some positive things

16.1.2012

It was great. We were able to relax with our friends and enjoy a party in the new house. Everyone helped carry food down there and as our friends have many interests in common there was lots to talk about. I am so pleased with how Alvyn has managed to design the house to make this sort of event possible. The house really works for temperature control and now we find it is perfect for entertaining too.

Edd agreed to buy the bedroom furniture and with in a few hours of putting in the order we had an e-mail from friends wanting to come and stay! I knew we really needed it, but I did not expect instant proof. Today Edd went off to buy wood to make the doorframes so that we can render the guest and small bedroom.

Richard spent the day in the toilet. It looks much better now he has rendered the walls in there. I hope he will start on the snug room tomorrow whilst Edd is building the doorframes for the bedrooms. My task was to pay all the bills but in the afternoon Beth came over with two of her friends who were visiting her.

They both lived in our old house when we were in the NT and Beth was looking after the place. Anne joked that we should go back to the NT so she could move into the new house. Donna is a photographic artist and enjoyed how we had incorporated features from the old house. It is sad that we lost the lovely framed photos she gave us in the fires but one of our friends gave us another artwork on Friday that we all agree will be perfect for the new place.

We are still waiting for the scoria we need for the roof to be crushed. When this is delivered we can get the soil covering put on. I think that we have done enough earthworks now to put in the power and water so the roof covering is mainly cosmetic. The house seems to be very well insulated even without the covering. My job is still to do the floor grouting. I have two bedrooms and a small amount of passage to go so I am definitely winning.

Josh has been making clips for the fly screen windows. Josh heard Edd complain that he could not find good ones to buy, so he made a plaster mould and melted down some pewter scraps we salvaged from the fires and cast new clips. They are really very good and a most unusual recycling approach that rather appeals to us. His course in WA starts again soon but he has only to complete a small amount and write it up so we are not sure what the time frame is. It would be good if he could just flyover for a few weeks and fly back.