28 April 2013
Elna did manage to paint all the posts, but they are not up yet.
I worked on adapting the framing for the new kitchen.We have to provide for installing a second window towards the street (south side). I also had to accommodate the corner pantry which we have in storage. Then Jaco called, he is available and wants to learn more about framing and installing plasterboard. We made some preparations and went out to get plasterboard and started installing it. All went very well, but I had a worry in the back of my mind: is there not something that I have forgotten? The next morning when
I got up, I remembered that I still had to provide for a light and a wall heater. So I took one of the boards off again. Luckily it was only screwed down.
We went to town and bought a wall heater and a mirror (we did have a lamp in storage). Then I started the intricate task of wiring, with me first drilling the necessary holes through the framing and floor and then crawling under the floor to reroute the existing wiring for plugs. I also had to provide for the other plugs that have to be fitted in the kitchen. All of that took me most of Friday and Saturday.
On Saturday we also went to Hamilton with Jaco to select and buy used timber framing for a room they want to build for his wife for a salon. That is on their front lawn. Got a whole trailer load for $ 100.
I finished my wiring late Saturday night, just as it was getting dark and I was running out of energy. There is still next week to do more work.
Sunday
21 April 2013
It is officially autumn now. We have had the most severe drought in North Island in the last 70 years, and the whole North Island was declared a drought area. With autumn arriving, we got bits of rain, but not much. The farmers called it a "green drought". The grass was green but with no growth. Luckily, it has changed, we had some rain during the week and today we had about 30 mm so far. This also implies that I will have to start work in inside tasks.
The last of the veranda posts are joined and sanded now, but not painted yet. We will have to wait for a sunny day.
I started work on cutting and removing the old studs between the bathroom and the kitchen to be. Sorry, the place is a mess, I cannot take a picture. That job went well, but it had a complication: I got affected by the dust and developed a sinus infection. It meant that I had to get antibiotics. It also delayed my progress. We also went to help friends with the finishing touches of a unit/flat renovation in Hamilton. We spent two days on that.
Next week we need to replace the hob in our kitchen in the Cambridge house, and that will require some cutting and joining of the bench top.
Well, even with getting older, we never have a spare moment. That is, excluding rest breaks whilst doing a job. But we are not complaining, we are enjoying it.
Let us hope next week will have more to report about
Bye
It is officially autumn now. We have had the most severe drought in North Island in the last 70 years, and the whole North Island was declared a drought area. With autumn arriving, we got bits of rain, but not much. The farmers called it a "green drought". The grass was green but with no growth. Luckily, it has changed, we had some rain during the week and today we had about 30 mm so far. This also implies that I will have to start work in inside tasks.
The last of the veranda posts are joined and sanded now, but not painted yet. We will have to wait for a sunny day.
I started work on cutting and removing the old studs between the bathroom and the kitchen to be. Sorry, the place is a mess, I cannot take a picture. That job went well, but it had a complication: I got affected by the dust and developed a sinus infection. It meant that I had to get antibiotics. It also delayed my progress. We also went to help friends with the finishing touches of a unit/flat renovation in Hamilton. We spent two days on that.
Next week we need to replace the hob in our kitchen in the Cambridge house, and that will require some cutting and joining of the bench top.
Well, even with getting older, we never have a spare moment. That is, excluding rest breaks whilst doing a job. But we are not complaining, we are enjoying it.
Let us hope next week will have more to report about
Bye
14 April 2013
I spent a lot of time extending the veranda posts. By last count, we had 7 painted and ready, two in clamps and two more to glue. The others are ready for paint. Progress, but slow. I hope to get all of the posts up before the rainy season starts. The roof will have to wait a while.
I called the plumber on the 11th of March to ask for the new bathroom to be connected. I called again last Friday, and he promised to come back to me this week. On Monday he called: Will Thursday be OK? We had a wedding on that we would not miss, but we could not put the guy off. In the end, we accepted. Because it is very dry and dusty under the floor, I went under and put black plastic sheets down where the guy would work. That implied that I got dusty, instead of him!!.
Thursday morning at eight he turned up, ready to go. Now, we normally only start waking up at eight, but we were up and dressed, and were ready for him. I showed him what I had in mind, and obviously, he had another layout in mind. We left him by himself and attended the wedding at 11 am. We returned about 12:30, skipping the party. He worked all day but didn't finish, so he came back on Friday. He came even earlier, but we were up and ready, but skipped breakfast. He finished at about 11. Now we have the luxury of a bathroom two meters down the passage. I must admit, there is a lot of finishing still to be done, and it was cause for an argument with the boss (what is to be priority), but we can use it in the meantime.
It gave me great pleasure to destroy the old toilet and basin in the old bathroom on the deck!!!(If I took the shower out, the whole structure will collapse)
Well, we have made great progress this week, but none of it is visible, it is all under the floor.The veranda posts are still in the workshop. I hope to fit at least the seven that are ready. Keep in mind the posts go in pairs, 450 mm apart (did I type that correctly?)
Love you all
I spent a lot of time extending the veranda posts. By last count, we had 7 painted and ready, two in clamps and two more to glue. The others are ready for paint. Progress, but slow. I hope to get all of the posts up before the rainy season starts. The roof will have to wait a while.
I called the plumber on the 11th of March to ask for the new bathroom to be connected. I called again last Friday, and he promised to come back to me this week. On Monday he called: Will Thursday be OK? We had a wedding on that we would not miss, but we could not put the guy off. In the end, we accepted. Because it is very dry and dusty under the floor, I went under and put black plastic sheets down where the guy would work. That implied that I got dusty, instead of him!!.
Thursday morning at eight he turned up, ready to go. Now, we normally only start waking up at eight, but we were up and dressed, and were ready for him. I showed him what I had in mind, and obviously, he had another layout in mind. We left him by himself and attended the wedding at 11 am. We returned about 12:30, skipping the party. He worked all day but didn't finish, so he came back on Friday. He came even earlier, but we were up and ready, but skipped breakfast. He finished at about 11. Now we have the luxury of a bathroom two meters down the passage. I must admit, there is a lot of finishing still to be done, and it was cause for an argument with the boss (what is to be priority), but we can use it in the meantime.
It gave me great pleasure to destroy the old toilet and basin in the old bathroom on the deck!!!(If I took the shower out, the whole structure will collapse)
Well, we have made great progress this week, but none of it is visible, it is all under the floor.The veranda posts are still in the workshop. I hope to fit at least the seven that are ready. Keep in mind the posts go in pairs, 450 mm apart (did I type that correctly?)
Love you all
7 April 2013
This week I managed to fit the 10 posts that were extended last week. It is beginning to take shape, but there is a lot more to be done. There is about another 13 to do. Remember, most of the posts are doubled, 450 mm apart. I asked around and was told of a different epoxy glue, and man, that one works! I can manage two posts per day (with the eight clamps I have). I think, including Saturday's two, I have about seven done now. Still to be sanded and painted.
I called tie plumber on Friday, it is four weeks we have been waiting now, but it seems he is not very interested. I will give him another week, then start the pipework myself.
On Saturday we picked up a fridge/freezer we bought in Hamilton, so half the day was gone. We spent some time today to remove the old fridge and freezer and install the "new" combination unit. We still have a separate smaller freezer.
We are still planning to fit the "new" used hob in Cambridge this coming week. We will have to modify the counter top to accept the smaller hob.
We also had some rain on Saturday, and the weather has suddenly turned. Our forecast for tonight is 5 deg. I think winter has started. Thank goodness we are sleeping in the front room which is insulated.
I am very excited about the patio door frame I need to build for the dining room, but realise I have to be patient till Willie arrives here to advise me.
This week I managed to fit the 10 posts that were extended last week. It is beginning to take shape, but there is a lot more to be done. There is about another 13 to do. Remember, most of the posts are doubled, 450 mm apart. I asked around and was told of a different epoxy glue, and man, that one works! I can manage two posts per day (with the eight clamps I have). I think, including Saturday's two, I have about seven done now. Still to be sanded and painted.
I called tie plumber on Friday, it is four weeks we have been waiting now, but it seems he is not very interested. I will give him another week, then start the pipework myself.
On Saturday we picked up a fridge/freezer we bought in Hamilton, so half the day was gone. We spent some time today to remove the old fridge and freezer and install the "new" combination unit. We still have a separate smaller freezer.
We are still planning to fit the "new" used hob in Cambridge this coming week. We will have to modify the counter top to accept the smaller hob.
We also had some rain on Saturday, and the weather has suddenly turned. Our forecast for tonight is 5 deg. I think winter has started. Thank goodness we are sleeping in the front room which is insulated.
I am very excited about the patio door frame I need to build for the dining room, but realise I have to be patient till Willie arrives here to advise me.
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