CRUNCH TIME

 SHIT I'M NERVOUS!

Today the meeting takes place between 'K' the asphalt guy, and Stew.

Today we should find out what he's going to do about our driveway... his big balls up.

The way he was talking to Stew on the phone last week, it sounded like he was still insisting there was nothing wrong with it, apart from where the plumbers spilt the petrol, causing  stains all over it.

So I can't wait till he sees how badly it has deteriorated in the past 5 weeks or so!  Let's see him talk his way out of THAT.

I am going to 'attend' the meeting, but not say a word (if that's humanly possible!).  I will be recording every word too.

We won't know exactly when the meeting will take place, until Stew hears from 'K', and can organise a time that fits in with Stew's appointments today.

So, it's going to be a 'sit on the edge of me seat' day.  Eeeeek.  Still feeling the upset and anger from the last time I spoke with 'K' to be honest.

At least this time Stew will be doing all the talking... I'd like to see 'K' talk down to him!

Yesterday I repaired a garden ornament that had fallen to bits.

ABOVE: This lovely garden pole had several blue glass pieces in the cut outs.  All but one fell out over time.

Luckily I kept them ...

ABOVE:  I used Araldite Glue to stick them back in.  That should hold them!

 

ABOVE: There was a crystal suspended in the top 'gap'.  Could not find that, so I have put a cute little blue beaded bracelet in there instead.

I'm sure it will look wonderful once it's upright and in the garden again.

ABOVE:  The 'pond/not pond' after me dumping 6 loads of stones in it.  I don't think the stones from around the back will all fit in the rockery... but let's wait and see.

I will do a few more loads this morning, at least until I get tired, or the MEETING happens!

Catch ya later.

11.25 pm: And the meeting is over.

No one lost their temper.

It was all calm, polite and friendly dare I say?

K finally admitted that the asphalt mix he got for our job was defective, too course for the job etc.

He still insists the driveway will 'wear in' over time and be OK!

But, he is aware we (The Customers), are not happy with it, so he is going to fix it.

OPTION ONE:  Rip it all up, and do it all again.  He's not keen on this option, as he tried to tell us that we will end up with a 'thin' driveway that won't be as good as option two.

OPTION TWO:  He will get in a specialist who does PAVE COTE, who will pour Pave Cote over the entire driveway, sealing it all up.  No more lose stones, we won't see the joins bla bla bla.

Option One will cost HIM upwards of $20,000, of which we would still have to pay him the balance of the original quote.

Option Two would cost HIM about $4,000, and he would not expect us to pay another cent.

Hmmmmmm.   It's obvious which way he wants us to go.  $20,000 vs. $4,000 (for him).

He wants us to look at some driveways that have had Pave Cote put on top of them.  

Our biggest concern with that option is that Pave Cote over shit asphalt does not solve the fundamental problem.

The asphalt is defective.  There will still be soft spots where car tyres will sink into it.  

But, we are prepared to go and look at the Pave Coted driveways.  And talk to the Pave Cote Installer.

*sigh*   So, no fireworks for now.  

I am 90% convinced we won't be going with Pave Cote though.

It is just like a thick paint poured on your driveway.  How is that going to 'fix' anything?

Option Three  (concrete) ... Steve shot it down in flames.  Way too expensive to do, on top of having the asphalt removed. 

My head hurts.  Way too much stress for one day.  Oh and thinking about it all night didn't help.  😔😕 

ABOVE: Liam looking very excited for his first day back at school today.  He will have two days at school, then three days off as we are heading into another long weekend.  (Monday off).

I hope he is having a fantastic day.

ABOVE:  The repaired garden post back in place.

I did a little boo boo with that repair job.  The glue ran down onto the kitchen table!  Forgot it might do that.  So now I have to sand it off without wrecking the table top.  Whoops.

IN FACT... if I do 'wreck' the table top... I can paint it white!  YEAH!!!   Been thinking of doing that for ages and ages  

But Stew.  Well Stew.  Liked the table in it's original state.  Rimu and all that.  Meh.  It's been 'original' for 25 years.  Might be time for a change.

I've had Lacy and Brylee here half the afternoon.

So, I put them to work.   Brylee did some vacuuming and unloaded the dishwasher.

ABOVE:  

Then Lacy and Brylee moved couches around... 

We swapped the one in the family room with the one in the sewing room (fitted better), and the girls brought the one from the sewing room into the sun room.  What a fiasco that was! 

There was a bit of swearing, screaming, arm flapping and so on, but they got it done.

They have now both left, probably so I can't find something else for them to do!  😂😅😋

It's now 4.30 pm.  A bit early yet to be bothered with sorting out dinner.  I might just sit here and relax for a mo.