Amazingly, the last two weeks have seen more days with NO trades on site than WITH trades. Of course, this is the trouble with the count down to Christmas, trades are just so in demand. For us, it's carpenters that are spread too thin, with promises day after day that they will be there but they don't deliver.
We had a few days with them there, with imperceptible changes or backward steps (like gyprock being ripped out of my stair well because it was not quite plumb - awful to see but obviously worth it!). The excitement of the kitchen being installed was eclipsed by a call saying they were out of stock of the stone we had selected for our bathrooms and could we please select a new colour... today. So I drag 3 tiny kids out of the house on a 42 degree day, to various kitchen shops who did NOT want to serve me, partly because at least 2 of my kids are crying and partly because I am not there to BUY a kitchen, I have already bought one! I am dragging a massive tile in the base of the double pram, with the third baby strapped on to me, dragging the pram backwards up stairs to get into these kitchen shops to see stone samples. Of course, the pram JUST fits through doorways, but wedge an 800mm wide tile under it and it is the worlds worst jigsaw.... now it is screaming kids, broken tile, a bleeding shin, still jammed in a doorway, a sweaty hungry baby and a Mum who wants to cry! Nonetheless, I was raised a stoic and soldier on, selecting a few key samples, attempting to get hubby's agreement by phone between his appointments, we reach agreement and I phone the stone company.... NO THOSE FIRST THREE BACK UP CHOICES ARE OUT OF STOCK TOO. Right, I see, gather my composure... we'll just get white stone bench tops! Oh I'm sorry to inform you that will be an upgrade fee. I am sorely tempted to delivery my three sweaty, screaming children to the stone people's store and demand a foot massage and a cold cocktail rather than pay an upgrade fee because they failed to put my stone on hold when I ordered it 11 months ago. Don't get me started.
In an otherwise uneventful 2 weeks, here is the big news,
- the site was cleaned,
- the scaffolding was removed
- the stone benches are in
- missing eaves have finally been installed
- the stone on the fireplace is complete (almost) and
- the kids have a climbing frame!
- 130m2 of travertine paving was delivered direct from a quarry in turkey to my front yard. And the driver let me help with the crane :)
The best part... after some persistent texting to my site supervisor and head office contact along the lines of... "I am feeling pretty stressed about no trades on site for the last three days, so I can't imagine how you must be feeling!"... out comes Fearless Frank of Fowler. He has a reputation for being a great leader and it was awesome to see his command on the site. He listened to my concerns, looked at everything in fine detail and made countless phone calls to line up trades to finalise the issues. Unlike the responses we've been getting at this time of year, when Frank himself calls it's like "of couse, we'll be there first thing tomorrow!". So tomorrow, Friday, more is planned on site than has happened in the last two weeks!
- Friday: Painters, downpipes, carpenters, plumbers
- Saturday: carpenters, pest protection guys, my concretor for steps, my landscaper, my irrigation guy
- Monday: gyprockers, cornice guys, my tiler for the alfresco and porch.
- Tuesday: my fireplace delivery, and back comes the painter....
- then electricals, plumbers for bathroom fit off, wardrobe fit out, floors, appliances, kickboards and skirting... here's your keys Maam.
Within a hour of him being on site, he had summoned the mysterious disappearing carpenters and they were ripping out a wall of the master robe to make it larger! I loved seeing Frank, here in his shiny shoes and business shirt, grab a chisel and get to work alongside the young carpentry apprentice. I really respect leadership like that. I left site after 6pm and they were still slogging away, he wasn't letting them ead home anytime soon!
Can't wait to see the fruit of his calls in the coming week. After feeling pretty down about the progress - I am feeling hopeful. 20 days until they think they will hand over the keys... let's see!
Some progress shots this last 2 weeks:
We've got stone tops... even if the bathrooms are 'just white'...
The scaffolding was removed and site cleaned - revealing at last the shape of the finished home. Look forward to seeing it framed with driveway, steps and some nice hedging so it won't look so monolithic.
Progress on the back yard - a sandpit to surround the tree, welcome to 75 new trees, climbing frame assembled and one more garden bed still to go now the scaffold is out of the way
The stone cladding the fireplace has been all but finished by Super Jay - just need a marble shelf and the actual heater to arrive next week, DVD/appliance cabinets either side and the oak tops for the cabinets, wall mount the TV and enjoy! Right is all the Turkish travertine arriving ready for Super Jay to start tiling our alfresco and porch next week.
Air con ducting return framed and new eaves
And to sum it up... this is how I feel! I could fall asleep just about anywhere, anytime right now. Bring on the next 20 days. Lord, please give us strength to get through this!
Progress on the back yard - a sandpit to surround the tree, welcome to 75 new trees, climbing frame assembled and one more garden bed still to go now the scaffold is out of the way
Air con ducting return framed and new eaves
