Windoze

Well, our the entry windows are all done already!  It'll be quite a while before they're installed but apparently it's not a bad thing if the putty gets a chance to set.... we got them made by a leadlighting designer whose shop is quite near Rob's office.  They're based on a Frank Lloyd Wright design.  Still too fancy for my liking. One of the glass patterns (the triangular pieces under the diamonds) is the same as is in the original doors, so it's nice to have some continuity at least.  Our other window issue, the big window to the living/dining area has finally been resolved, i.e. we bargained down the supplier to an acceptable increase in price.  Had to sacrifice the dog door to do so, and it all still rankles.  But hopefully things will actually progress now.  Looking forward to seeing them get on with things... the builder has said there will be delays but we don't know by how much yet.

Roof roof!

Some more obvious signs of progress at this week's site meeting - not only has the deck got stumps and bearers, but the roof is on!  Or at least pretty much most of the roof is on.  We're not waterproof yet, as the joins to the tiled parts aren't flashed properly, still no windows, and there's a few details yet to be worked out (nothing is straight in an old house), but the inside looks a lot darker now that we have actually covered up the rafters in the new part.... no cladding on the walls yet but since the sarking is up we get a reasonable idea of how the inside works.  No glazing as yet, as still in dispute over the large window.  It would help if the window company would actually take less than about 5 working days to respond each time we need some info from them.  They're definitely delaying the job now as we won't be waterproof until we get the windows in obviously, and that means that none of the plasterers etc can start either.... but there's not a lot we can do about it until we settle the cost increases that it looks like we have choice but to stump up.  We don't be recommending them to anyone else to put it mildly.   

With the exception of the big window though, most of the frames for the other windows are in, including the enormous door from the car parking area into the living room.   Resolved the door architraves (yet again, it seems) today; bathroom joinery also being made, although we may have to tweak the layout a little as the vanity sinks are wider than was allowed for.  And maybe one day we'll get to see the interior paint colours....... if we ask the architect another few dozen times.  It's almost as painful as the tree permit - for which we got the bad news last week that we haven't been able to get a permit to remove the oak tree near the front fence. It puts a bit of a downer on the plan to have fruit trees in the front yard as they may not get enough sun....but again, not much we can do about it.  Sigh.

Potatoes from outer space

Not much obvious progress since last update, although a crop of giant potatoes from outerspace has landed in the back yard.  Looks like Sam the landscaper got them in just in the nick of time before the back fence is due to go up.  Some argument this week about whether we should pay extra to have bolts at the bottom of the fence's steel frame countersunk or not.... I mean, they're just bolts.  The saga of the back window continues, with much discussion about why the window measurements are not correct, resulting in the glass having to be 10mm instead of 8mm thick.  All we can say is that we're not paying anything extra.  The tree permit has FINALLY been submitted so we're all ready to get Jim's (actually Rob) trees in to get rid of it which is going to cost a small fortune, but it's a BIG oak tree.  Probably won't make us very popular with the neighbors.  Also this week we gave the go ahead to the stained glass window maker to start on the windows for the front doors.  A bit more ornate than I would have liked, but they go with the period and style of the original house; one of the few things where Rob got final say.  Here's Ruby looking bored by the whole thing and just wanting to go home.

A week is a long time in roofs....

Back again after the Xmas hiatus.  We had a nice time staying in the one place in East Malvern, and even though the weather wasn't super hot, managed to use the pool a fair bit (felt obliged to make use of it really).  Took a while to clean such a big house on leaving though - hopefully we left it in a fit state.  Now back to Chris and Jen's for a few weeks - fortunately we're not entirely homeless.  The builder was back to work this week at long last - it has been depressing not seeing anything happen for the last month.  But Monday the roof tiles came off, and by Thursday the new lot were largely back on - improved by straightened rafters, new battens, and sarking!  Hopefully means a lot better insulation for the future heating bills and not so hot in summer (no cooling bills either way). STILL waiting on the tree permit...

Another month, another housesit

On the road again today to move to East Malvern, after a 2 week stay at Mum and Dad's.  This time, we're at least staying put for six weeks, housesitting for an English-Australian family that are going to old blightly for the Christmas holidays.  Ironically, their house is also under renovations which are nearly finished - but they've been nearly finished for quite a while now so we'll have builders coming and going for the next week or two it seems.  Still, it's a very nice roof over our heads for a change.  The only downside is taht ruby can't come with us, so she's staying with her cousin Charlie for a bit.  Poor thing, she thought we were going to leave her behind completely and was looking very sad as we were packing up.  But she's pretty adaptable and seems to get along well with Charlie most of the time although feeding time will probably be a bit of a battle.

Dropped by the house today and all of the steel work is finished, with roof and walls now being formed for the new parts, plus beginnings of new plaster for the old parts of the house.  Openings formed and skim coats of render all over the place.  It's looking much more like the final shapes of the spaces are nearly formed.  Just as well, as we've just approved a whole bunch of variations, including reblocking throughout, and very expensively, new rafters and tiles for the entire roof.  At this rate, there really won't be much of the old house left, so it had better be worth it!  

But it is looking promising.... so today we also went looking for a dining table light, an important feature as it will hang from nearly the highest part of the ceiling in the middle of the open plan area, so is a bit of a feature.  I think we've nearly decided on a 'ball on a stick' light made of Murano glass.  I'm off again to Japan next week so when I get back perhaps we'll have a few more walls.....

21 November Panorama

Around the world in a month

Only a very quick post as I'm in between trips overseas - just got back from Europe and on way to Japan.  Europe was a trip to look at computed tomography beamlines and involved some time visiting and doing experiments at SLS, where the sheep graze under solar reflectors (?) and the Sprungli chocolates and cakes are delicious!  

First phase of the steelwork is in and now we can get a much better idea of how big the living/dining space will be.  We've shelled out so that the roof structure can be renewed - the purlins/rafters were far from straight, not surprising given they're probably more than 90 years old.  Not much other obvious progress but the car parking area is now nearly backfilled and the levels look good - our interior staircase will not be quite as high as we had thought.  The fusebox has been chased out of the brickwork and is in it's new position closer to the front door.  And the bathtub has been delivered... seems a bit premature as there's not actually much of a bathroom to install it in as yet.  Have picked the colours for the tiles and carpet - all of which have silly names - so we're getting the interiors sorted slowly.  Still no lights though!