All my life my dad has given me significant 'things', things which have shaped my life. From a typewriter when I was a budding author at 11, to my first camera, digital clock radio, my first car, an answering machine, a prototype word processor when they were not much more than glorified electric typewriters, my first digital camera, kindle and all sorts of upgrades to my computers as technology advanced. Of course the most significant thing financially was the deposit for my first real estate purchase in Sydney all those years ago.
He didn't spoil me though. Alright, maybe he did, but I was always grateful and aware of his generosity. I took nothing for granted. The flat we bought in Sydney benefited us both. He maintained an interest which multiplied many times over in the short time before we sold it. Many years later we did a similar thing in the UK with similarly pleasing results.
When my life crashed down a marital roller coaster in 2014/15 Dad was there to catch me again. We bought a house together again, this one suitable for regular parental visits from overseas. Sadly, there were only two visits before Mum's Alzheimers had progressed to a stage which meant that she couldn't travel.
But I digress.
When we bought the house in 2015/6, the building inspection report man had a lot to say. The house was pretty 'run down' in terms of maintenance, but I was pushed for time. My marital home was already sold, I had parents and a child to consider and we just needed somewhere to live.
I loved the house. I loved the split level, the cathedral ceilings, the western red cedar paneling, the mid-century modern features so reminiscent of my childhood and the location close to shops but down a bosky hill which made it feel as if we were in the country.
We moved in during the summer of 2016, hot and dry. A few months later we experienced the first rain and suddenly I had twelve bowls out catching drips in the dining room. I consulted a roofing man. His verdict? "You need a new roof". There was no way at that point in time that I could even CONSIDER a new roof. Patching began.
Over the next eight years no less than 4 roof repairers told me the same thing. Unfortunately, I still did not have the wherewithal to undertake such a mammoth effort. With enormous debts of gratitude to the Bank Of Georgia (see my previous post) I was able to keep it patched but the night I woke up with water dripping on my head marked a turning point.
So the devastating loss of my dad opened up a few doors.
This was step one.
Since that post I have also had my fence replaced!
And then we moved on to the windows.
The original windows were trashed when I moved in. There was rot in the corner of all the timber frames, so significant that geckos could get in! Here is a sample....
In addition, the windows were designed with the opening section near the floor. Useless when hot air rises!!
So I got new windows <3 I Love them so much. AND they're double glazed!!!
So the next step was window coverings....
It was not easy. The configuration of the walls and previous window openings meant I couldn't get the curtains I wanted so I went for blinds...and since I was restricted to blinds I thought I might as well get the luxury of MOTORISED!!!!!
Meanwhile back in November, when I had flu, I had dropped glass onto my bathroom floor. Of course it smashed on the tiles but, the devastating extra consequence was that the tiles also broke!!
It was such a tiny break but it was visible and annoying so I called the insurance people. Yes, they said, you need a new bathroom.
???????????
Apparently, if you lift floor tiles in a bathroom you damage the waterproof membrane so the entire thing had to be ripped out and re-waterproofed and re-tiled!!! It seemed a good deal. I dutifully picked my tiles, as close to the originals as possible. and prepared to be without an ensuite for a few weeks.
Work started a few days after my return from Christmas in the UK. I was back at work already and the weather was fierce. The skip had arrived, a number of preliminary things had taken place and we were preparing for the big 'rip out'. I lay in bed, on top of my covers (it was hot) checking my phone at 6.30am, before getting up for work, when a strange noise outside caught my attention. A few beeping noises. Sounded like a reversing truck. Hard rubbish removal maybe? Unperturbed I went back to checking my phone. Some 5 minutes later a man, large as life, walked into my bedroom!
May I help you? was all I could manage!
The poor fellow was SO embarrassed. He had decided to start early to beat the heat and had asked the office whether the property would be vacant. They had (erroneously) said yes. I said ' maybe at 7:30 I'd be on my way to work...but not at 6:30!!!!! hahahahah
I laughed and laughed. I'm not sure he was as comfortable about it.
The previous photo was taken on the 30th of January. They finally signed off on my bathroom in April, but it is done.
Meanwhile.... I had organised for my hideous walk in wardrobe space to be reconfigured.
Here's before...
I get a bit tingly when I look at the refurb. I LOOOOOVE it.
Oh my G...everything is behind doors!!!!!
Oh my WORD how good is this??????
Even with things in it!!!! love love love
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