It's Wednesday afternoon, the 30th of January, and today we have lift-off. This is the week of first action, and indeed, people have been busy. My village spies tell me that men have been spotted on site putting new, bigger pegs on site marking out the final house boundaries, and we now have clear corners and demarcation lines. On top of this, the diggers were busy out there this morning, playing around with the temporary power box and cable lines, and now the electrician has rung to get us to authorise a temporary builder's connection with our regular power company so electricity will be ready on site for the builders. Everything is expected to come together for Monday. Sorted.
It's hard being at work in Christchurch while these first exciting steps are being taken - the Woodbury site is an hour and a half away by car - but with any luck we'll be able to visit on Wednesday next week, which is Waitangi Day and so a national holiday. All going well, we'll zoom down for a look on Wednesday and see progress for ourselves. Can't wait. The weather is playing its part as well - the lovely settled warm weather is holding, and we can't ask for more than that. I just hope north is still where we left it.
The two of us at home pre fund-raiser kitchen walk for kindy
Tuesday 29 January 2008
Monday 14 January 2008
cherry picking
Everything comes to a natural end, even trees ... And so it came to pass that the old, hollow, half-fallen and not very mighty cherry tree came to earth. The Woodbury site was empty when we bought it, except for a tatty old cherry tree that many a storm had damaged and several nor-westers had almost brought to its knees. But not quite. And therein lay the problem: could the tree be saved, and incorporated into the plans? Finally, no - it would have ended up in the middle of our living room and wasn't, when it came to it, entirely save-worthy. So down it came (a year ago, actually) but it will live on, as Keith is keen to turn the wood into a table, or little desk, or whatnot at the top of the stairs ... or something decorative, at any rate.
This has caused a dear friend of ours some concern - Kenn, who has asked plaintively about the fate of the tree (without having actually seen it) for the past year, is convinced we are philistines. Kenn, take heart: when you come to stay, you can lay your copy of 'Bonsai for Beginners' on a cherry wood bedside table, or stroke the cherry wood whatnot at the top of the stairs. And if you don't like that, there's a packing case with your name on it. The photo says it all - wood for the turning, not burning. So let's hear it for recycling in this most positive manner. And yes, we'll take you up on your offer of a new tree, planted by you (but where we say) when the section's ready for new life. Positive comments welcomed but not required.
This has caused a dear friend of ours some concern - Kenn, who has asked plaintively about the fate of the tree (without having actually seen it) for the past year, is convinced we are philistines. Kenn, take heart: when you come to stay, you can lay your copy of 'Bonsai for Beginners' on a cherry wood bedside table, or stroke the cherry wood whatnot at the top of the stairs. And if you don't like that, there's a packing case with your name on it. The photo says it all - wood for the turning, not burning. So let's hear it for recycling in this most positive manner. And yes, we'll take you up on your offer of a new tree, planted by you (but where we say) when the section's ready for new life. Positive comments welcomed but not required.
Saturday 12 January 2008
Don't fence me in
Well, we did it, on the hottest day of the year so far. Yesterday, Saturday, was an absolute scorcher; bakingly, blisteringly hot and the back of my neck is scarlet. But what a success it was, too - we met Desmond, the architect, at 11am in the paddock that will soon be house and home, and all set to work with pegs, string, hammers and much consulting of plans. Helpful new neighbours arrived with cold juice and welcoming words - a kind of unofficial house-warming.
Watched by sheep panting in the shade by the water tank, we ran strings around posts, pushed out verandahs, quibbled about half a metre here and there, particularly when it came to garage/workshop and boundary fence, but finally, it's done: the house has been re-sited to everyone's satisfaction. It looks much more 'at home' in the paddock, and is making the most of sun and views. The weather highlighted just how important the verandahs will be, though - when it's as hot as yesterday, 35degC, in the dry, clear, baking South Canterbury summer, we'll be desperate for shade and cool, airy spaces.
Lunch and several cold beers later, we reviewed the next step: Some time during the week starting the 21st, the builders are scheduled to arrive on site and, they promise, stay there until the job is done. So they will no doubt peg the house out again properly, do some digging, get us all to take another look and give the official thumbs-up, and away we go.
Any takers on our having the roof up and a roof-raising party in March?
Watched by sheep panting in the shade by the water tank, we ran strings around posts, pushed out verandahs, quibbled about half a metre here and there, particularly when it came to garage/workshop and boundary fence, but finally, it's done: the house has been re-sited to everyone's satisfaction. It looks much more 'at home' in the paddock, and is making the most of sun and views. The weather highlighted just how important the verandahs will be, though - when it's as hot as yesterday, 35degC, in the dry, clear, baking South Canterbury summer, we'll be desperate for shade and cool, airy spaces.
Lunch and several cold beers later, we reviewed the next step: Some time during the week starting the 21st, the builders are scheduled to arrive on site and, they promise, stay there until the job is done. So they will no doubt peg the house out again properly, do some digging, get us all to take another look and give the official thumbs-up, and away we go.
Any takers on our having the roof up and a roof-raising party in March?
Tuesday 8 January 2008
It's just a step to the left
Tomorrow or the next day, we're off to Woodbury again to meet the architect and high-step through the long grass and tame sheep currently in residence to fiddle about with the pegs and string lines. It's mid-summer and the weather is glorious, so most house sitings seem possible. But - we'll have to' stand' in our double doors leading to the long verandah and, no doubt, shade our eyes as we all imagine where the sun will be precisely at noon in mid-winter.
Even more importantly, I'll need to stand at the kitchen window and see just how much setting sun is going to drive me crazy on summer evenings. Yes, it's a kind of westerly aspect kitchen, part of a long wing incorporating large farm dining table, pantry and laundry, and all you morning sun/easterly kitchen fans can keep it zipped. There's a big verandah off that part of the house, too, so between siting and clever planting, I shouldn't have to find myself peeling the spuds while fighting off sunstrike. And if the worst happens, aren't there such things as pretty blinds these days?
All part of the joy, and as the architect, Desmond, is currently working on a selection of site maps showing a variety of house positions in relation to sun, shadow, and shade, I remain optimistic that between us we will get it right. Have I mentioned that this vast enterprise is taking place on a mere 1246 sq. metres? It's hardly a lifestyle block - not an emu or artichoke in sight - but just big enough to really enjoy planting out and playing around with. Compared with other sections, ours looks like a nail paring hanging onto the edge of a vast finger paddock. Pictures next time to document a series of befores and afters.
About the solar: we're going with Azzuro solar cylinders, compact tubes NZ govt approved, German design, apparently highly efficient and ideal for local conditions. Well, they would say that, wouldn't they, but after a lot of research, we're happy at this point. We'll need about 18, two lots of nine on northerly aspects of dormer windows close to the large hot water cylinder. Not cheap, at around $10,000 for system and water cylinder, but it seems crazy not to these days, especially as hot water heating is estimated to take up about a third of your electricity bill, power is a current issue (pardon the pun) and the cylinders are wet-back compliant. Come winter, reduced sun, the fire will come into its own.
Yes, of course we're having a log burner - an Environment Canterbury approved modern one with virtually zero particle emissions, so we are trying to be ecologically sound and sensible. Also, as the name Woodbury might suggest, there is no shortage of sustainable firewood. The fact that the log burner glories in the name Lady Kitchener is neither here nor there ... where do they get these names? The same place they name cars?
On the green theme, we're also planning to install a modern septic tank system called Biolytix, which apparently involves worms and recycles your grey waste water back to irrigate the land, all except the vegetable garden (something to do with sewage, I haven't asked too closely).
I am currently trying to fend off "What if we had a windmill?" hypotheticals from Keith, as I'm having enough trouble fitting house, garage, workshop, water tank and other essentials on site as it is. Maybe the section's too small - maybe we should buy another, larger section! That would solve a few problems but no, wait ... let's just not get a windmill. Sometimes the obvious is the answer.
Even more importantly, I'll need to stand at the kitchen window and see just how much setting sun is going to drive me crazy on summer evenings. Yes, it's a kind of westerly aspect kitchen, part of a long wing incorporating large farm dining table, pantry and laundry, and all you morning sun/easterly kitchen fans can keep it zipped. There's a big verandah off that part of the house, too, so between siting and clever planting, I shouldn't have to find myself peeling the spuds while fighting off sunstrike. And if the worst happens, aren't there such things as pretty blinds these days?
All part of the joy, and as the architect, Desmond, is currently working on a selection of site maps showing a variety of house positions in relation to sun, shadow, and shade, I remain optimistic that between us we will get it right. Have I mentioned that this vast enterprise is taking place on a mere 1246 sq. metres? It's hardly a lifestyle block - not an emu or artichoke in sight - but just big enough to really enjoy planting out and playing around with. Compared with other sections, ours looks like a nail paring hanging onto the edge of a vast finger paddock. Pictures next time to document a series of befores and afters.
About the solar: we're going with Azzuro solar cylinders, compact tubes NZ govt approved, German design, apparently highly efficient and ideal for local conditions. Well, they would say that, wouldn't they, but after a lot of research, we're happy at this point. We'll need about 18, two lots of nine on northerly aspects of dormer windows close to the large hot water cylinder. Not cheap, at around $10,000 for system and water cylinder, but it seems crazy not to these days, especially as hot water heating is estimated to take up about a third of your electricity bill, power is a current issue (pardon the pun) and the cylinders are wet-back compliant. Come winter, reduced sun, the fire will come into its own.
Yes, of course we're having a log burner - an Environment Canterbury approved modern one with virtually zero particle emissions, so we are trying to be ecologically sound and sensible. Also, as the name Woodbury might suggest, there is no shortage of sustainable firewood. The fact that the log burner glories in the name Lady Kitchener is neither here nor there ... where do they get these names? The same place they name cars?
On the green theme, we're also planning to install a modern septic tank system called Biolytix, which apparently involves worms and recycles your grey waste water back to irrigate the land, all except the vegetable garden (something to do with sewage, I haven't asked too closely).
I am currently trying to fend off "What if we had a windmill?" hypotheticals from Keith, as I'm having enough trouble fitting house, garage, workshop, water tank and other essentials on site as it is. Maybe the section's too small - maybe we should buy another, larger section! That would solve a few problems but no, wait ... let's just not get a windmill. Sometimes the obvious is the answer.
Sunday 6 January 2008
Put another peg in the ground ...
Who else spends Boxing Day standing in a muddy paddock, new compass in hand, arguing about true north? That's where we ended up after a fractious Christmas Day involving over-excited men, GoogleEarth and a multitude of opinions about exactly where the sun would be at any given time of the day. It turns out that north is about 20 degrees off, anyway, thanks to a strange difference between magnetic and true, so after much stamping around, we finally agreed on a new, ideal site for our new house. I want the view, he wants solar maximisation, and neither of us liked where the pegs had it sited.
Ah, siting. Before you can say the builders will be here next week, make sure you agree exactly where the house will sit. We're at the end of a long stage one in this project (2 years of design, change, compromise and budget blow-outs) and now it begins.
This is the year of the house, when we finally make the move from small but charming Christchurch cottage to larger, eco-friendly house in the country, the beautiful little village of Woodbury in South Canterbury, to be exact. New house, new stage of life, lots of plans.
This blog is my regular diary to record the pleasures and pitfalls ahead as we head south - downsizing in a way, but plenty of ideas for expanding our horizons, too, both literally and figuratively. This week we meet the architect on site and re-site, so lots of pegs and stringlines ahead. And the builders say they're starting on the 21st ... hhmmm.
Of course, there's a lot of back story to all this, some of which will emerge in the weeks ahead. How hard can it be for a middle-aged couple, no kids, strong views, GSOH, social drinkers, to realise their dreams?
Ah, siting. Before you can say the builders will be here next week, make sure you agree exactly where the house will sit. We're at the end of a long stage one in this project (2 years of design, change, compromise and budget blow-outs) and now it begins.
This is the year of the house, when we finally make the move from small but charming Christchurch cottage to larger, eco-friendly house in the country, the beautiful little village of Woodbury in South Canterbury, to be exact. New house, new stage of life, lots of plans.
This blog is my regular diary to record the pleasures and pitfalls ahead as we head south - downsizing in a way, but plenty of ideas for expanding our horizons, too, both literally and figuratively. This week we meet the architect on site and re-site, so lots of pegs and stringlines ahead. And the builders say they're starting on the 21st ... hhmmm.
Of course, there's a lot of back story to all this, some of which will emerge in the weeks ahead. How hard can it be for a middle-aged couple, no kids, strong views, GSOH, social drinkers, to realise their dreams?
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