19 August 2012

On Monday we offloaded the curved iron. To prevent oxidisation, there needs to be ab gap betewwn the sheets. I have run out of suitable scrap timber, so I started cutting No 8 wire (bloudraad) in suitable lengths. It was very hard and crooked, so I had to straighten it on an anvil. I required 60 pieces of wire. Well, we finished that and stacked them all. Now we had a new problem, the sheets started rolling off. Two Waratah posts (Iron fencing posts) sorted that, and we put a shade net over it to protect it from wind.That project will now have to wait for summer.

The ceiling in the new bathroom was made of board and batten, 30 mm boards with a slight gap between them, covered at the gaps with an ornamental molding. The boards were beyond repair, eaten by border, cracked and rotted out. We decided to put a false ceiling of gib board just below the original, and then replace the battens and cornices. I got treated timber and cut it into cleats, and nailed that in between the original boards. The nailing was done with the nail gun. Some nails didn't go in all the way, and I had to ask Barry/Barco to help me out. It turned out the ceiling beams are made of a very hard timber, and in the end he had to hammer the nails down by bending it over. Now the job of leveling. There I ran out of steam, and gave up.

That night, our power tripped out several times while Elna was cooking. It turned out it was the stove/range. We have already bought a replacement, but it is a unit that is to be built into the cabinets (under counter) with a glass top. This became a job of urgency now. Previously we have bought a kitset kitchen, but the new prices are just beyond our reach. I have decided to make the units myself, but remember, I am no joiner. Previously we have bought an old kitchen, which I have dismantled. I stared cutting the panels required to make up a few units. I am still working at that. The hinges of the oven are worn out (we knew about that), so I started removing them for repair. I did manage to improve it, but it seems I will have to buy new ones. That is for next week.

Our weather is improving, we do get some days without rain. The forecast normally shows a sun, clouds and rain. Today is a typical Waikato winters day, rainy all the way

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