Difficult times

6.12.11

BUILDING NEWS

There are definite signs that everyone has begun a mad bolt to finish and get things done before the Xmas break. We are having a difficult time keeping up with all that is going on.
Last week Gary and Andrew put the final touches to the actual structural work when they put the bricks onto the parapet. Luckily we managed to find just enough by raiding the last of the bricks we rescued from the old house. As these ones did not have to bear weight we could use those that we had classified as seconds. In some strange way fetching them from the house and using them seemed incredibly symbolic. Some how it signalled the move from the ruins to the new place as our family abode.

Richard also began the rendering and has now done all front arches in two days. He then got chased away by the team of plastering people who came here at some ungodly hour yesterday to start putting in the ceilings. They demanded that we clear everything out of the building and give them a clear run. This sounded like a really good excuse for me to have a break from grouting so I did a mad dash into Ringwood to my favourite hairdresser, Zoe, and she sorted me out.
Once again the plasterers arrived early today and seemed intent on working simultaneously in as many rooms as possible.

Rather reluctantly they agreed to put up the insulation as they went which left Edd free to complete his air pipe work. Luckily Josh arrived home and his extra height and long skinny arms were just what was needed. He sorted out Edd’s problems but his thoughts are off at a tangent designing a special light system that kicks in automatically if the power goes out. He carefully explained the details to me but I lack even the basic knowledge to understand more than the concept.

The ceiling went up in the end bedroom very quickly because long boards curved straight from the back wall to the front over the wood frame. The flat ceilinged rooms took a bit longer because the suspended metal braces needed to go in first. One of the men does this with the aid of a laser levelling devise and the rest follow behind. They plan to start the curved main room ceiling today whilst he is framing the east end of the back passage. The East passage is already done!

I imagine the plastering of joins will also start tomorrow. My job was to buy a role of black plastic from Yarra Glen to cover the pavers and protect them from any plaster drops. It is useless for me to think of grouting today too. I need a rest but I was doing rather well over the weekend and have almost completed work on the large kitchen floor area.

Meanwhile, Tom our cabinetmaker has injured his back and is out of action this week. He really wanted to get our kitchen in but the wall it is to go one has not been rendered so this delay is not a problem. The window glass is another matter! There is some talk of it going in on Friday! As I said it is all going a bit too fast.

OTHER NEWS

I thought I was doing really well getting my hair done, the chook food collected and the shopping done yesterday and still being in time to go out with Bo’s parents in law for dinner. I ruined my efforts at looking civilized by getting speared in the eye by a sharp twig as I dived under the oak tree to pick up a heavy bit of wood. Now I have an eye full of blood and anti biotic drops and look as worst for wear as always!

After the meal last night I drove to the hospital and read a novel until someone had time to check it out which is how I managed to get the drops early this morning and miss out on most of the nights sleeping time. It is sore but not too bad and at least I was sensible enough to spear the white of my eye not the seeing bit.

Thank goodness Josh is home. He got his work into uni by the correct time, fitted in the ethno botanical conference with his Queensland university friends and is now giving us much needed help. Al should be home this week too. I have found pictures on face book of the completed pizza oven in Lao, and bread it has baked.

Simon has had yet another huge order for his beer but he also crashed the van trying to avoid a dog and is suffering from some ghastly throat complaint. Bo has her restaurant breaking all previous records and also looks about to drop. I am sure that Wayne will be in drama too but he has not seen fit to involve us at present. Our mob are going through tough times.