And now we have a verandah - or the makings of one or two. It's Tuesday, February 26, and more concrete has been poured. As well as the verandah spaces, the garage/workshop floor is also in place now and the weather is behaving beautifully for us. Of course, the country in general could do with a little more rain (farmers, and hydro lakes for winter power production, are desperate for a decent shower or two), but the current settled late summer weather certainly suits house-building.
What's next? Very likely the walls will start going up in a day or so, and then it really will start to look like a house rather than a skating rink or giant dance floor. And we're still crossing our fingers for a roof-raising party some time in March. Will keep you posted.
The two of us at home pre fund-raiser kitchen walk for kindy
Monday, 25 February 2008
Thursday, 14 February 2008
Our number's come up
Friday, February 15 ... and today, our number arrived in the mail from the Timaru District Council. Seems like a big number for such a small village, but there you are. More interestingly, the bright blue number plate with its 3-figure number arrived with a 2-page document on how to attach it, not so much for the mailman but, more importantly, for emergency services in the (fingers crossed) non-event of a-situation-that-dare-not-speak-its-name.
We are becoming more and more official. Also received colour swatches in the mail from Desmond, our architect, to finalise roof, spouting and window frame colours. Definitely being swayed to Greyfriars for the roof (a very deep grey/blue) but still havering over complementary shades for spouting and frames. As Desmond says, the colours won't actually 'meet' but they do need to like each other. Fortunately, we're all (we three) of similar mind, so don't foresee any trouble there. And it's been raining extremely heavily in the district, which is probably good news for us and the concrete, as things will set properly. More pix and news later.
We are becoming more and more official. Also received colour swatches in the mail from Desmond, our architect, to finalise roof, spouting and window frame colours. Definitely being swayed to Greyfriars for the roof (a very deep grey/blue) but still havering over complementary shades for spouting and frames. As Desmond says, the colours won't actually 'meet' but they do need to like each other. Fortunately, we're all (we three) of similar mind, so don't foresee any trouble there. And it's been raining extremely heavily in the district, which is probably good news for us and the concrete, as things will set properly. More pix and news later.
Tuesday, 12 February 2008
A solid start ... says Daddy
Wow - look at our new roller-skating rink! It's Wednesday, a week since our last visit, and we obviously have smooth concrete flooring to play with. Thanks to B and B, yet another duo of village spies, we have pictures taken this evening to show progress, and in spite of slight drizzle during the week, it's clear that the builders have managed to smooth and pour the flooring. Mrs B took the pictures at 6.30 this evening (Feb 13) and we can see roughly where shadows etc are in high summer. Luckily she left Jack the indefatigable beagle at home, otherwise we might have seen tiny doggy footprints throughout which, call me paranoid, might have upset the builders.
The house swings from looking tiny to huge, thanks to the difference a drop of concrete makes. Other news from this week: the builders have asked us to think about roof, spouting and window frame colour choices, which isn't a problem as we made general decisions about these things last year. Awaiting confirmation are the following: roof and spouting in a deep blue/slate grey colour called greyfriars, and windows some version of white/cream. When we see the colour swatches, we'll confirm these choices.
Yes, it's exciting, and thanks to those of you who have posted comments on recent blogs. My favourite so far is from aj, who noticed that Keith and I looked like happy Chinese lions either side of the front door, wishing good luck into the house. Indeed we do ... and if you believe in feng shui, I suspect we've got doors, general approaches and other good luck design features working our way. Pure luck ... so far we've gone with whatever feels, or looks, right. But we'll take all the good luck we can garner.
Thank you, Dad, for your appropriate summary of the week's work: A solid foundation, indeed. Just keep that skateboard tucked away until they say you can go out to play again. And thank you both, B and B, for such a good update.
The house swings from looking tiny to huge, thanks to the difference a drop of concrete makes. Other news from this week: the builders have asked us to think about roof, spouting and window frame colour choices, which isn't a problem as we made general decisions about these things last year. Awaiting confirmation are the following: roof and spouting in a deep blue/slate grey colour called greyfriars, and windows some version of white/cream. When we see the colour swatches, we'll confirm these choices.
Yes, it's exciting, and thanks to those of you who have posted comments on recent blogs. My favourite so far is from aj, who noticed that Keith and I looked like happy Chinese lions either side of the front door, wishing good luck into the house. Indeed we do ... and if you believe in feng shui, I suspect we've got doors, general approaches and other good luck design features working our way. Pure luck ... so far we've gone with whatever feels, or looks, right. But we'll take all the good luck we can garner.
Thank you, Dad, for your appropriate summary of the week's work: A solid foundation, indeed. Just keep that skateboard tucked away until they say you can go out to play again. And thank you both, B and B, for such a good update.
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
Power to the people
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.
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.
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?
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