Sunday Build Update

The floor is finally finished two and a half weeks after my initial floor post! So I now have decided to start a regular Sunday post for a while giving build and then interior design updates for the week. I was hoping to start it last Sunday but there was nothing much to report on, we had some delays (the office didn't order enough flooring).

My Dad and the kids admiring the view

Well now the floor is done, we have cleaned up to a certain extent so we can use the space, as we were told this week the next trade, the plasterer won't be here until after Easter, so a bit of a wait. The furniture in the pictures below is temporary and that awful board next to the sliding doors is meant to be a pane of glass (yes they didn't put it in, good one Stegbar!).

The other change this week is we have cut a hole in the wall above the kitchen sink to open it up and create a servery of sort, as on the other side of the wall is the dining area. Updating the rest of the kitchen is going to be a few years off (would love a white one with Jarrah bench tops) but this makes a huge difference as it is.

Now you see it.................

Now you don't..........................

And from the dining side.................

Looking back on the kitchen and door to hall.................

Well we are getting there but can't wait for the plasterer to finish so we can start to paint and decorate properly. As we can't paint inside this week or over Easter the focus will be on the weatherboard.

Hope you had a great weekend.

Time tricks

It was the first day of my daughters first ever school holidays today and I took her into the City to my office where we met my parents, who then looked after her for the day. Having her on the train with me and then showing her around, it suddenly hit me that time has really flown, where did the school term go and more importantly where did the last five years go? Slow down time!

On the other hand time as far as the build goes has slowed right down. In this case I want it to be the end of June and all over.

Those that read my blog regularly are probably thinking but it was going so fast, so what happened? Knock through that's what. I have been told by many once they knock through and are inside everything slows down and that is so right. They knocked through almost two weeks ago and since then there has been no obvious changes. They started the floor but haven't come back to finish it. I am told this will happen tomorrow but I will believe when I see it.

On top of which there is probably going to be at least a week and maybe two between the carpenters coming tomorrow and the plasterer starting! So speed up time!

Bedroom dreaming

Wow time can really fly can't it? I have just realised today that I have not only not posted on my blog for over a week but I haven't even had time to comment on others either. Now I have a bit of catching up to do.

I have over the past week been a little distracted and exhausted by the very slow finishing off of our ensuite and walk in robe, which also impacts on our main bedroom. I so want my bedroom and bed back, a little over sleeping in the lounge on a sofa bed. Can't wait to get back in a redecorate.

So what has been happening besides gastro, head lice, work, Christmas and birthdays parties and planning, painting and cleaning? We have had serious discussions with our builder about a few things we were not happy with, which are now being fixed but at a very slow rate.

We also have had a disagreement about installation of the shower screen, something in our building contract which we think the builders have stated they are doing but they don't. We eventually got to the point of organising it ourselves (and it got installed today and needs 24 hours to set). We will at this stage pay for it and try to get reimbursed. For us is not just about the money but the misleading wording in the contract and discussions we have had with them. If we were clear they weren't going to do it we would have organised a couple of weeks ago as soon as the tiling had been done.

Good news is we have had a shower in our new bathroom even without a shower screen as it was all sealed late last week, we just had to mop the floor and wipe down the toilet after every one.

The other frustrating thing is there is still some minor carpentry work required in our bedroom and hall, which we were told would happen today but didn't, so we still can't sleep in our room. It has now been seven and a half weeks (doesn't help that a colleague of mine has been doing similar work at his house, started three weeks after us and has already finished). Not sure when they will finish off as can't seem to tell us.

What I do know is with the shower screen going in today and the mirror being installed tomorrow (maybe because we organised both ourselves), the bathroom will be finished and ready to decorate this weekend. As soon as that is done I will post some pictures.Thankfully too the building waste that has been sitting in our driveway was cleared today just in time, as we have about 20 kids descending on our house Saturday morning for my daughter's fifth birthday. Fingers crossed we have good weather as the garden is looking great, with all the rain Melbourne has had.

Week three and counting

Magical picture we bought at the St Kilda markets - maybe for one of the kids new bedrooms.

If you are a Seinfeld fan you may remember the episode where George's father kept chanting serenity now to remain calm, well that is what I am trying to say to myself today - serenity now!

Why, because we are heading into our third week without a bathroom and were told today that we still don't have a date for when the plasterer is coming. I was told at the beginning of this there would be days when no one turns up and so was expecting it but didn't think it would be consecutive days on such a short job. We were told the new bathroom (ensuite) and walk in robe would take three to four weeks, hmmm!

So this could mean another few weeks of heading around to friends houses for showers and bathing the kids, my daughter and I sleeping in the lounge on the sofa bed (not overly comfortable for two adults, so hubby still sleeping in her bed) and on the days we have various tradies, cleaning up after they have left. All leading very quickly into Christmas and my daughters and my birthdays in December.

So serenity now! Not as hard because at least we are having beautiful weather this week. Good for getting out an about. And tomorrow I am heading off with my daughter to a getting to know her school session, I can't believe she turns five soon and is starting school next year, very exciting but a little sad at the same time.