Christmas Time

A highlight of Ben's day is seeing Wynston (with Eddie).

Swimming with cousin Aidan

Cousins waiting for presents...

How do you get a 3yr old to sit still??? Let her hold an 8 week old puppy!

This is my cousin's new baby puppy, Zoe.

Do we really have to have a photo?

Tully James Green

Our new nephew and cousin, born 1.40pm on Sunday 4 December 2011.

Department of Fair Trading

2.5 hr meeting today on site, agreement reached, everyone had to compromise and we now move on. Once I have the keys, I will have the longest blog post... warning others!

Minnie Mouse & a front door

Our new front door - extra large size for extra tall husband.

We have far too many bikinis and swimmers, but how could I resist one more?

Our new kitchen

Builders continue to build, and Department of Fair Trading will be inspecting the brickwork first week of December.

Last week the kitchen cupboards and bathroom vanities went in. Cornices went up.

This week our kitchen benchtop and bathroom basins arrived. Architraves and doors went in yesterday and today.

Summer Days

Toyota Kid's Xmas Party

Slowly moving forward

Builders started working again this week. At the beginning of the week we had insulation put in (think I could have done a better job), and Friday and Saturday all the gyprock went up.

Weatherboards went up on some of the side areas and cedar to line the entrance.

Eves went up yesterday and our water tank was delivered.

Department of Fair Trading are sending out their own inspector to inspect.

Wall sound insulation

Gyprock up

Cedar entrance

Retain wall we have built

The excitement is gone...

and the Department of Fair Trading is now deciding on the brickwork issue.

The nightmare of building a house

We started off so excited about our new house... and now I don't even want to drive past the shell of a house sitting on our block.

Bricks were laid and we questioned the quality before the brickie had even finished, as his work was so sloppy. That was on 8 August. This all fell on deaf ears and after weeks of numerous letters and phone calls, we were left with no option but to obtain a formal building inspection.

That confirmed what we knew - it was crap.

WORST BUILDING COMPANY IN THE WORLD.

THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD.

Walls come tumbling down...

Bricks went up... and now bricks are coming down.

Two sections of walls have been taken down by a new bricklayer.
For now, I must hold my tongue.

I want my butterfly

Izzy went to her first party today.

It was also the first time she has let someone face paint her face.

Once she saw her butterfly in the mirror, she was so excited about it, and then the hysterical tears started when it was bath time and dad washed off the butterfly.

HOUSE UPDATE

Nothing is happening at the moment.

Building site is deserted and some dicks are dumping rubbish over the fence (and stupidly left their name tag in one of the bags).

We have our building inspection (in our favour) saying the brickwork is indeed crap. Builders will now do their own inspection. We are now dealing with the general manager of the company direct. No work will happen until the brickwork issue is resolved.

We've built a fab retaining wall though, organised our floor tiles and tiler ... just can't tell him when he can lay the tiles!

Fairy floss & Crocodiles

You call that face brick???

Bricks are finished however the job the brickie did is absolute crap. Waiting for inspection.

Roof is tiled, still a few areas to be grouted and finished off.

Front part of house has been rendered.

Electrician has put in all the power.

Plumber has put in all the plumbing and we have water.

Attic ladder installed.

We're spending our weekends building a large retaining wall down one side of the house.

pumbing and electrical wiring
wall hung hand basins

rendered front bedroom