Still here ....

It's been forever since I've blogged. Our lives are still far too hectic and really, there doesn't seem to have been much progress here at all to report!

I still haven't had much luck getting driveways/slabs in, still no battens, nor have we built mans-land (the shed) for the Darling Husband.  The gardens are still bare, but I have had a crack at getting rid of the lantana down the back! 
Exhausting stuff!  I promise to post some photos soon to really emphasise how ghastly it is!

And as for a fence, waste-not want-not, my Dear Mother replaced hers recently and had 17m of posts & palings to dispose of.  Whilst it isn't the fence we originally wanted, it is a wooden picket fence and well, in these economic times, I think we'll make do with it quite nicely.  There are some palings that we won't use, as they're either split or damaged, so there is still some expense with the buying of new palings and gates.  Mostly though, it will be weekends of effort - we'll need to sand them back and paint, then erect. 

I still haven't managed to sell the idea of outsourcing to the Dear Husband.  Too handy for his own good!

But, I do have a clothesline.  YAY!  Who would have thought that something so simple, would bring so much pleasure.

.. you're right, I need a life!


Suz x

 

Clawing back time

Both of my girls are active, very active.  They love sports and last year, they were doing an organised physical activity 5 days of the 7 - hockey, gymnastics, dance, tennis and swimming.



Gymnastics Carnival

This year, we've toned it down a little, concentrating on the more 'important' (to us) activities. 
One team sport, which requires 2 days committment (training/game), a fun individual sport (gymnastics) requiring 1 day training and the occasional fun non-competitive carnival and swimming  (our non negotiable), once per week.  I think this year we've struck a better balance, but we both work full time and I am planning on getting back into my study next semester.  Add an half hour drive to/from school each day, birthday parties, school activities ..  we still seem to be struggling with fitting in homework and play. 

So when do you find the time?  Are you super organised? Do you outsource?

We've not yet started on concreting a driveway, or under the house let alone battening it, nor have we erected a shed.  We haven't had time to do the fence, or start on the vegetable patch/orchard.  Heck, we're not even fully unpacked and sorted!  Problem with having a Dear Husband that's handy about the home, is that he wants to do the.lot!

Yesterday, I spent the full day cleaning!  *ugh*

And, in an attempt to protect the shower glass from water pitting or soap scum, I pre-cleaned, cleaned-again, applied, cured and polished all the bathroom glass.  *exhausted*  

the product

clean clean clean!

But I'm happy with the final result (not the best photo I admit!) - to watch the water bead and not stick to the glass was well worth it! Hopefully it means that I can cut back on the hours of cleaning to regain some quality family time!  

Have a lovely week ;-)

Suz x

And then there was ... SOLAR

So, one thing that the Dear Husband and I were adamant about, was to move towards a more sustainable lifestyle.  High on our list was a solar installation. Solar hot water was installed by the builder, but given our electricity bills are/were in the vicinity of $700/quarter we felt that any investment to reduce that bill, would be worthwhile.

We (ok, Dear Husband) researched inverters, panels and installers.  As luck would have it a dear friend used our front runner and provided invaluable feedback.  

Next step, the package - we were keen on the SMA inverters and phono panels, however apparently the SMAs are in short supply.  We were advised we'd be looking at waiting up until July at the very least before it was likely that some stock would be available in Australia.  Damn!

Based off of our installer's recommendation we had a further look at other inverters, including the Power-One Aurora.  Dear Husband who takes all things technical very seriously, insisted on researching it to make sure we weren't being told porkies (suspicious, much? Perhaps given recent experiences...).  Fortunately, Dear Husband was happy that the deal was still good and we proceeded with installation. 

A 5kW inverter is now attached to the meter box and 25 panels are affixed to the north-facing roof.  

Our 5Kw inverter

Phono panels, sucking up the sun juice ;-)

We've signed the contract to feed back to the grid and ran the system through its paces!  On went ovens, microwave, washing machine, dryer and computers along with the regular household items (TV, toaster, kettle etc) sitting on standby.  And, the meter box didn't tick over once!  We are producing more than we were using! WOOT!

Actually, by the calculations that have been done since installation, we'll produce in the vicinity of 16kWh on a normal Brisbane winter day.  In summer, that'll jump to 23kWh! That's ~7.5MWh per year!!

We've worked out that our $14K investment will be paid off in less than 5 years.  That's assuming that the power we generate will significantly reduce (hopefully wipe out) our electricity bills and return a slight income each year.

And much to our delight, just this weekend gone, it seems that we had a serviceman do *something* and we are now feeding back to the grid. YAY!

Suz x

Truly blessed

Nothing warms your heart more than 2 excited children trying to pamper you.  After all, they tell you, it's Mother's Day.

Woken by children's cold feet as they hide them between your legs after climbing into bed, dressed and donned in their Masterchef aprons, giving cuddles and kisses.  Designing menu plans, wrapping presents, putting finishing touches on the hand made cards; it's so heart warming. This love, that's what warms my heart.

And I know I am so blessed. 

As I sit here in bed, listening to the excitement and giggles that are happening in the kitchen, I can't help but think of those less fortunate; those women who have not had it easy with conception or pregnancy; for those women whose day will be filled with sorrow of lost hopes and dreams, of distant memories; and for those children who have lost their mothers. 

Extend your gift of love today and acknowledge these important women and the significance they've contributed to your lives.  Celebrate the matriachs that have contributed to who you are today. 

And if flowers and chocolates aren't your thing, how about these for Mother's Day gifts?

Unicef Gifts

Have a wonderful day!

Suz x

Still here, busying away

I've been absent, I know.

I promised an update on features, I know.  

I have been battling the Builder, still.  We are arguing over the variation for stone benchtops in the kitchen and the (my) calculation of liquidated damages.  The reality is, it's a couple of thousand dollars we are bickering over.  We could probably write it off, but it's the principle, y'know? 

I also love a good fight ;-P   And it is really challenging on the contract law, front.  Which I love. It's what I do at work (when I'm not referee-ing the internal politics!) and it's the reason I signed up to do a law degree ... which, I've not been terribly dedicated to of late (I've actually taken a brief hiatus).   But our contract issue has turned into a matter of dishonesty.  Fraud, actually.  An amendment occurred to a variation, post signing.  Following lots of discussions regarding, it seems it wasn't the builder, but the sales company who we signed the contract with (they sub the work out to the building companies who we then deal with and pay etc).

Now that it has been pointed out to the Builder, we are part way there.  We are however, still disputing the approval date given by the council (ridiculous, I know!).  

But, despite all that, Dear Husband and I have been madly trying to get time to do all the other things.  I think I have almost finished designing my vegetable patch, we've picked a fence and gate that we both agree on and we are starting to work out how we are going to design the path/garden between the front stairs and the pedestrian gate.  

This is what I'd love my vege garden to look like:
 

Courtesy of  http://kellymccaleb.tumblr.com/

I think I'd actually raise the garden beds a little, maybe 2 sleeper widths high.  I'd add some obelisks as features.  I was thinking of having some fruit trees beyond the fences at the back.  And there may actually be a need for a scarecrow - although I want something that is not so typically ghastly.  Am on the hunt for ideas...

And the front fence will hopefully look something like this:

We like the second top rail with feature paling as something a little different.  And in white, although we're a bit worried at how much white is featured on the house already.  Hopefully a lily pilly hedge will peak between the bottom rail and top rail to break up the whiteness, but I don't want it peaking way over the top like it is in the pic above.

And our fence will hopefully have these front gates, or something very similar:

 

 

The debate continues whether to have these on a sliding mechanism, or open as farm gates.  I prefer the latter but Dear Husband and the children like the idea of them sliding behind the fence.

And hopefully, we'll put in a cobblestone path to our front pedestrian gate.

I like this colour and style:

Courtesy of http://www.featurepics.com/

 Laid in a pattern similar to this, maybe even with a feature of some kind ....

 

Courtesy of http://www.split-rok.com

Dear Husband is also still keen to lay a concrete slab under the house, but wants an engineer to look over our plans - the hope is, if we get pipework laid and the concrete reinforced, we could build in underneath (down the track).

So obviously, still heaps to research and consider.  

It can be quite overwhelming but exciting all at the same time!

Suz x

A Queenslander

Dear Husband and I have always loved the Queensland architecture, particularly the "Queenslander" that pre dated the war.  Memories from our childhoods - visiting old towns graced with Queenslanders and playing with friends, either on the verandahs or under the house, or down (what seemed to be) endless, wide hallways.  Neither of us were lucky to live in one long term, but to this day we have always admired them.

So, when it came to building on a block of land in one of Brisbane's older suburbs, coupled with restrictions as a result of living in a water corridor and the design considerations that came with that, it wasn't a hard decision for us.  

The climate was the primary reason for the development of the Queenslander. The Queenslander was built on stumps (at varying heights) which allowed for air to pass under the home, providing respite from the heat of the day.   Balmy summer days with afternoon rains created a need for wide verandahs, as another important element.  Once impacted by the '74 floods, our land also had restrictions preventing habitable space under Brisbane's "Q100" flood line.  This immediately required us to build at minimum 1200mm off the land, so a stump-house was ideal. 

Queenslanders also enabled the outdoor lifestyle that Queenslanders (the people!)  are proud of.   Typically, the outdoor-spaces were framed with white posts, decorative balustrades and sweeps, along with internal features such as hall arches, decorative cornice, larger skirts and architraves.  Building a "Queenslander" was a labour of love - elements that Dear Husband and I poured over in the design of our house.  

We aimed for a minimalist-traditional effect; older styles coupled with modern functionality and materials. We haven't totally replicated the old-school styles, but we have incorporated elements where possible.  

There is still a lot to be done - concreting underneath, battening, increasing the length of what is typically arches (currently square cut - running across the front of the house below the bay windows), fences, gates, a letterbox (I'm missing out on the junk mail and local rag!!), gardening, insect screens, curtains, furniture!..... the list seems endless. 

I'll take some close-ups of the particular features this weekend; thoses ones that were must-haves for us and our mad reasoning for it!  Until next post ....

Suz x

Moving ..... yay!

We've moved.

We're living out of boxes, using a camp fridge and have mattresses on the floor, but we've moved  :D

The weather in Brisbane was dreadful this past weekend; how I wished for today's sunny skies!  We enlisted the help of my Dear Brother-in-Law and Sister-in-Law and between us, we got most of it either packed and moved into the house; or packed and moved to offsite storage, and suprisingly, no water damage!    (Note to self: arrange something special for our helpers who gave up their weekend and worked tirelessly to move us!)

And I have to say, I hate moving. 

I am overwhelmed by the number of boxes we have.  Overwhelmed by the idea of where I'm going to stick it all (where did it all come from?).  I am a hoarder and I am a sentimental sucker!  Boxes of bunnykins, swarovski crystal and ornamentals from when the girls were babies.  Boxes of clothes, because I WILL lose weight.  Sadly, most of it will be either out of fashion by the time I get back to that size, or deteriorate due to age!  One pair of aerobic exercise pants I found was from ..... (working out how many years since I've been that size) .... 12 YEARS AGO. 

I have a problem, don't I?!  Hoarders Anonymous Outed, anyone? 

So my post-moving checklist, just in case I ever move again ...

1.  Order a skip
2.  Reduce, reuse, recycle - if you haven't used it/worn it/admired it for 12 months, get rid of it!  Anything that can't be given away or sold, THROW OUT into the skip!
3.  Be organised (part i) & arrange truck/removalists/help, BEFORE THE WEEKEND YOU DECIDE TO MOVE!  Note to Dear Husband:  Check the weather forecast next time, too!
4.  Be organised (part ii) & have sufficient supplies of newspapers/butchers paper, masking tape and boxes.  There's nothing worse than doing a mad-dash to Bunnings because you've run out of the smaller sized box for heavy items!
5.  Pack room by room assuming you don't have bits strewn throughout the house due to storage shortage. Otherwise, pack for where it's going to go.
6.  Label the boxes - Room to go in and Contents.  If external help/removalists/friends etc are being used, don't label the box LOUIS VUITTON HANDBAGS & JEWELLERY!  Just-in-case.
7.  If you have children, movies and babysitters can be wonderful at this point in time.  My Dear Daughter ran into the side of the truck on her push bike, which was better than almost being crushed by a filing cabinet that tipped over.
8.  Dust/vacuum all furniture before it is loaded onto the truck and don't intefere in where it's being put.  Dear Husband tells me that boys' spacial awareness is better than girls; so in my experience, my best intentions in telling Dear Husband to stick-it-over-there! is not needed, or wanted!
9.  Put down non slip mats so that dirt doesn't get traipsed through the new house!
10.  Ensure the coffee machine is at one house, with the kettle at the other, along with the milk!  Plenty of refreshments should be served regularly along with pats on the back, to keep up morale.
11.  Make sure there is toilet paper and soap at the new house! In fact, I'd recommend doing a full shop!
12.  Unload directly into the room listed on the box.  No questions.  Noooo ... don't put it there Dear, stick it in the room that the box was labelled with, thank you :)
13.  Take a moment, because the Oh-My-Holy-Snappin'-Duck-Shit! moment is about to hit when you realise it has only just started, and you've got to unpack it all....

Once the house doesn't look like a bomb has hit it, I'll even post some photos.

Have a lovely week, all!


Suz  x

I've been absent, sorry

Yes, I know.  I am a terrible blogger!

And I can't even blame that absence on moving, as unfortunately we have not yet moved in.  Although I still have the master construction key, my real keys have been held to ransome because until today, my bank hadn't finalised the last of the progress payments.  I had no idea it would take this long :( but hopefully, it should be the last of the hold-ups.

So, Dear Husband and I are planning on moving most of the packed goods this weekend, weather permitting of course.  I will arrange real removalists for the big stuff (heaven forbid family assist and accidentally run something into a wall). 

We've had dreadful weather of late and apparently we have a little 'dam' happening on the land and 2 resident ducks.  At least the girls will be ecstatic!

And I do promise that I will post some more photos! 

Until then, I need to concentrate on finishing some work tasks this week, catch up on my studies (first test on Monday - eek!) and attend the girls' school Easter chapel service this weekend.  Not to mention, pack up all the bits we're still using!

Which means I need to stop dreaming about furnishings, looking for antique ladies' bureaus, talking to landscapers, getting giddy over gorgeous fabrics & trolling pinterest!  Procrastination - I suffer it badly!!

Hopefully by the end of this weekend, I have a positive moving story to share :)  Here's hoping your weekend is positive, re-energising & filled with joy!


Suz x

And finally, we have access!

It fits!

Welcome!

You know that feeling of relief?

It just washes over you, relaxes you and sends all those worries and concerns scampering. 

That's how I felt all day yesterday!

At 9am, we met with the Builder onsite and went over what we perceived to be issues; he too, picked up a few we didn't even notice.  It was a good meeting.  Dear Husband & I have decided to also outsource to a professional inspector prior so that we can ensure nothing has been missed and that any defects are corrected within the 6mth warranty period.  

Our bank is yet to do their valuation and inspection for final payment.  Apparently the inspection involves more than just noting that the house has been built.  It appears that some banks have been deceived by builders/developers in the past, who cut corners (or size, as the issue actually was).  So, the inspection will also involve review of the plans and specifications as well as physically measuring the house.

Heaven forbid if one room is 10cm short anywhere.  I'm not sure what happens then?!

Last night we celebrated by letting the kids in and having fish and chips on the back verandah.  Bliss!

And then the exhaustion set in.  We were all tucked up in bed by 8.30pm.

 

Suz x

Hold onto your hats!

I've got news!

Handover.  Tomorrow.  9am.

*insert hugest grin ever*

I've forwarded my list of concerns and told the Builder we'll adjust the variations owing by the amount of liquidated damages.  The bank hasn't done their thing yet but we've advised that they're to pay the final progress payment.  We've also called the BSA to get some advice and the plan is to have a professional inspector to come through after handover (ideally, one would do this prior to handover!) and we'll modify the defects list as highlighted by the inspector.  The Builder has 6 months to rectify at this point.  

So whilst we won't be moving in just yet, I can start measuring and fitting and looking at furnishings and coverings.   YAY ;-)

Suz x

Déjà vu

Unfortunately my builder was unable to do Wednesday for handover. Or Thursday. So we agreed on Friday (today).  I decided to block out the diary earlier in the week and make myself available to the random meeting-bookers tentatively.  Be buggered if I wasn't going to learn from my lesson, I was not taking the day off!

At 9am, I rang the builder to confirm.  No answer.

So, I sent a text message saying (not asking!) that we'd be there at 12.30pm.  I also made mention that the Bank hadn't sent their valuer yet, so there was no cheque (and based on our previous discussion, had assumed this was perfectly acceptable to him). 

The response I received shocked me  - remember, we were going to handover last week -  the council still hadn't sent through their certification of the property!

*insert expletive here*  

My response was still friendly, but implied that without certification, there would be no cheque to which I was messaged back "keys & bank go hand in hand if there going to stuff around i can have you sign a release form to allow u 2 have keys...."

Are you freakin' serious? If MY bank is going to stuff around??  Release form?  No, just finish my house already!

I didn't bother responding.  He has now suggested Tuesday next week. He's also finally sent me the certification from the Council which happens to note a number of things that are missing (hydraulic reports etc).  Hmm .. 2 things I noted - the Council still requires things to be done; and, the builder was in the office, which.is.not.even.in.Brisbane??!

Suprisingly, even though I saw red when I received that text message, I quickly moved on. 

Dear Husband and I even made the trip over there after work.   Fortunately, we were able to get in so we had a quick perve whilst the kids enjoyed afternoon tea.   And what do you know ... the house is still unfinished and the more we look, the more little things we find.  So I'm off now to update the defects list, recalculate the liquidated damages and figure out how much longer I can survive paying the rent on top of the mortgage. 

My plan this weekend is to go over again and put little red dots on everything and take photos.   And send it to him Monday.

Oh, and attend a dear friend's baby girl's Christening! 

Have a lovely weekend, all!

Suz x

... and there it went

No, we're not moving yet. Handover didn't happen - the Builder was tied up.  So he suggested Tuesday next week.  I've checked my calendar and my day is out. Fully booked. With any luck he'll accept Wednesday.  It just means more waiting ahead. *groan*

But, despite all this I had a truly wonderful day!

After dropping the kids off at school, I went shopping.  I should be honest here - I'm not particularly a fan of shopping, particularly clothes shopping. I'm overweight and everything in my size is simply horrid. I had one thing on my mind to buy, but do you think I could find it anywhere? 

I was after a long flowing summer-coloured skirt, to the ankles (or beyond!), with a top that covered the arms.  Not.a.chance. Darn you expectations! 

You see I had a ladies luncheon to attend (today!) and I didn't want to look like the fat dowdy woman.  Nothing like leaving it to the last minute!  I ended up at multiple stores, with multiple pieces and ended up playing it ridiculously safe but with a pair of killer heels.

Regardless of how I thought I looked, I had a great time with some great women.  And we managed to wrap it all up in time to collect the children from school.  It was well worth having the day off work, to live the good life!

The girls both have swimming late Friday afternoons, so we decided to pick up Dear Husband from work and head out to the land, before swimming.

Unfortunately, the painter had locked up tight, so we peered through windows to try and spot any new works - my hall arches were in! YAY! 

Progress makes me happy :)

So until next week lovelies, have a great weekend!

Suz x

Almost there .....

Last time I wrote, I mentioned that the Builder would be meeting with us to go through what was outstanding.  I am pleased to say, we did meet!  It really was quite overwhelming to see progress and tradies onsite again.

Admittedly, Dear Husband and I are still very concerned about all the work to be completed (and to the standard expected) by Friday.

That is, tomorrow.   So, I have asked to take the day off.  I'll either be ecstatic .. or cranky.  Either way, possibly too disruptive to work with (squealing is really not appropriate in an office environment) or too foul to go near!

My Builder didn't call today to let me know whether they're actually ready for tomorrow (surprised, really?). And I have no idea what time to even turn up (I do have other plans and won't be just sitting about!).   I know our bank isn't ready but there is still a bit of negotiation left to do with regards to the outstanding variations and liquidated damages - being 56 days overdue.  The builder has advised me that this handover is more to do with our acceptance  - reading between the lines: that we're happy enough to accept/pay their practical completion bill. 

It seems it doesn't really matter if we're not though - I re-read the contract the other night and reviewed the dispute resolution procedure and our requirement to pay the total invoiced amount owing regardless - the process being that we pay the builder an amount minus the disputed figure and that disputed figure goes into a trust account until the dispute is resolved.  

Building certainly teaches you a lot!

I will be sure to update you all tomorrow, hopefully with good news and photos of a completed house. 

Suz x

A plan forward

Isn't it amazing how anger can grab a hold of you?


I've been seething now for a couple of months.  But on reflection, I'm not sure who I was more angry at - the builder; or, myself - for not demanding more.  And finally, even though I never received that phone call to meet onsite this week (which sent me into a whole other spin), I now have a clear direction forward courtesy of my builder emailing me today.


And in that moment, I was happy.  Communication, at last.  *POOF* the anger and frustration gone in almost an instant.

So the plan is that we are meeting with him onsite this coming Monday in anticipation for handover.  The builder suggested Friday for handover, yes - this time next week!  I thought it only best to send him my list of concerns regarding what is outstanding.  I've also queried the variations and let him know that some are in dispute.  The communication has all been suprisingly very calm and friendly. 

And, I'm happy. 
I can get back to that place now, of realising our dreams.

Oh, and homewares shopping, much to Dear Husband's disgust!


Suz x

Communication is not a strong point ..

So last week I took a call from the Builder.  He doesn't wish to worry me you see, but the kitchen has been damaged and they're assessing what that means.  He was to call me back the next day......

Now, a week has past and I've resorted to calling him.  It seems it's in hand.  Some drawers are to be replaced and there are some scratches on my wall oven tower - I'm not sure what that means, or what they're proposing, but if there are some scratches to the wall ovens themselves they'll be upset as that model is now superceded! 

And the painter is repainting the skirts because they got scuffed.  Expensive lesson for the floor polisher, no doubt.

But on the positive, my Builder is back in town this week and we're going to meet up today or tomorrow to start talking handover.  I don't think he realises how much I think is outstanding, nor does he realise what state the variations are in - I can't even make sense of them and I asked for the additional works! 

I'll let you know how we go ;)

Suz x

Australia Day

Two weeks before Christmas, the builder offered me the keys.  No, the house wouldn't be quite finished but he knew how desperate I was to get in.  But apparently, you can't have the keys unless you pay the final bill.  And, that wasn't going to happen either.  So when I asked the builder then, "when might be the day for handover?", I was told, "Australia Day".

Today.

No keys.

House, still not even finished. 

Nevermind. 

We still went out to the land (for some reason, I still refer to it as that!) with the intent to start planting some of the garden.  We found the ground to be very soft as Brisbane has had some intense weather again this January.  And we discovered 2 large spots of subsidence (one possibly bordering on an erosion/landslide).  So our day quickly went from doing to dreaming. 

Talking positively of these dreams of ours, turned out to be quite cathartic.
So .. the plan:

Out the front of the house, here, we plan to run 2 conifers up the front posts of the porch (there's actually downpipes in front of the posts, carefully aligned and colour coordinated with the house, but...)

Then, in front of the butterfly stairs, at either end, I was thinking of a shaped/topiary conifer like buxus. 

We're hoping to run a rather plain picket fence along the front and have a lilly pilly hedge sitting behind (house-side).  I'd also like either lavender or agapanthus running street-side of the fence.  I like some formality in small front gardens.  It won't be a spot for us to spend much time in, so has to be quite low maintenance.  Dear Husband is most worried about my talk of conifers and planting out a mower-patch though!

So, to the back of the house.

It's a blank canvas.  Really blank if you exclude the lantana and singapore daisy which is madly creeping out of the creek.  This pic here, is from our back deck (and don't mind the race track that the neighbours' kids carved out!)

In the foreground, mid-right hand side, dear Husband is planning a pool.  Beyond that, along the right hand side I want a vegetable patch.  A gorgeous, wonderful self-sustaining old fashioned vege patch.  Then further down that side, a fruit orchard, with the top corner finished in a Jacaranda tree.

Can you picture that?  I might even run a series of Jacarandas along the back there.  Come November each year, I'd be looking out onto a purple carpet of flowers *swoon*, my attempts to be distracted of the impending exam period!

Dear Husband fancies a shed on the left hand side, some kind of man-cave thing.  So I plan to put the chicken coup over there too.

Obviously there may be spots of plants, flowers, swings or play equipment, possibly even a garden bench, perhaps a structure covered in vine. I'm not sure what else to be honest, I haven't even mapped out how much room that is likely to take up, not to mention the time its upkeep will consume! That may involve a reality check!  

But I'm going to love every minute of it - my quasi country life!

Happy Australia Day to all. I hope you had a great day, whether it be dreaming or doing :)


Suz x

The start of almost being there ...

Yes, I suppose you may be right.  It is most unusual for someone to create a blog, particularly a blog about building a future for one's family, post build.  I had every intention to create this blog, over a year ago when dear Husband and I signed the contract.

And in our haste (I should have known better) we madly signed on this dotted line; handing over the plans of our dreams and hoping for this builder to turn those into reality.

Did I mention that we signed that contract over a year ago? Actually, 1 year, 1 month and 10 days ago.

So now, as I stare at my house almost completed but not quite yet, I look again at that contract I signed, then at the mounting variations .. and wonder, how much am I prepared to fight.   It's not a disaster - in fact, quite the opposite.  The workmanship is faultless, but .... I don't know.  The lustre has gone, the excitement of seeing years of dreams eventuate ... all fading.  And the frustrations have set in.

So now, this blog will capture my musings; of life, love and all things encompassing.  It will hopefully help me reconnect with those dreams.  I'm focussing on the positive; let's work with these beautiful bones and turn her into my dreams -- our home.


At frame stage



Suz x