterday (about 14km away from where our office is) so I caught a taxi.

Taxi driver (insert stereo-typical italian taxi driver who wouldn't turn on air conditioner but windows down): Where to
Me: [give him address]
Taxi driver: do you know where that is
Me: No .. but I'm guessing in Mansfield
Taxi driver: Do you know how to get there
Me: No ... that's why I am catching a taxi
Taxi driver: Do you know what the name of the building is
Me : No ... I'm from interstate .. I've never been there before
Taxi driver: [insert heavy sigh and tut-tutting as he has to look up Melways for directions]

3. I get on a bus last night to get back to apartment, but got on wrong bus. Got off at first stop I could and walked to a street I was familiar with. A bus comes along so I ask the driver:

Me: Do you go anywhere near Turbot Street
Bus Driver: I go straight down Adelaide Street
Me: Yes I know you go down Adelaide Street but does it go far enough to be in the vicinity of Turbot Street
Bus Driver: I go straight down Adelaide Street
Me: I am trying to get to the corner of Bowen & Turbot Street .... will this bus take me within a 4 block radius
Bus Driver: I go straight down Adelaide Street

Where else but Queensland indeed!!

My darling A called me tonight to tell me that tonight might be the last night we were married cause she was gunna run away with some sawn off bloody Canadian who reckons he can sing

Well unlike her I reckon there is something to say......... but Im a firm believer in the addage that a picture is worth a thousand words.................




Im thinking about career in graphic design....................... waddayareckon :)

J

No title post

This post has no title because there is nothing I could even say to live up to the standard of this man. Off to the concert tonight..... have been looking forward to it for 3 months.

It's finally here .....

No, not the paving ... not the entertainment unit ... and certainly not the grand piano.



Finally, the long awaited premiere of 'Sex and the City'!!!

We're off for a girls night tonight to see it and then dinner and de-brief after the flick. I'm told to take the tissues because it's a bit of a tear jerker in parts!!!!

I almost got in trouble from the compliance leader in our business when I sent an email offering sex in the city to all the girls in the office :-))

New curtains and a birthday party

Phase 3 of the bedroom makeover has been complete. Curtains .... for those that can't pick what the change has been :-)

Sarah also had her 11th birthday party on Saturday (bowling) with a sleepover on Saturday night. Surprisingly the girls were very responsible and were in bed by 10:30pm!!

Inspection complete .... and new chair arrived

12 month inspection completed. For PD builders, keep in mind that this inspection is for 'structural' items only, so if anything is not right with appliances or other bits and pieces, they won't care about it!!

I only had a few items for them to look at .... the kitchen benchtop, the electrical work in the bathroom and Sarah's room (every now and then zaps and light turns off ... I'm no electrician but I'm tipping this is not good), and the glass on the shower screen. There were a couple of other items but he wasn't interested as they were not considered structural and I should have 'raised the issue' at the 3 month inspection!! Yes, I did have a bit of a go at him about that.

Another issue I was a bit annoyed about was our roof tiles. We've had 2 tradies over the last 6 months go up on the roof and both of them said 'there are a lot of broken tiles'. I raised this with the inspector and all he said was "you should have bought this up at the 3 month inspection" (I clearly forgot to check the roof all those times I went up on to the roof) ... and then the next comment was "how do we know that your tradies didn't break the tiles".

It was an argument I wasn't going to win so I just said "whatever".



I was also a bit annoyed about the issue of the bench top. There is one area that the join in the laminate has become a bit more noticeable than the other joins. There is also a tiny bit of 'bubbling' in the laminate in this area (not sure how to describe it) so I pointed it out to him .. and again his comment was "how do we know you haven't left water on the bench for a long period of time or put something hot on the laminate".

Again ... I wasn't going to win the argument so again just made him write it on the inspection sheet anyway but I'm not putting any bets on that we'll get it looked at.



So that's kind of annoying.

The other annoying thing is that John is back up in Brisbane for a month. Left on Monday morning. The next 2 weeks will be horrible but I'm going up to work in our Brisvegas office for 2 weeks to keep an eye on him!! Looking forward to the warmer weather (but not the rain that is going to make my hair frizzy!!).





The positive this week however has been the arrival of my new chair (we'll call this the 'reading chair').



This is our little retreat area in the bedroom :-))

Only 2 more things needed for the room then we're done ... swags & tails which are coming end of June/early July and still looking for a low line entertainment unit to put the x-box on and put the DVDs etc away.



Did find one the other day but was in the wrong colour!! Isn't it always the way!!!

The X-Box couch is enjoying the rest. John decided to take Need for Speed with him (good one) so there are no good games for me to play. His comment was "you can play Feroza". For anybody that has an X-Box 360 you'll know that it's a pretty lame game!!!



Thanks husband.