Underpinning, Mud, and RA Wednesday 1 April - Saturday 4 April 2020

Well, I was approaching this trip to Inglewood with great interest...as Tom the Gazebo builder had called me while I was en route (hands free speaker) and told me that he had finished the gazebo, and was just waiting for the final inspection at 2.30pm.  I advised that I should be there about 15 or 20 minutes later (and my calculations were pretty much spot on)

Saw the top of the rotunda poking out above the fence line as I drove up

And yes, it's marvellous - the workmanship is top notch, and we're very pleased with it  - nice to see the Town Hall behind it also

So, a big tick for the rotunda, but there were also other works afoot

Peter - the underpinner was there with his big digger

He had cleared away the plumbago from under the bay window - and so we were able to see the  house naked on that side for the first time

Without all of the plants there, we could also see how damaged the jacaranda is - probably not long for this world either

Peter had also pulled up half of my succulent garden bed. Good thing that they're tough, so I replanted a lot of them on Thursday and Friday

I then watched Peter in action for a bit - having a digger is the bees knees, wish we had one when we were planting the olive trees all those years ago

Peter had initially dug 2 exploratory holes, one under the single dining room window (had to remove my rosemary bush, which I also replanted), and the other in the succulent bed

The one by the dining room was approximately 1.8m deep, and he also dug under the foundations which were maybe 1.5m deep.  This was then supported by a metal beam held up by a pole. He said that the foundations were a bit rougher here than in the succulent bed

He was surprised  that there was this difference in the foundation works - as by the succulent bed, he was saying that the lower foundations were more like modern concrete with aggregate in it

Another curious fact was that where the big crack commenced on the back dining room wall, the foundations became shallower - and the hypothesis was that this was a major reason for the cracking and movement - as it was bearing a lot of weight.  That in conjunction with the fact that the water tank used to be there, the overflow was there, and the very invasive Hoop Pine tree roots led to a perfect storm of  cracking and moving factors

Lots of new piles of dirt from the large holes

The holes secured with cyclone fencing when Peter left

After inspecting all the works, given that it was reasonably warm, I donned my "summer" overalls as I had also brought some plants from home to plant

Once again trying my luck with a (self seeded) loquat

And then also a lot of freesias, violets, some grape vine cuttings, and other plants that I didn't know the name of which had been growing in the wrong spot in our Melbourne garden

This took me most of the rest of the afternoon - and I gladly had a shower afterwards to wash off all of the dirt and dust

Madeleine and Hughie had been there last week, and had moved the 2 x couches upstairs and also wrapped up the furniture.  Unfortunately there was a large new scratch on the floor, where the green couch had obviously been dragged.  when I questioned Madeleine about this, she said she thought the floors hadn't been done yet....(yes they had, but in my opinion could have another coat of tung oil on them)

At the end of the day, I was  looking forward to a rewarding G&T, and yes, there was a cold bottle of tonic water in the fridge.  However, sadly, the gin had been wrapped away in the dining room, and was therefore inaccessible, as I didn't want to unwrap the furniture.  I also didn't think I should go to the IGA, so I did without, had a glass of white wine instead with some cheese and biscuits up on the veranda

Nice to see the rotunda from up there too

Melbourne leftovers for dinner, and I watched Charlie and Boots on my ipad in bed

Early start on Thursday morning, as Steve the chippy (carpenter) was arriving at 8, and then Mark  the cameraman from the TV show around 9am.  Peter came around then also.

Given these corona virus days, Mark had to put on disposable gloves to mike me and Peter up

Was a little strange at first being filmed, we were told not to look at the camera, and just to act "natural"

Mark followed us around the garden, recording our conversations, and sometimes asking us to repeat them if he missed them /wasn't filming at the time

Also - Mark was supposed to be invisible - so basically it was a soliloquy if you were by yourself - with no prompts from him.  Took a bit of getting used to.  Also couldn't say  "as I said earlier" etc - because that part might not be in the final edit, nor could you refer to months ie hope that corona virus will be over by September, you'd need to say 6 months etc

Steve was doing some carpentering on bright yellow posts which will be used to hold in the house vertically

He also helped me move the bench and the little table out of the way into the rotunda

Peter was a bit worried about the weather, as he was keeping an eye on the rain app on his mobile, and saw that there was going to be  a lot of rain soon.  Basically he'd said that digging large holes were drought busters, especially if you then wanted to pour concrete.

And yes it had rained last night - so the ground was a bit wet and muddy, and the holes had filled with a little bit of water.  It was also a bit drizzly at times during the day

The concrete truck was due at 12, and luckily had plenty of space to drive through the garden

However, the mud was just too much, and it was getting bogged, with wheels spinning.  Peter tried putting some gravel down for purchase, but it was no good, it just couldn't get any closer

This meant wheelbarrows - with both Peter and Stephen running to and fro between the truck and the holes - and Mark recording it all

Peter also had to agitate the concrete - to make sure there were no air bubbles - just looked like a big stick blender to me (cooking reference)

Once the concrete had filled the two holes, Peter was able to relax a bit, and did some more digging

Found a kneebone?

And also showed me how invasive those bloody Hoop Pine roots are - as a foundation rock had been split by a root - which had then formed perfectly around it (forgot to take a photo)

Stephen and I also removed the 2 x fancy curtain pelmets.  He had previously removed all of the screws which held it onto the wooden brackets

Firstly in the dining room - unfortunately I climbed the shorter ladder and was also on the "sunken" side of the dining room - which meant that the ladder was a bit uneven so moved slightly if I changed my weight.  Not brilliant when trying to lift down the cumbersome pelmet

I got a bit stuck at one stage, (was in the wrong position) and couldn't put it back, nor take it down, was wondering if I'd drop it.  Now that would make for dramatic tv, anyway, twisted around a bit, didn't fall, and got it down.  Hooray!

A lot of dirt, grit and small bits of previously broken plaster came down with it

Put it in the hallway

And then upstairs - this one was easier, and I also took the longer ladder

Once again a lot of grit and dirt (no champagne corks as per the urban legend I'd been told).  But there  was  a small bird skeleton - fully intact, no feathers! I wonder what happened to them

This wasn't the only dead thing - there was a mouse in the dining room - yep the poison works

I had also busily been contacting other tradesmen during the day

Stuart - a master hard plasterer came and had a look around on Thursday - and he thought he'd be able to start in 2 or 3 months, but of course at this stage doesn't know how extensive the job will be, as it depends how much render/plaster needs to be removed/falls

And Stuart recommended a bloke in Bridgewater to re-sand and oil the veranda and back deck, as the plasticised tung oil which the other blokes had used was terrible.  Sure it had looked fantastic at the start, but it had soon cracked and worn away - making it look awful and leaving the wood unprotected

So Ian came and had a look, provided me with a quote within the next day or so, and yes we agreed to his quote, and he'll start up in the next month or so

I also had to recontact Troy as Tom had unfortunately cut through one of the olive tree watering pipes when digging the trench for the rotunda overflow pipe

Peter and Steven left around 3 or 4, and Mark left soon afterwards

So, back to gardening for me - planting the pulled out succulents

A very welcome hot shower at the end of the day (got very dusty from the pelmets), and no G & T

This time watched a James Bond film Spectre on Stan in bed. Had seen part of it before years ago, but fallen asleep at times

Friday, and Mark showed up at 10am.  Wanted to film me talking about each of the major rooms ie dining room, big room upstairs, kitchen, garden room, and then separately without sound, looking thoughtful in each of the rooms - was harder/more self conscious than it sounds

He was also very pleased with both me and Peter  - said he had lots of good footage, and it would be hard for the editors to choose what to keep.  I said I bet he told that to all of the participants, but he said he didn't...

Anyway. he finished up in the early afternoon, we were sitting out the front chatting, and then it started raining a bit, and then pouring....

He had to dash with his equipment to the car when he left

Too wet to do any gardening, so I went inside and tidied up a bit, and also called a kitchen/bathroom designer that I'd found on the web.  Tried describing the kitchen and bathroom to her - and then sent photos and then videos via whatsapp

Justin and I have never used a designer before, but thought that we might, as we want to make sure that the rooms end up being sympathetically renovated and also be practical, beautiful, and not too expensive?  Possibly a hard brief.... 

Bathroom (obviously)

Scullery

Kitchen

The weather had also improved during this time - so I also went out and planted some more of the succulents between text and whatsapp messages with Susan the kitchen designer

Thought that the garden looks nice in the late afternoon sun

I had been thinking of driving back to Melbourne this afternoon, but I had really wanted to finish off planting the succulents.  With all that rain, I didn't think it was going to be possible. However, as I said it did clear up later, so I was able to finish off - but later than anticipated ie around 6pm.  And there was no way I wanted to drive home then, just couldn't be bothered, and was tired. So I of course just  just relaxed into wine o' clock

Watched the latest James Bond - Spectre in bed after dinner.  And the weather had turned again - with thunderstorms.  Loud thunder, but didn't see any lightning.

But the rain....it poured down in buckets, and eventually made it inside.  We've had this before, and asked to get it fixed, but it wasn't, and we didn't follow up... Basically, if it really pours, the water goes over the gutters in the roof valley in the central part, then into roof space, and it eventually drips down into the house - you would think there'd have to be a lot of it.

And I assume that this is what happened on Friday night, I heard the dripping and went out to investigate.  Wet floorboards in the back hall, wet banister, drips and more drips

 And a big wet patch on the ceiling above the void

Nothing I could do, as the area was too widespread to put down buckets, and the back hall was too crowded with stuff (mostly the portable gazebo) even if it was possible

Denise told me that it rained 73ml overnight! Although my photo of the bucket and wheelbarrow showed more than 7cm depth of water....

Saturday morning, and I read the Age online in bed for a little while.

Got a call from Terry asking me over for a 1.5m isolated coffee - so yes I went

There was a lot of water by the side of the road, and also quite a bit of mud over the road in places  

Terry's back dam had been empty last week, but was now overflowing

Had a nice chat, and he very kindly gave me some more apples, tomatoes and an eggplant.  I love his home grown goodies

Then back to the house, and into the garden again.  I'd had a list of things I wanted to do today, and was already in my coveralls

Picked the biggest olives - as I want to try and make green olives this year

Crushed the oyster shells from the party, and spread them around the citrus trees

And picked a big bag of peaches ( no photo of that)

Also marvelled at how much rain water from last night  there was in the wheelbarrow

 and in a bucket

The holes that had been concreted were also full of water - but Peter said that would be ok

And even more mud - good thing I've got good work boots (also have gum boots)

Terry dropped by afterwards and helped me measure where the trench should be dug for the electrics for the rotunda.  Figured it should be approx 1.5m from the edge of the house (getting access from one of the green room's powerpoints).  I'd asked Peter if he could dig it with his digger

I also asked him if he could dig up those rogue palms under the hoop pine - much easier than by hand

And looking at that list again, I see that I forgot to get the jigsaws, and the jigsaw mat and bring them back to Melbourne - oh well next time