So, it has been awhile since I last wrote my last post and, basically, the garden is now all finished apart from a few tweaks etc. Thanks again to Danny and Graham for their help with the undercover BBQ area and retaining walls!

I hope everyone has enjoyed following along.

A few pics to finish off what was, ultimately, a long journey with lots of ups and downs, but one that has left us very happy in our forever home.  The pics are (pretty much) in order.

Tash 🙂

The pics really speak for themselves but basically, since the last post:

Front retaining wall finished

Front landscaping started

Planting has started

Decking is done 🙂  (never thought I would get to say that after some administration issues but we got there eventually).  Thanks to Chris and his crew from Cerni’s Constructions.

Oh and we got to get dressed up and go to a Ball!!

Getting there….

Till next time 🙂

Just a few more pics to show the work we have gradually been doing around the place over the last few months.  The digging is done (Paul is very very happy about that), the side gates are up, the fence has been painted (whose silly idea was it to do it by hand??!!) and the front hallway and spare room have been finished.
It’s starting to feel like we are getting somewhere externally.   The next big thing is the decking (all the digging will make more sense once this is up) and then the gardens. The front garden definitely needs some attention but this is just going to have to wait a bit!

Thanks to Brad, Paul’s brother, for helping with the digging and to my parents for their help with the painting on what was a very cold long weekend Monday!

Well it has been a few months and apart from a few new bits and pieces in the house, most of our attention has turned to outside – when it hasn’t been raining.

The shed is up (tip: don’t skimp and buy a cheap shed.  More trouble then they are worth!), the clothesline is up, and the dirt is…being moved.

We had a digger for a weekend back in July which helped move a lot of the dirt from the front, making way for much better grass growing soil (soon).  Paul thought he’d try it out in the backyard too until the first attempt got him bogged!  An hour and a half later we got it out and decided not to try that again.  So hand shovel it is…. a lot of hard work by Paul, with a cameo from me when I’m feeling strong!

Most of the digging is needing on the right side of the backyard to make the levels right for when we build our decking.  The decking is a big buggar so a lot of prep needed!

Some pics… more internal pics soon…

After a busy few months we are slowly settling in and getting everything away, and turning the house into a home.   After living out of boxes for a few years it is wonderful to be able to access everything again. The extra drawers we had put in the kitchen area are so good, all of the larger pieces/serving platters/Tupperware/baking gear fits really well.

The furniture we had already purchased has worked together well and we are slowly buying the extra pieces that we decided to wait until we had moved in, to order.  Still undecided about a hall table and a few other things.  Getting one thing at a time seems to be the trick.

The IKEA units we purchased for the entertainment unit look better than even I expected, though they weren’t, of course, put together without at least some muttering and confusion.  Cudos to my dad who put five of them together before realising he had put the back on upside down – but it turned out to be genius as we were putting them up high, so we wanted to see the ‘top’ as the’ bottom’.  Actually, those units weren’t too bad – the spare room bed was probably the worst and did not come about without a little bit of swearing….. 🙂  gotta live IKEA.

The garden is clearly going to be a focus now, there is a huge amount to do.  So glad we were able to get the retaining walls and fences done when we did.  The driveway is done and we have had concrete paths put around most of the house (not needed around alfresco as we are planning a deck when we can get to it). The shed slab is also down so the shed will hopefully be up in the next month or so, and we can clear out the garage a bit more.  Looking forward to some better weather so we can get out there and into it (though Paul has started digging up all the crappy dirt out the front when he has been able to).

Anyway – some pics.   These have been taken at different times so you may see some differences in the same rooms.  Every room is still a work in progress of course!

It finally arrived.  Sans driveway (which is coming) we had our handover yesterday  On a beautiful Melbourne Autumn day we finally were able to call our new home ‘home’.  Not that we are moving in until next week, but it means we can get in and start getting some things done – blinds, painting (feature walls only!), security door, more lighting, fans etc.  I actually can’t wait to pick up a paintbrush and get stuck in.

A few hiccups over the last few weeks – the retaining wall (that Ashford did) hadn’t been signed off on and this took a few extra days to sort out, which delayed the driveway getting done as it runs alongside it.  The driveway is now scheduled for next week but we will see as weather is supposed to be a bit iffy apart from Thursday which is MOVING DAY 🙂

All good now though and we are extremely happy with the result.  I am in love with my new oven which was installed yesterday also. 

We celebrated with some nibblies and a few lovely Bolly bubbles – the champagne could very well have been called vintage it had been in the fridge for so long!

Can’t wait to have you all over (those of you we actually know anyway!) soon.  Be careful though, you could end up with a shovel in hand if you turn up for a cuppa…..

Will post some more pics along the way.

A lot has happened this past week, and with just a few odds and ends to go – some painting, caulking, flyscreens (and a good clean up and clean) to be done, we are nearly there…. hoping to have an inspection with the builder shortly, then final sign off and Cert of Occupancy.  We are hoping to be in by Easter…. cross your fingers for us!

In the meantime some good looking bloke has been moving some dirt around – only 145 wheelbarrow loads so far…!  I might have to keep him on for a bit.. 🙂

As per the title… pics below

More progress and more pics soon hopefully!

Tapware installed (except for kitchen), shower heads, toilets etc

Picked out a new driveway aggregate (different supplier)

Also, the retaining wall on the high side is complete, as well as the one kind of in the middle of the yard.  The photos don’t do the walls justice, they have made such a difference to the yard already.   The main reason for the ‘middle’ one is so we can back fill and have a relatively level grassed area.  All part of the master plan….

Thanks again to Aaron from Niah Landscaping for doing a great job and putting up with my questions 😉

Last two pics were taken from different angle, sorry, but both are of the middle wall.

We have also been told that the ducted heating and cooling guys are back next week, to finish that off, and the data guy is coming to do the NBN fit-off.  Definitely picking up now!

Insurance claim finalised, new contracts signed, new insurance arranged and permit was re-issued late last week. We have been able to use our preferred builder, Dean Homes, as their quote was accepted by the insurance company (and the insurance approval was based on it).  We have been advised that most of the outstanding items have already been ordered – garage door, toilets, taps, etc etc – and should be ready for installation very soon.
So, fingers crossed, we should start to see some actual progress in the next few weeks, which will be great.  On top of that, we are getting a few more retaining walls done at the same time.  After so long of ‘nothing’ it will be nice to see it up and going again.
Photos to follow when I have some!!