NOT THAT PERSON

 

What's the haps today?

1. The flooring guys come back to put another coat on the floor, in readiness for the flooring to go down, probably on Friday.

2. The Gib Stopper is coming back to put a second coat on the walls.  

And I THINK that's all !

I'm thinking by Friday, everything will be done.  Except for me to paint various walls over time.

I am not going to rush into doing that, I just want to sit and let the dust settle.

There's been far too much going on and I'm feeling very over it all.

But happy it is finally about to end, in relation to trades men/women coming and going for weeks on end.

We ordered a little resin chair for the bathroom, it arrived yesterday.  When I arrived home with it, I unwrapped it.

And I DON'T WANT TO BE THAT PERSON, but what do you think of this brand new chair:

ABOVE:  It is filthy dirty, and I don't know if I should try scrubbing it clean, or take it back to the shop whence it came?

What would you do?

ABOVE: The bathroom floor late yesterday.  It's getting there.  Two more days.. just two more days.

I will be in the sewing room all day today, I really must get those scrappy dolls finished.  I'm sure I can get them done by days end, provided I'm not distracted too much by people in the house.

11.50 am:  Last night I left a review about the chair on the store's website.  Not nasty, just stating that the chair was dirty when I picked it up.  I thought I'd leave it up to them to contact me.

Anyway.... in the end I took it back to the store this morning.  And the store manager had just read my review, and wasn't surprised to see me.

She apologised profusely, and gave me a replacement chair, which was clean.  

So all good there.

ABOVE: That is the chair... we chose it because if fitted in the gap in the bathroom perfectly.  And we like it.

For now it's in our bedroom, as the flooring isn't done yet.  The flooring guys have not turned up yet, I hope they come today.

Lacy called in earlier for a visit, which was nice.  She always keeps an eye on me, which I really appreciate.

I have done a bit of work in the sewing room, but am taking a break for lunch now.

1.20 pm.  I've spent about an hour and a half making 'hair' for the dolls.  

The flooring guy turned up, 4.5 hours late.  Better late then never.  He got the floor skimmed:

ABOVE:  Now it's ready for the flooring to be laid on Friday.  Then the Reno Guy just has to do a couple of really little things, put the door back on and it will be done.

I can't wait!

It seems to have taken forever, but we are just so thankful the various tradies could fit us in.

GAS HEATER AND WATER CYLINDER GONE

It's another early start today.  I have the flooring company coming to lay the bathroom floor, AND the plumber is going to rip out the gas hot water cylinder and heater.

So it's a GO GO sorta day.

On top of that, I'm going on a bus trip to the hospital and back, which has been organised by the Village.  I'm going primarily to be involved in another VILLAGE ACTIVITY.  And I get to have a nice lunch at the hospital.  Come on, it's all about FOOD.  lol  Though I think I will enjoy the bus trip... cos I hardly ever go on buses. 

ABOVE: I am hoping that by the time I get back from the Hospital trip, I have AFTER photos to take.  Wouldn't that be awesome?  I've loathed that bloody heater from the moment I saw it.  (It's that long, brown thing behind the tv.)

Catch ya later.  

8.50 am:  Eeee gads, it's cold today.  The sun is out and it's looking lovely outside, but it's still freakin' cold.

The plumber arrived bright and early, and got straight into removing the old hot water cylinder.

ABOVE:   EXIT, stage right.  Good riddance.  Another hour and I'm off on me bus trip.  

BUS TRIP:   We left on time, on the correct bus.  Got the The Base, where we were going to go in a lift, and over the railway lines, and catch another bus to the Hospital.

It was PISSING DOWN with rain.  I didn't have my umbrella.  Got very wet.

Then the lift was broken down, so we had to catch a bus that was going 'the long way' to the hospital.  OK... so that took us about 45 minutes.

All good.  Get to the hospital.

TORRENTIAL RAIN.  So we went into a cafe right beside the bus stop.  Had a drink.

Then I split off from the group and visited someone in the hospital.

I then caught an Orbiter bus, that got me a 3 minute walk from home.

HOME.  Four vans, and a ute outside the house.

There's a plumber here.

An Electrician.

The Reno Guys.

And a lot of noise and dust and mess.

NAIL GUNS make ya jump, just sayin'.

ABOVE: That bloke is putting new gib board in the heater gap.

ABOVE:  and there's the new electric hot water cylinder in place.

ABOVE:  Whoop... it's out.

ABOVE: The mess on the front lawn.  

And it's going to start raining again.  Ikkk, it is SO COLD AND DAMP.

I just want to close the doors and turn the heat pump on, but not possible right now.

1.40 pm:  And the builders have gone.  The plumber is gone.  The Reno guy is gone.

The electrician is still here.

And the gib stopper just arrived.

Talk about people in and out all day.

And I'm just cooking myself some lunch, cos I'm in danger of fading away.  NOT.  😂😅😂

5 pm. I went out to pick up the little chair for our bathroom.  Grabbed some groceries.  Came home to find two different men in me bathroom, grinding the flooring, getting it level.  

And the gib stopper was finishing off the walls.

Then, they all finally left at 4.45 pm.

Some will be back tomorrow.

I'm utterly done for the day.

There won't be any 'AFTER' photos, cos the gib stopping isn't finished and the furniture/TV are in the middle of the lounge.  New view even.

*I forgot to mention, the bathroom flooring didn't go down, as the floor had not be prepared.  Hence the guys coming back late today to grind the floor.

6 pm, Stew just arrived home from work.  We shall now settle down for the evening.  

Catch ya tomorrow.

A VILLAGE ACTIVITY!

Some of you will be delighted to  hear that today I am going to join in on a Village Activity!

Yep, this afternoon is the weekly Art and Graft Group Get Together.  And I'm going.  It will be interesting to see what they get up to, and if it's a group I'll be happy to join.

As for this morning, well I'm taking Dante to School as Bex has an early appointment.  And after that I will come home and carry on with the Scrappy Dolls.  I am sure I can have them finished in time for next Saturday's Tamahere Market.

ABOVE: I'm happy with the black metal hold backs on the curtains.

ABOVE: And the little Boat House Hooks on the wall in the bathroom.  I will probably use them for anything but towels!  Maybe something pretty? Or nothing at all, just leave it like that?  There is going to be a chair in that corner for sitting on when drying feet, putting on socks etc.

The next lot of trades men are not due until tomorrow... maybe.  We have the bathroom flooring to be installed.  

And the next big job is having the gas hot water cylinder replaced with an electric cylinder, and the removal of the gas heater in the lounge. That will be sometime this week as well.

6.55 am, and I'm up, had me hot chocolate and done the necessary housework.  Go me!

Dante is here, and he got to do this:

ABOVE:  We have been here six weeks now, and this morning was the first time someone actually sat and had a meal at the dining table!

WOW, it's not just an ornament over there in the corner!

lol.... I know it will get more use than that once I have more family to visit.  I keep saying to Stew that we should sit at the table for our meals, but it never happens.  We are too entrenched in using our laps.

It is what it is, each to their own and all that shit.

Stew is having the first shower in our new, fully functional bathroom.  Yes, there's some finishing to do, but it is basically useable now. Such a relief.  I am going to jump in the shower once I get Dante off to school.  I am soooo looking forward to it.  No more pool complex showers, no more washing in the kitchen with a big bowl of water.  Three weeks was quite long enough for that.

ABOVE:  How adorable is that? Dante, on the floor so he can still use his phone while it's charging, and Marley curled up on his lap.  Awwww.

ABOVE: We have a super duper thick fog today.  It's one of those that makes everything wet as well... so bloody awful.  I bet it lingers almost all day.

The Reno guy just called in to drop off the flooring.. it has to 'acclimatize' in the bathroom for 24 hours before it can be laid.  Which will be tomorrow.  Yaaaa.

Right, back to the sewing 'room' I go.

3.40 pm:   Well, I've spent an enjoyable couple of hours in the Craft Room here at the village.  Had a lovely natter with half a dozen ladies... lots of topics.  Nice to have some company during the day.  Might do it again.

I took down stitched up arms and legs for the Scrappy Dolls, that had to be turned in the right way.  So I had something to do.  I'll never take my machine down there, it's just too much of a hassle.

Some of the ladies leave their machines there all the time, and do all their sewing down there.  But that would not be practical for me.

ABOVE: That is the current Craft Room.  In the new year it's being demolished to make way for some new Units.

ABOVE: This will be the new Craft Room next year.  It's much bigger, and has a really nice view of what's going on in the village, who's coming and going etc.

ABOVE:  Look what is also stored in the new craft room!   I NEVER have to buy a jig saw puzzle again!  There's that much again in the Library.  My only concern would be... do they have missing pieces?  THAT would do me head in.

But, I'll try and do a few, and find out.

SPARKLING:  No Marley is just visiting us here and there.

ABOVE:  Another crash and burn afternoon, where I just didn't have the energy to do anything after coming home from Craft Group!

Stew just arrived home, so I better pick myself up and do something.   Like talk to him if nothing else!  lol

9.15 pm, and I've yakked with the man, made him some dinner, watched some telly and now?  Might go to bed a bit earlier than usual.  I have to get out of bed a bit earlier than I like again tomorrow.  

LET'S FREAKING WELL DO IT

 

I said to Stew last night, while we seemed to be busy all day yesterday, NONE of the things to do at the house got done!

YES, we found a chair for the bathroom, and a shower caddy, but they were not actually on the list.

So this morning we are going to endeavour to get a few of those things done.

Which are:

- Lift our headboard up a bit. DONE

-  Put the curtain hold backs on the window frames.  DONE

- Get the weather vane's pole cemented into the pot.

- Attach the blue glass 'totem pole' to the fence.  DONE

- Hang the boat house hook thingee in the bathroom.  DONE

- Fold up the huge tarpaulin, and get it into a garden bag for disposal.

- Attach the big, square metal 'clock' to the brick wall, by the front door.

See?  Not that much to do.  In reality, if we get even half of that done I'll be happy.

We will be going out for lunch, it's pretty much a standard weekend thing for us now.  It's something we really enjoy.  Just like a date in a way.  It's nice.

Oh yeah, at some stage today I gotta shave me legs.  I'd win any contest for longest shin hair right about now. Ain't pretty. Not at all. 😂😅😉

ABOVE:  It's 10.30 and Stew is bemoaning the fact that ANY JOB I give him is not straight forward!  The headboard raising is turning out to be a bit of a mission.

But, I'm sure he will win in the end.

ABOVE: It is a cold, foggy, ikkk day.  Best to be inside for sure.

ABOVE: In between doing housework, I'm sewing.  My new sewing space is working well I must say.

ABOVE: The headboard higher, you can't tell too much.  But it is an improvement.  I still have to sand the wall and paint it, but it's not on my 'do now' list.  It can wait.

ABOVE:  Our lunch/dinner at Fergus today.  Calamari and Prawns, followed by a pizza.  It was, as per usual, delicious.

4.40 pm.  I lay down after our lunch for a short nap.  Two hours later I woke up!  Stew has done lots on the list.  I'm really happy with what he's done so far.  The last couple of things might be deferred till next sunday.  That's fine. I never thought he's get through it all.

As for my sewing, I will get back to that tomorrow.

8.57 pm, and what a nice day we have enjoyed.  Got lots crossed off the list, nice outing, relaxing afternoon, and now... blobbed out in front of the telly.

Stew made us toasted sandwiches for dinner, and now he's doing the dishes.  I'm a bit spoilt.

I'm going to sleep better tonight, I finally shaved the legs!  Nothing worse than prickly legs.  😂😊

Catch ya tomorrow.

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.