AN INSIDE DAY

 

Today's weather is supposed to be wet, maybe not quite as bad as yesterday, but still shitty.  Right now though, it's fine!  Not what we were expecting.

Stew and I will concentrate on ticking off a few more jobs on the list, inside.

There's a few, as you can imagine.

I would also like to go out to find a chair for the bathroom.  I'd thought of making a lidded box type thing, with a cushion on top.  But I think a nice chair would look better.

We will also hunt around for a shower caddy, vanity handles and a hand towel holder.  All in black. 

But that will be after lunch, as we have family visiting us this morning.   

So, we have plenty to keep us busy and occupied for now.

Stew is off at the supermarket, and I've already done a couple of jobs that were annoying me.  Just tweaking jobs really.  But you all know how I am with 'everything has to be in the right place' eh? 😂😉  

1.50 pm. We are fine. Out and about. Not found anything we are looking for yet, dammit.

ABOVE:  We had a lovely visit with these gorgeous grandkids today.  Thanks Andrew for bringing them over.  Oh, plus the donuts!  Yummy. I changed the 'backdrop' for the photo... nice eh?

ABOVE: Stew is like... 'Must keep the rain off me glasses'.  There's been heaps of rain this afternoon so far.

We have just come home for a late lunch (2.30 pm), before going back out. 

4.30 pm. We've been and visited Steve, Bex and kids, then off to find a chair for the bathroom.  We found one after looking bloody ages.  It will arrive towards the end of the coming week.

Then we found two shower caddies at Bunnings, just got them home and hate them in the shower.  So Stew is returning them right now, and then he's going to Mitre 10, where we saw another one that will hopefully work better. 

And what have we done on the 'to do' list inside the house today?

NOTHING.  A big FAT NOTHING!

Maybe tomorrow will be a more productive day.

ABOVE: Tonight was the very last time we will  have to use the pool complex for our daily showers.  Such a relief.  It was lovely to have a swim, and then a soak in the hot tub before coming home again.

Now, his nibs is watching the rugby, and I'm going to watch something useless on the telly or computer.

Catch ya tomorrow.

PLUMBER BACK TODAY - FRIDAY

I'm starting the day with a thumping headache.  Not much fun... best to get some pain killers on board.  

ABOVE:  HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY TO OUR DARLING KEERA.  Another teenager to contend with.

Have an awesome day darling, we will see you soon.

Today the plumber is coming back to fit all the tapware, plumb in the vanity and shower and so on.  Once that is done, we can actually USE the bathroom tomorrow.  

OMG that is going to be soooooo good.  I am totally over not having a bathroom IN MY HOUSE.

Of course, we have been incredibly lucky to have the pool facilities so close to us.

ABOVE: The view from my lounge chair today.  I'm sorting through all the plastic ware, deciding what to keep, and what to give away.  So far I've only got a couple of containers to give away.

Cos, I LOVE my Tupperware.

Over to the left is another big plastic box full of kitchen gadgets, salad spinner, baking dishes etc.  I will try and be more ruthless with that lot.
 

Tonight I am going to Cambridge for a get together with a few friends.  I am really looking forward to it.  It's been AGES since we had a get together. I think it will be good for me to just get away from everything here for a few hours.

Right, let's start the day shall we?

12.10 pm.

The plumber has just finished fitting all the bits 'n' bobs.  

I have done this so far today:

ABOVE:  I have three large and one medium Scrappy Dolls on the go.

I am now taking a break and going out and about.

I want to get new handles for the bathroom vanity, so they tie in with the other black fittings.  I'm also going to try and find a rack thingee to hold all the shampoos etc, one that hangs over the glass wall of the shower.

The plumber suggested it, because he said we shouldn't drill anything into the shower liner.

Good call.

I went out in the pouring rain, looking for new vanity handles.  NO LUCK yet.

There was also only one choice for a shower caddy that fits over the glass wall, so I'll keep looking for that too.

Now, how about I show you (yet again), our shower?  lol

ABOVE:  With it's mixer and shower head on.  We can't use it until Sunday, to be sure the sealants are all set.

ABOVE: The Vanity and little mirrored cupboard above it.  Once we have black handles it will tie in better.

But for now, it's still lovely.

ABOVE: The open shelf below the mirrored cabinet is just for 'pretties'.  I don't want it cluttered up with toiletries.  We have plenty of room for them in the cupboard and vanity.

Now.. it's 1.40 pm, time for some lunch.

Then I'll put all the bathroom stuff in the vanity.

9.50 pm. Sorry I worried some people!  I simply forgot to update, all is good.  Nothing going on here except odd jobs.  Then I went over to Cambridge to enjoy a couple of hours with friends.

The drive over was a bit hairy due to the torrential rain.  I hit a deep patch of water on Wairere Drive on my way out of town, so stopped and got Stew to report it.  On my way home again, and I was happy to see the roading people had put out cones to stop anyone else from driving into it.

I am now (obviously), safely home again and really looking forward to bedtime.  I'm just a bit tired.

Catch ya tomorrow.

BATHROOM FLOORING IN TODAY

 

It was going to be flooring day in the bathroom today.

But now it's not.

Cos the courier company have LOST our flooring.

'J', the bathroom reno guy was like "Chris, you are not going to be happy with me" when he told me.

I was like, nah mate, it ain't your fault.  And it will get done eventually, not a problem.  I'm sure he was very relieved I didn't pack a wobbly! What would the point be in that?  It is what it is.  And the new flooring will arrive next Tuesday, so what's a few days?

We can still use our shower by the weekend.  I'll just chuck some shower mats on the floor.

ABOVE: The gardeners working on our new privacy hedge yesterday.

ABOVE: It took them about three hours to take the grass up, dig holes, plant the trees and add a wooden edge.  It looks fabulous.  I am going to plant succulents under them at some point.  I have permission, as technically it's not our property that side of the fence.

The management here have treated us so very well over the 'issue' with the shed and so on.  I couldn't be happier how it has turned out.  Sure, we lost our shed, but what we have now works just as well.   And we are NOT out of pocket at all.

I am not sure if anything will be happening in the bathroom today.  J said the flooring company might come and prep the floor.  Time will tell.

I am going to Mitre 10 this morning to order a cabinet for the bathroom, to keep all the surplus plastic ware in.  It won't be affected by any moisture.  We have two extractor fans in the bathroom, so it really won't be a problem. 

Once I get home I MIGHT make a start on a couple of  Scrappy dolls.

10.15 am, and I got to Mitre 10 and decided maybe I should check the freakin' cupboard would fit through our internal doors, before ordering one.

Talked to Steve, and yep, it will.  So now I have to go back and order it.

ABOVE:  I also went to Spotlight for the links for the kitchen blind's chain.  It is far too long, and we didn't have a joining link.  Now we have 10.  While there I thought I'd also get more calico for Scrappy Doll's faces.

ABOVE:  They were having a sale on fabric.  So, ummm... how could I not?

And now, I'm off to Mitre 10 again... catch ya later.

4.07 pm:  I have ordered our bathroom cupboard, it will take 1-2 weeks to arrive.  

It will be neat to get the LAST BOXES unpacked and stuff away.

I ran out of energy after lunch, just feel wrung out.  Life has been too busy for too long.

I woke at 4 am this morning... didn't get back to sleep.  You can't switch off ya brain when it's going around and around in circles.

I really, really wanted to do some sewing this afternoon, but all I do is sit and stare out the window!  At least its not too cold today.

I'm trying to decide if I want to go to the pub with Stew tonight or not.

That would mean putting some freakin' face on.  Do I even have the energy?

5.45 pm:  Stew is at the pub, he walked up.  I will join him at around 7 pm. Then we will both walk home again.

ABOVE:  These four... buddies from childhood.  Such a nice couple of hours tonight at the pub.  I had my two glasses of wine, and am now slightly pissed.  Who cares?  I needed to wind down.

We (I) have wobbled home.  And now we will enjoy a couple of hours in front of the telly before bedtime.

Catch ya tomorrow.

BYE BYE LOUNGE SUITE

 

Here's hoping the builder can get the bathroom sorted out today, and we get our shower put in.  The shower won't be today though, more likely towards the end of the week now.

Moving on.  I advertised our last remaining lounge suite on Face Book Market Place.  Sold it yesterday, it's being picked up later on today.

Whoops.  Now we don't have much to sit on for the next two months.   I really didn't expect it to sell so quickly.  

I am borrowing a recliner from Lacy, and we will use the market chairs in the meantime.  Might not be ideal, but it actually beats having surplus furniture sitting piled up in the spare bedroom or lounge.

Space is at a premium in this house.

ABOVE: When Lacy was here yesterday afternoon I got her to tweak a few things in the garden. Move a pot or two.

ABOVE:  I had to laugh, it was the second time I'd asked her to move them.  

Now I have the final place decided upon for the weather vane.  I will show you once Stew has put the post and concrete in the pot. 

ABOVE: The next thing that got attended to... that freakin' Camellia bush.  It was threatening to block the sun from my kitchen.

ABOVE:  I pruned it. Didn't even kill it!  

ABOVE:  The electrician yesterday, cutting a hole in my freshly painted ceiling. I told him he better be 100% he was putting the hole in the right place!  Last thing I wanted was an 'Ooopsie', and having to get the ceiling patched up.

The last electrician did JUST THAT in our kitchen ceiling a couple of weeks ago.

And that's me for now... catch ya later.

It is damn cold!  I have caved in and turned the heat pump on.  I don't care what it costs... I can't spend all day lying in bed with the electric blanket on!  Nothing will get done.   

I've got carrots cooking in the pot right now.  I'm making a Carrot, Onion and Cheese bake for dinner.  With Pork Strips.  I am really looking forward to it.

My original plan was to make a carrot cake, but I changed my mind. 

Our lounge suite is going at lunchtime.  Lacy is coming over to help, and drop off the loaner recliner.  

ABOVE:  Marley is still with us.  It's neat having her visit.  She LOVES fetching balls, so luckily for her I had an old tennis ball.  We have been playing for about half an hour, I was hoping to wear her out, but no.  She would fetch balls all day long if she could.

ONE.    HOUR.   LATER....

ABOVE:  I stopped throwing the ball, so Marley did what Marley does.  And shoved her ball under a lounge chair, and then proceeded to DIG FOR IT.  I took the ball off her.

I don't want the chair damaged right before it's taken away by it's new owners.

I have now finished making our dinner, it's sitting in the fridge, ready to be shoved in the oven later on this afternoon.  It's going to be delish.

ABOVE:  The Reno guy arrived bright and early this morning.  He 'tweaked' the shower liner and is now... INSTALLING THE SHOWER.  How awesome.  We are not behind in the time line now.  So long as he gets it in... there's a fair bit of crashing and banging going on in the bathroom right now.  No swear words, so maybe it's ok.  😂😆😅

ABOVE:  1 pm and it's all go here.

The bloke arrived and is loading up his car and trailer with the lounge suite.

The reno guy is still working in the bathroom.

AND the gardening team are planting the trees, that will form a privacy hedge for US.

And F what the neighbours think... cos we know they HATE the trees too.  Ya can't win them all people... we had to get a win too.

ABOVE:  Seriously, it's like grand central station out the front of my house right now.

But soon enough, they will all leave and it will be back to normal.

I feel like a queen sitting in the colourful patchwork chair!  Might hunt out me tiara.

ABOVE:  IT'S IN!  We have a shower.  Can't use it for a couple of days, but we have a shower!  And it's gorgeous.  I absolutely LOVE IT.

Tomorrow the flooring arrives.

And on Friday the plumber comes back to connect up the vanity, shower head, mixer and tap ware.

This end of the bathroom renovation is so much fun, compared to the rip it all out stage.  

Awww poor Marley.  Every time someone new comes into the house, and there's been a few today... she starts shaking and her ears drop.

Another of the renovation guys just arrived, and she raced over and hid behind my legs... shaking like a leaf.  

Coco?  Does not give a shit.

3.15 pm, and finally, everyone has left for the day.  Now, I can relax.  

I keep going and looking in the bathroom... it's going to look so lovely once finished.

Right, I have done bugger all since 3 pm.  Just relaxed really.  I'm now blobbed out in front of the telly, and will be going to bed fairly early.  I'm knackered for some reason.

Weird.

SHOWER INSTAL TODAY - TUESDAY

 

I'm just a bit excited about today.

Because the reno guys are coming back and installing the new shower.  We will finally see something tangible in the new bathroom.  

ABOVE: That's the shower lining.   The reno guy rang me late yesterday afternoon, asking me to lie it down flat overnight, so it can 'relax', having been folded for a long time.

Not a problem... just had to keep Coco out of that room, otherwise it might have gotten scratched with her toe nails.

I will be home all day today, keeping an eye on progress.  Apparently an electrician is coming sometime today as well.  I suppose to reconnect the light switch, wall heater, power point and wall light.  So lots of TICKS today.

OK, shit shit news.

The shower instal is not happening today after all.

There are problems with the wall and the floor, and the bathroom reno guy has to come and fix them before the shower can get installed.

DAMN, FUCK, BUGGER AND BLAST.  Clearly I am not happy.  The end is NOT in sight.

Lacy is here, and she's going to help me do a couple of little jobs now.

1.15 pm:  And now the electrician is here doing the bits 'n' bobs in the bathroom.  At least one thing is going to plan today.

ABOVE:  yes, she had to.

ABOVE:  I was feeling really upset today... one thing and another... and wished I could talk to me Mum. I went outside and sat in the sun, and she turned up.

ABOVE:  We have Miss Marley today, she's not liking the painters in the village.  She keeps growling at them.  

ABOVE: It is 5.49 pm and I'm in bed. Pounding headache. Stressed to the max over a couple of things I can't mention on here. I just want the next few days to be over. And I'm not talking about the bathroom. 

6.52 pm: Thank goodness for panadol!  I'm feeling a bit better now.  Even got out of bed.

Probably going to blob out in front of the telly for the remainder of the evening.

Catch ya tomorrow.

NO ONE HERE TODAY

 

No jumping out of bed early today.  I'm not expecting any tradies today. They are coming back tomorrow.

So what shall I do today?

Fold up yesterdays' washing.

Vacuum the house.

Take more stuff to the Op Shop.

Start making some Scrappy dolls?  That would be awesome.  I finally got the trestle table up again in the garage, so I should be able to get some work done, MAYBE later on today.

ABOVE: Stew and I went down to the path by the river late yesterday, and yep.  The river had risen and come onto the path... it was on it's way down by the time we got there.   

ABOVE:  I was so happy to see my Princess Maud Azalea has survived being transplanted into that pot.  AND she's having flowers.  So neat, as I've not seen any other Princess Maud's anywhere, and that one was bought in memory of my Mum.

Right, first up ... Lacy is coming over and we are going to a walk.  The weather is cloudy and cool, perfect for a walk.

Catch ya later.

10.25 am:  Well it's a bit nippy out there today.  The sun is up, but it hasn't burnt off all the frost yet.

Lacy and I went for a nice little walk...

ABOVE:  It wasn't far, or fast... cos we stopped a few times to talk to neighbours.

ABOVE:  We ran into one neighbour, down on her knees taking photos of toadstools.

So we took some too.  😊

ABOVE:  We tried adding a bit of riverside walking in ... but it was a bit swamped in places, and eventually...

ABOVE: We couldn't go any further... unless we wanted to swim.  We didn't wanna.

ABOVE:  It was a poser sort of day. lol

And now, Lacy has gone home, and I'm doing a few odd jobs.

3.35 pm and I've had a lovely few hours, just fluffing around the house, putting bits 'n' bobs in various places, then moving them again.  As I do.

Then I went over to Bex's to babysit for a while.

Now I'm home again, and I just had 'lunch'.  Kinda wondered why I was feeling hungry, then realised it was 3 pm!  lol

9.30 pm:  And a nice, relaxing evening, hot pod on me knee, blankie on top.  BLISS.  Time to sign off for the day.

Catch ya tomorrow.