The Letter

Yesterday, we finally got The Letter. Loretta, super secretary extraordinaire, faxed it straight off and the council had it in their hot lil hands before arvo tea time. Go Loretta!
Hopefully, things will be a bit easier from now - apart from the $10,000 bank guarantee, $2000 privilege payment etc etc that the F#(&*#)&%s want.

And on Monday, my splashback was installed. It's beeeyoootifulll. The colour has a lot of metallic in it so I was a bit worried about the disco ball effect, but it just makes it shine. Haven't seen it under lights yet (since we have no lights).

The rubbish on the bench is the packaging for the rangehood, which is also under there somewhere.




All we are waiting on now is Energex to come and connect us to some of that thar lectric stuff. And the phone - but that is Telstra so ummmm ... mmmm .... tin cans might have to do for a while. Can emails go via virtual pigeon?

To be sure to be sure

St Paddy's Day and we inch even closer. I now have sewerage, stormwater and tanks, and water! (via a connection to old house). No idea as yet when the electricity gets connected to mains, and who knows when I will have a phone again.

The glass splashback goes in on Friday and now I'm all nervous again that the colour will be ok.

Now I've found it online and I'm even more nervous - too green? too sparkly? too late now

(Dr Seuss moment - too tall, too fat, too squirly, too twirly.)

Almost there

The decision has been made to hook up regardless - although we are now a lot closer to That Letter.

All the trenches were supposed to be dug this week - but - it started RAINING grrrrr. However, the water tanks were installed today, and are hooked to the gutters so at least some of the water will end up in them and not making mud on the ground. There is also a cement slab ready for the gas bottle so I guess that will be making its appearance soon.

At this point, next Monday 16th is The Day for hooking up water and stormwater (for this house only). I don't know yet when electricity and phone will be done but it's also supposed to be next week. Once they are done WE MOVE IN! *excitement*.

Carpets were laid last Monday in the bedrooms and are nice and soft underfoot. I have threatened to kneecap any tradie who dares walk on them in muddy boots. They have no reason to go in the bedrooms anyway. Once I put the blinds up, the bedrooms are finished.

Foxy has also been busy fixing up the, very few, faults in the house. Guess he wants his money :)

en suite with shower screen and dunny

cooktop is in. playing with colours for splashback. the one on left is sort of 'it'

Mr Squishy was also delivered on Monday and has been flopped on by everyone. The plastic cover makes him a bit less squishy. I have threatened to take a bucket of water and a candle and go sleep in the new house.

Mr Squishy and carpet

The photos aren't great. It was getting dark and the camera was nearly out of battery.

Still waiting

The new house excitement is starting to pall somewhat. I STILL don't have the &!&!&#$ access letter so everything has stalled. I'm sure that Foxy is just as twitchy as I am, since he will be wanting his last payment. Stephen rang them a few times last week and it turned that the f#$$!*& s had put the wrong phone number for the contact! I am banned from ringing - apparently I tend to get a trifle sarcastic? Moi?

The guy came to measure up for the wardrobe and linen cupboard shelving today, so at least something will be done. Apart from that, nothing much has happened in the last few weeks and it should be finished by now *sob*. All that remains for Foxy to do is:

• the shelving in minor beds and linen cupboard
• install the gas cooktop
• fit the door handles back on
• fix the bits and pieces that need fixing
• and all the outside stuff like stormwater tanks and utility hookups

I have to:

• finish data points and TV points, and install Starserve
• organise carpet
• put the blinds up
• get rangehood installed
• get glass splashback organised (after rangehood)
• shelving in pantry
• shelving in my walk in robe
• concrete Al and the entry so we don't track mud everywhere
• retaining wall at side of house so fence doesn't fall over
• get Mr Squishy delivered
• move
• have large stiff drink
• or three

I've done about half the data points and some of the TV points. I don't think I'm very good at crimping F type connectors so they probably won't work LOL. I think the crimper is right handed! And they are possibly called 'F' connectors for a reason.

The carpet has been chosen and after my initial gasp at the price (which I'm getting cheaper anyway thanks to Steve), I'm probably best off paying for the good stuff. It's St Abbi, colour Refectory (how very religious) which is a sort of mottled mid brown. It's a solution dyed nylon plush or something, with 15 year guarantee. As soon as the muddy-booted ones do the shelving I can have it installed.

Come next weekend, it will be somewhat crowded at the Chateau. Lucinda and Andrew (and
Jeckyl the cat) will be moving here too. They have a contract on a house but it is currently tenanted so they may be with us until June ish.
Zoe and Troy's house has FINALLY been designed and is in the process of being drawn up, ready to go go go as soon as sub division is done.
Megan and Dave have designed the Greenbank Mansion and are currently browsing for its components.
I think it will be ummmmmmmmm interesting with the cat and dog here .. together .. perhaps.
Since Bear has been hell bent on catching that pesky possum, who lives in the roof. It was on the roof last night; had a baby on its back awwwwwwwwww. The possum I mean. Not Bear. He just wishes he could fly.

What colour splashback should I have?

Slowly slowly

My shower door returned yesterday. Once again, the installer got muddy footprints on the tiles - and the cleaners had been earlier in the week and cleaned the house completely! The floor tiles still have some of the protective coating (sort of waxy) so they don't shine - yet.

Today the painter did the front door (ironstone) and the downpipes (paperbark). Seems weird cos the tank and it's related pipes aren't in yet, but apparently he needs his money.

The fridge, lounges, dishwasher and air cons are arriving on 9th. The shops just couldn't keep them any longer - well 4 months ain't bad! Erm the air cons weren't in the original order but they were on special at my fave store and well, you know how it goes :)

Glass

Today's installation was the wardrobe doors in other bedrooms, mirrors in bathrooms and shower screens. For some reason, my shower is missing it's door right now - I'm sure it will return.
It's been raining and there's mud everywhere, including muddy footprints inside grrr. Can't be helped I guess.

Lights

The lights, powerpoints, assorted switches are now installed. I had a hanging garden of lights in the living areas yesterday before they hooked them up properly. The oven is also installed. The only things that aren't are the above vanity lights; I guess they are waiting for the mirrors to be installed first.

looking towards front door

looking back towards media room

The wires hanging out of the walls are my data and TV cables. Guess that's the next job.