Our bath got christened!

Yesterday after playing 2 games of soccer Marissa came home and asked if she could have a bath.
I think she was sore from all of her effort. In her first game her team took out the minor premiership and she scored a goal, but it was disallowed because the ref said she was off side even though she wasn't. I didn't even yell at the ref (after being threatened with a ban the last time I screamed at a ref I have now reformed), that was left up to another mother in the team and the coach. In the second game she played in a girls team and scored 3 goals. 
The bath received the thumbs up as she said that it was really deep and the water stayed hot for ages. She was also quite excited when she realized that she was the first person to use it.

Alas there is no photo as she wouldn't let me take one of her in the bath.

The last day of the week, and new windows.

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

The hideous archway has gone!

I arrived home to beams across the top of out new room out the back.

This in itself was pretty exciting, but the best was saved for when I walked into the house and saw the new window that had been put into the dining room. Sorry Sheena, it's the same size as the previous one!

New walls were put in at the top near the ceiling as it had a funny bit at the top and wasn't smooth after they took off the old cornices..(I'm sure that there is some sort of building jargon that I should have used for this)

But I guess the best came as I walked through the plastic sheeting and discovered that the hideous archway had been replaced with a square doorway. We hadn't intended to change the doorway but Wayne suggested that we do it because the archway looked ridiculous....and I couldn't agree more. I am ecstatic with the new doorway.

Can't wait to see how they finish the week off tomorrow.

Building in earnest

Yesterday saw the delivery of a whole lot of timber for our house.

Peter was away so I don't think much else got done, apart from a few little bits here and there.

Today I got home to see the start of a room out the back. Very exciting.

The ceiling in the hallway has also been installed which will be great to keep out the chill a bit more.

I am looking forward to seeing what has been done when I get home tomorrow.

I love my new window!

This morning when we woke up we were greeted with sunshine....so that meant the builders were back.

They were here right on time and started work straight away.

The day was spent tidying up as there is going to be a delivery of all of the timber tomorrow for the frames. Our yard looks a whole lot better now and is really tidy.

Peter spent the morning putting in my new kitchen window. I just love it, it makes such a difference. I can't wait until we get the new kitchen to go with it.

Time was also spent ripping up the tiles on the front balcony.....I am so glad that we spent all of that money getting them put down not so long ago.

Tomorrow is going to be a huge day with the delivery of the timber and Wayne has already asked us to move our cars away from in front of the house to allow the truck to get close.

No sport, Get the Rollers!

A weekend of no sport thanks to the big wet, oh what to do? As anticipated, the WIR had been readied for painting. Therefore, I knew what I was doing. It was paint brush and rollers at the ready. Whilst it is only the WIR, I need to try and set a standard so my best effort was put in.

Joel was disappointed that my colour of choice was white. I think it has come out pretty good again. Before and after shots, the room so bright that it comes up REALLY white.

Before:

After:

A better shot from outside the door.

Well tomorrow is the start of week 7. It will be interesting where they start. They have been talking about going up for a couple of weeks now so if the weather stays fine, maybe we will have some action up top.

It's still raining!!! The wettest July in 60 years.

It rained all night and it has rained all day. The weather report on the news has reported that it has been the wettest July in 60 years. Of course it is, we are renovating.

As a result the builders decided not to come.

A very wise decision I think. I was so happy when they didn't turn up today because it meant that we got a lie in as it is the last day of Marissa and Joel's holidays.

When I got to the Rusin's yesterday to pick up Joel and Marissa they were understandably reluctant to come home. After all it's kids paradise over there. They had a wonderful time bowling with Hannah and Marissa loved playing with little Zac. Plus the whole downstairs level with a massive television that had Foxtel was an added bonus that they took full advantage of. Needless to say I had to drag them kicking and screaming back to our drafty leaking house. I am really grateful to Pete and Karyn for opening their house so generously to my family.

Today we were unsure as to what we were going to do when the builders arrived. Denise and Andrew had generously offered us the use of their house for the day and Sheena was also happy for us to lob in there for the day. In the end the builders didn't turn up and so everyone got a sleep in and then have had a pyjama day today. 

Marissa has spent the day going back and forward to bed and she has also made a powerpoint presentation about our renovation to show her class.

Joel has been on his computer and watching Top Gear in his pyjama's. He has been in heaven.

I spent the day in bed reading until I fell asleep. Quite a good day really!

Oh well all sport has been cancelled for the weekend.....now there's a surprise!

Not sure what we will do over the weekend, but at least we are dry in this weather and I am so happy that the builders didn't take our roof off last week because it would be really unpleasant if that had been the case.

Hey Wayne, any chance we can turn the house into an Ark?

It has been a very very wet couple of days. It started pouring with rain early this morning, after raining most  of yesterday, and it is still pouring down now well over 12 hours later. Not exactly the best conditions for building, particularly when the builders are desperate to start going upstairs. Given this is the first bad weather in 6 weeks, it hasn't been a bad run.

There was still work to be done inside though to keep them busy. The cement floor from the old bathroom had been removed yesterday. Peter was telling me this morning that it looked like an old veranda. It has been fascinating discovering how the house was once set out, finding the old and new wood and sheeting. This is the hole that needed the floor rebuilt.

You can start to get a visual idea on how this might play out when the back wall is removed to lead out into the new family room area.

Peter was busy early this morning measuring up for the wood needed to construct a floor. Tonight there is a floor in place. It is a temporary floor so work can continue as this will eventually become floor boards when finished.

Part of the old bathroom has been sheeted however a quick look up reveals tiles and outlines the work in front of the builders putting this all back together.

The ceiling in the hallway was taken down, probably more a function of looking for work to do inside and the space sheeted. Given the rain all day today, the replacement of the window in the laundry was an impressive piece of work.

Our bedroom was subjected to more work. The WIR had cornice put up and I think a sanding of the walls. There may be another call for the painting rollers in the near future.

Yesterday the big piece of work was the removal of the old ceiling in the dining and kitchen and the putting up of new sheeting covering in the big hole. Talking to the builders this morning it was a big day and hard work as the old fancy cornice was stuck in place with a lot of plaster, resulting in a lot of holes in the walls. It has really opened up the area and made a big difference as to how the room feels. The old dark fake brick really closed in the room, it is already so much brighter and open.

We'll see what work is completed tomorrow. The forecast is for more rain along the coast so I'm sure it will be another interesting day.

Yes, we are still here

Well, hasn't it been a fun filled, action packed last few days. After proudly showing my painting skills on Sunday, it was log off the computer and a quick trip to the airport and a flight to Ballina. Virgin had foxtel running on the plane, how good was the flight switching between Australia losing the Rugby, Melbourne smashing the Raiders, Swans losing and a bit of Nascar action. Chief Blogger was waiting for me, and it was a hallmark card reunion after 2 weeks apart. Lucky the kids didn't tag along otherwise I'm sure we would have heard the usual 'eeewww, yuck, stop that you two!'
 
Anyway, it was a good drive back from Yamba with a couple of calls from Wayne checking out electrical issues and the like. The rain had held off on Monday so the slab was being poured so we pulled up with high expectations and for Chief Blogger and kiddies, 2 weeks of catching up on what had been done.

Firstly, the slab had been laid.

The massive hole at the entrance to the house had also been filled in. Must have been a big truck the amount of concrete that was poured.

Thinking that was all that had been done, we ventured inside and yes, the BUILDERS had been up to their favorite pastime again, demolition!!  The old bathroom had been completely stripped, the walls, bath, vanity, shower, toilet gone. The floorboards had continued down the hall however there was a concrete floor, not good.

Further work had been completed in our bedroom, there was now a door on the WIR and the skirting had been completed.

Yesterday (Tuesday), the work continued on the stripping of the old bathroom and now all that is left is a big hole in the floor that needs to be rebuilt where the cement floor was in place.

This morning (Wednesday) when we left it was pelting down with rain and blowing a strong wind as it had most of the night. We had cleared the kitchen and dining area of pretty well everything as the task for the day was to rip all the old ceiling down and replace with new sheeting. Tonight, job finished! Which makes heating the area a whole lot easier.

The electrician came back today and reconnected the Telstra cable back to the computer. Problem with plans which has the new only and no discussion on what stays temporarily while building. Well, internet is back which Brendan is happy about as he was sweating on access for an assignment and the electrician has also punched holes in the ceilings in the en suite (my nicely painted ceiling!!), our bedroom, the lounge room, all ready for new lights, which we don't have so not sure when we will have lights. Ever since our return on Monday it has been all portable lights and lamps at night.

Photos to come later as in all the packing up, I can't find the cable to connect the camera to the computer. Anyway, it has still been a big 3 days to start the week. Be interested in the work tomorrow if the weather stays as it is, all rain and wind. At least the roof hasn't been taken off yet. Rain and wind and just a tarp on the roof, not sure there would have been much shut eye!

Good to be back on line, and good to have Chief Blogger back at home. Chief worked today and a little tired to blog so Deputy stepped in for the day. Till tomorrow, happy renovating!

No internet!!

The unthinkable has happened......we have had no internet since Monday (and today is Wednesday).

Oh well hopefully tonight when we get home it will be back on again and we will be able to update everyone with what is happening.

There has been quite a lot going on......at least everything has a layer of dust covering it.

Marissa and Joel have bailed to the Rusins for 2 nights and after the stormy night last night I wish I had as well.

Enjoy the warm house kiddies because ours has a gale blowing through it!

Yesterday was my turn!

You may notice that the ceiling has been painted. I was given the green light to get the rollers out so it was drop clothes and rollers and the like at the ready as I painted the ceiling. Has come up pretty well if I do say so myself. We'll see what the builders say on Monday.

I also took some photos of the outside in the daylight. The back area is ready for the slab pour on Monday, assuming the rain stays away. The front of the house has also been coloured.

 Well, it is time to sign off, just about to go the airport to go and get Chief Blogger and the little ones. It has been a pleasure filling in. I think the kids are keen to come home, Chief Blogger not so much. A lot has been done, but it is messier to live in now so they may not be so keen once they get back.

Till later, have a good one! 

End of Week 5 - The builders are tired!

Today is the end of week 5 of building. I can't believe how much progress has been made in less than 5 weeks of work. Speaking to Wayne this afternoon, he was tired, and Peter and Phil said how hard they had been working yesterday. There is that covering of dust around the place, equipment, materials lying around ready to use, the hole in the ceiling though has been covered so I am a little warmer tonight BUT, there is no lights. Problems with the power but I do have power points working so at least the TV, heater and portable lights are working.

It is also raining so the dirt is going to mud outside and too much rain is not going to be good for the slab pour on Monday. Peter and Phil were hard into it this morning getting the steel laid. I'll have to photo in the morning as I can't be bothered going outside in the rain tonight.

There has been further work on the en suite, the window and door frame has been framed up and the ceiling has been finished ready for painting. I have a little job to do over the weekend. The door frame for the WIR and the door into our bedroom has also been framed up ready for a door.

I used the morning light, though it wasn't working as it was freezing this morning to take some photos of the backyard and the progress on the slab area. As you can see, stuff everywhere!

The progress on the slab is impressive, the photos tomorrow in the light should be interesting but have a look at the depth of the piers, we must be seriously building a multi story building. It will take a whole cement truck to fill them!

Well, might go and turn the electric blanket on and get into bed, it has been a long week at work and while I'm sure Chief Blogger and the kids have enjoyed their holiday away, Deputy Blogger has missed his family. Be seeing them soon though which is good, but not for them as they will be home!

Get out of the shower!

Folks, the house is an absolute mess from one end of the block to the other however this morning I didn't care one iota. I was having a shower in our new en suite under Chief Blogger's shower head and I didn't want to move. Besides being cold the rest of the house, it was wonderful under the hot water. In less than 5 weeks, I was having a shower in what used to be Marissa's bedroom. I'd previously christened the toilet and used the basin, ah, the mess is worth it.

This morning I had a chance to see the work out the back in the day light. Tonight the back looks like it is very close to being ready to have the slab laid. On Monday morning the excavator turned up and started ripping up the yard, today it looks ready for concrete. Our builders just keep going and going.

This is tonight, there has been a lot of work, and have a look at the depth of the piers, clearly the structural engineer thinks we are building a 4 story building!

The new entrance to the house has also been worked over considerably today. Wouldn't want to walk up to the house without looking!!

There was some work inside the house. The electrician was back running cable for the internet, TV cable and putting power points into the walls.

 

Henry was also back and tiled around the edge of the laundry floor. The large hole in the ceiling in the kitchen dining room is still there so I am still wearing 2 jumpers to stay warm. Wayne assures me he is going to close up the ceiling, I'm just hoping its soon!

Guess where I'm showering tomorrow!?!?

Yes, it is true, there is water in the en suite and I'm cleared to use it. This is water flowing out of the shower head, and yes I'm going to enjoy the very first shower in our new en suite tomorrow morning. I've thought about trying to set up a photo of me showering in the new shower however this is a family show and there is a very good chance I would get it horribly wrong ........

If I'm not happy with a shower, I might try a bath, as the water is filling the bath nicely out of the waterfall spout.

And I'll definitely be cleaning my teeth in the basin.

And of course I'll have to open the window to let the steam out, or other air particles as the case may be ...

It has been a big day as evidenced by the work in the en suite. The plumber has been very busy as I can now go wash some clothes in the laundry, while doing my business ...

The electrician has also been here running a new cable from the street to the house upgrading the line, putting in a new meter box and running the wiring all over the ground floor where the new power is required. There are holes and cable everywhere.

The air conditioning man returned and the last remains of the air conditioning unit has disappeared off the outside walls and the units themselves from the walls inside. Definitely not going to be having any heating from this system any more. Rest in peace Mr LG, you have done a sterling job over the years.

The other boys were clearly busy as well, the back area has more form work completed in preparation for the concrete slab.

It has been a long day, a work function tonight resulting in a late return home however there was a big chance that the electrical work was not going to be completed and I would be powerless and thus hot waterless in the morning. Wayne has done well, my electric blanket is on and I'm about to go and clean my teeth in the new basin and rest easy before the grand opening of our en suite shower. Can't wait!