The Old Forgery ... bottoms up

It's Waitangi Day, and another absolute stunner. Down to Woodbury we went to view the builders' work, and hey, presto ... There it is, the house and garage/workshop all neatly laid out, concrete blocks in place for foundations, and the concrete ready to pour. It is so exciting actually seeing the dream house starting to take shape, and yes, it is in the right position on site.

Accompanied by various friends and relations throughout the day, we walked through the front door and down the small hall into the living room. Here, we gesticulated wildly, are the double doors to the verandah, and over here, right in the middle of the house, is where the fire will be. And now, ladies and gents, if you'll just turn to the left, you can go through the other double doors to the afternoon entertainment area - imagine the shade tree, the garden and the brick pizza oven (thank you Jamie Oliver). And finally, yes, when we get our planting/garden plan together, there will be a lot of lawn to mow. Next serious phase, the landscape 'concept' plan. Nothing too 'gardeny', a largely pastoral outlook interspersed with trees, shrubs and hedges, although the odd rhododendron, spring bulb area and fruit tree will be incorporated.

No question that we are thrilled with progress so far. The house, which we have lived with and walked through in our heads for a couple of years, is becoming a reality, and we're all on target. Thank you, builders and architect.

Why The Old Forgery? The paddock we're building on used to be part of a forge or blacksmith/farrier in the early Woodbury days (a good 100 years ago, we believe), and we keep turning up huge old horse shoes on the site. The builders have clearly been having the same good luck, as part of the fill material is littered with old iron mongery - horse shoes (the size tells us they must have been Clydesdales, surely), files and other iron oddments. We have been taking these finds as symbols of good luck, and some months ago, began calling the house The Old Forgery as a joke name. Like most stories of this sort, it has taken on a life of its own and although I'm doing my utmost to keep it as a pet name, I have a feelings it may really 'stick'. Technically, our address will be a clutch of numbers (yet to be revealed by the Post Office) Woodbury Road, but I have no doubt that any mail directed to The Old Forgery in years to come, will find its way to us.

A lovely day, the first mundane decision made (type of downstairs loo to approve as basic plumbing and drainage is next on the list, apparently - who knew? but OK) and as we said farewell, surrounded by the summer country sounds of the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees, we were certain that the moon up above, would usher in a thing called love. For sure. (Cue Dean Martin sound track if you can.)

PS: Happy birthday, Mum - a lovely family lunch in Geraldine. Many more to come.