Sunday, April 3, 2011

April Fools Day and beyond

It has been a while since I have blogged, caused partially by physical exhaustion from lugging boxes and partially from lack of internet connection. We have "ca,ped out" at the Sebel hotel around the corner for almost a week and finally moved in four nights ago. The place is still not properly finished off ; painters still have to come backl tomorrow and Greg has to attack the defects list. However, it feels great to be in residence at last.

I rocked over to Stockton the other day to let in a couple of fellows who might want to frent it from the new owners. As I walked through the car park from the ferry it occurred to me that it felt quite strange not to be going "home". I was thinking how swiftly one's perspectives shift and I had a lightbulb moment. Many years ago I taught an Australian play at Belmont High about multinationalism (the kids hated it) and it was called "The Shifting Heart" and I realised what the title of the play really meant. It is surprising how sensibilities do shift and how belonging becomes a transitory thing.

This last week has been the finishing off period sowork on details continued at a frantic pace. These last two weeks have sort of compounded and many tradies who we thought would arrive sooner, seemed to arrive on the one day.

Here are photos taken over the past week. I will continue to log various events in future but tonight I will concentrate on getting more photos on. There are more to come after this...so stay posted!



The last night and morning in Stockton. We slept in Rowan's old bed which we left  in the house. When I opened my eyes in the morning I saw a view of the house I had never seen before. Across the hallway and our empty room, the beautiful church was framed by our window. What a lovely house to be leaving.

Fred came over to paint over Bernie's mural wall. Everyone said I should have left it, however, I didn't really want to share it with anyone else.  Painting over it was somehow symbolic!  He had layered the paint on so thickly - some of it was oil paint - that a sander had to be used to smooth the surface.

Gone!!!

Jerry loaded up and took some stuff over. In fact, he did a workout climbing up the stairs - twenty times - carrying stuff! Lucky he is so fit.

John, the electrician came down from the coiuntry to finish off all the electricals for one day. It developed into tweo days. This is the neat little switchboard . Pretty complicated.
Ian worked for a whole day on cables and getting things working.










Shower glass arrived. It was tricky getting it up the stairs, being long and heavy and vulnerable...






Greg connected the fridges to each other and Reg attached the water to the ice machine


The astro turf arrived in a roll to be laid upstairs

The guys from storage words arrived to assemble my  Elfa study


James set about dusting the lights


Constructing wine holdders and floor sanding in the kitchen

Small Whoopsie moment: one of the painters stepped on the wet floor; but we worked on smooth8ing the footprint out.


Painters discuss the tint for the bannister rail


Anthony and his wife at work erecting the wine holders. This is very complicated work!



James and Gret working on the bbq area




Painting the new garbage box near the front door

The inside of the arches is sealed with some new super dooper paint


Pet Resort bus pulls into Hunter street for the first time bringing Sally to her new home. She has settled in quite well but keeps rounding us up as if to say,"Let's go home now!"

That's all for now. I am hoping to get my own computer up and running within two days when I can  do more. At the moment I have to come down into the surgery to write.


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