burial starts

15.12.20011

BUILDING NEWS

Frank arrived early this morning and the back fill of the house began. It was amazing to watch the huge machines work within inches of the walls moving vast amounts of earth really carefully. I was surprised at how much they got done in just one day.

They have even got the first layer of polystyrene insulation foam in. They dug a trench for this after they had filled the earth in and just slotted it down.
Better still all the rubbish at the front of the house was carefully sorted and the real waste trucked behind the house for burial.

Richard also arrived early and has worked hard on the rendering. Edd and Josh got up at the crack of dawn and moved all the stuff from behind the house so Frank mobs could start and guess what? I did more grouting.
Just when it looked as if everything was going to plan we noticed that the glaziers had not showed up. This is really bad news. Why not? They left yesterday complaining madly that Yarra Glen had run out of meat pies but surely people do not stop work over that!

After a few phone calls the boss man turns up with his poor wife instead of the labour team, but by this time the day is nearly over and it is really hot. They did get some of the front panels in but the coloured glass and the rest of the double glass were in the too hard basket. We think we have extracted a promise to come back on Monday but it looks very dodgy.

OTHER NEWS

I have lost all interest in the aesthetic side of our building project, and can now only think of features that make it liveable as soon as possible. Our thoughts are dominated by worries about our family and really nothing else counts for much. How does one deal with these times? Is it better to aim at distraction or just acknowledge the situation as it really is? I suppose that I see my role as being on standby for whatever is needed. Other than that we must work as hard as possible on the house, which will give us the resources to be more helpful.

On a lighter side, Josh has found a magnificent growth of luminous fungi on the big gum tree stump. We all trouped out for a viewing last night and a neighbour with a good camera took photos. Josh had taken some shots the night before but we all felt they could be better.


14.12.2011

BUILDING NEWS

Today the glass started to go in. A team of guys arrived in the morning and unloaded the glass and then some stayed on to put it in. they were a bit of a Laurel and Hardy act at each other all day. Richard, Edd, Josh Steve and I helped when needed but mostly got quietly on with our own jobs.

I began work on the snug floor because no one really needed to go in there and Josh took his turn at the waterproofing. It was a good job he did because Frank’s gang arrived this afternoon and announced that they will start earth moving tomorrow.

Some big machinery arrived tonight so they are obviously in earnest.
Richard has nearly rendered almost all the kitchen wall and Edd helped Steve put in the laundry doorframe and the last of the architraves. Things really are changing now and it is hard to keep up with all that is needed.

OTHER NEWS

Yesterday the chook run door opened and the chooks got out. Unfortunately the fox noticed before we did and several are missing. Josh and I picked up stragglers all day. The buff Orpington was badly injured so she is on her own in an old beer drum where she may or may not recover but is at least safe from being pecked to death by her former friends. Chickens have no empathy for any of their mates who show weakness.

I moved the sheep out of the earth moving area. This was an easy job because when they saw me they followed me to the gate and went through of their own accord once I got it open. We also need to move the buck but that is harder as he has a sort of shelter that has to move with him. Then there is the fence! We probably should have moved that too. Oh well, we still have two hours of daylight.

I am rather relieved that the hours will soon start to shorten again. The sun now sets over Mt Everard but in mid winter it sets to the right of our own hill, which is a huge difference. We tend to work outside until dark so by the time the hour changes we are pretty worn out by all the extra activity.