More of the same 18 & 19 March 2022

Came up to put away all those pots and pans etc that I'd left on the kitchen table (after I'd left distraught last time, on hearing that we'd need more underpinning, and had to put a stop on the kitchen/bathroom)

And brought up the other light fitting that I'd bought for the garden room (might be a bit tall for there though, so would take out a length of brass)

And also checked out more of what Vic had done - he'd changed the configuration of the scaffolding and done a lot more work on the arches etc

The plan was also to try and work out the colour for the stairway arches and trim.  And also for the ceiling and walls.  Justin had thought vivid white for the walls, but Vic thought that was too stark, and you would see imperfections, so suggested Builders White (which is Vivid white with a splash of Black).  And then the arches - Justin had wanted to match them to the yellow of the front hall, and then have a darker trim for the wood bit

I went to the IGA and got all of the yellow paint cards - but not one matched our yellow - either too light or too dark

Terry also dropped by and suggested that we just extend the gold trim from the corbels - and use that as the accent colour on the various arch's wooden trim - with the rest white - and I agreed with him.  Justin didn't like that though, wanted to remain in keeping with the original light/dark colour scheme (although not the original grey).  so we're at a bit of a stalemate colourwise

     

Fraser and Rileigh were going to come up on the following Wednesday - to come and paint the ceiling/tricky bits from the scaffolding, however Vic almost fell off it on the Monday or Tuesday, so didn't want anyone else on it - and took it down.  So they didn't go up to paint.(pity)

Vic had also asked us a while back if we wanted him to fix up the ceiling in the front hallway - as there  some cracks below the wallpaper.  We said we'd think about it .....as we'd asked Ron the wallpaperer to fix it up  

However Vic had taken it upon himself to remove the wallpaper of his own volition

I wasn't really pleased, but its done now....will probably try and replace it with something similar if we can find it 

And because Vic did the ceiling here - even more of the furniture is out of place....

That said, he did also stop by to give me a dozen bottles of home made passata which was very sweet.  I was on a Zoom call for a CWA Fraser Group conference on the Saturday morning from 10am - 1.30pm or so - and he came during that.   I had to excuse myself

After the conference I tidied up a bit ie put those pots and pans away

Watched  the Intouchables after dinner - was lovely

Sunday - and I had breakfast in the dining room, and spied a glistening cobweb outside stretching from a lower tree branch to the ground

Tried to take a photo of it (actually took a few, but these are the best ones, as my mobile phone camera kept trying to focus on the background)

And I'm afraid to say that those bloody grape caterpillars have decimated my grape vines - two weeks ago I squashed a whole lot, but obviously not enough.  Will need to transplant the grape vines if/when the additional underpinning happens 

Also discovered a couple of self seeded tomatoes under the big tree - too late in the season to actually get any tomatoes though (bit camouflaged by the weeds)

And the wooden table that Jan and Peter had given us had collapsed.  Gordon said that he'd nudged it with his mower - who knows it might be able to be fixed.  Or else its a goner

 

Sunday lunch - and I felt like a pie, so wandered up to the bakery.  Got to talking to one of the Crafty ladies, who ended up shouting me my pie, as for whatever reason, the online banking wasn't working - and I only had my phone to pay with no cash or actual card

It was very nice of her

Gutted 5 & 6 March 2022

It started off so well.....Justin made me a lovely breakfast in bed in Melbourne and then I organised myself, and drove to Blackburn to pick up the light fitting that we bought on ebay to replace the one in the bee room

It's larger and more appropriate - was pretty pleased with it (and Justin went and picked up another one in Canterbury - which was also very nice)

So by the time I got to Inglewood it was mid afternoon ( a lot of traffic back from Blackburn)

luckily I didn't need lunch because I'd had the good breakfast

Inspected Vic's work

And then inspected the garden - seems as though there has been a lot of rain - as the ground was soft

And those bloody caterpillars are back on the grape vines

 Olives looking good though

Anyway, after all this, got stuck into it - unpacking the pot cupboard - but had to wash them first - as they always get very dusty/gritty in there because of the crumbly inner walls

It took longer than anticipated

Had a modest dinner, and then  up to Kingower - on the Village Green for the 1st Saturday of the month get together

Was very pleasant, but got a bit cool because of the wind

More of the same on Sunday - ie the pot cupboards.  Cleaned and oiled the cast iron pans and put them out the back to dry

 

But first went to the new cafe 3517 - and had a coffee with Denise.  At this stage it's just a cafe - not a wine bar 

Cam the builder and Peter the engineer came over at 2pm.  Cam was concerned that there had been more movement in the walls, and wanted to know if the proposed hesbia bricks for under the stairs were still appropriate.  

Vic had also voiced his concerns a number of times - saying that in his opinion the house needed further underpinning - around the back of the house/kitchen area (where Peter B, the underpinner had suggested previously)

Anyway - it seemed as though both Cam and and this Peter B were in total agreement - yes it now needed further underpinning, and that everything else should stop until that was done.  I was simultaneously gutted, and annoyed - because less than 12 months ago Peter B had said these were just superficial cracks and that nothing further needed to be done....I just felt useless, and like crying, and was so disappointed.  Yes, its going to cost us a whole lot more money, and obviously I'm not happy about that, but also my beautiful brand new kitchen and bathroom which had been in sight (just weeks/months away- and the reason I was packing all of this stuff up) and which I was very excited about have been put on hold now for goodness knows how long.....

And here's the list of what they said to do - ie stop the plastering, remove the rubble and grade the surface away from around the house (have organised for Vic to do this) We'll also have to lift up the airconditioning units and have them against the wall, as some more dirt will need to be piled on where the original underpinning was done in order to have a bit of a slope to have water running away from the house

And we would need to at least remove the veranda boards and joists - for the underpinning - could possibly prop up the rood though...It just gets worse

Not happy, gutted - and I just left the pots and pans in boxes on the table - didn't tidy them up and put them away   

I called the other Peter B (underpinner)- and given that we get on pretty well, he rather cheekily told me "I told you so" - hmm, I guess he was right, and we should have just bitten the bullet a year ago when he was doing the rest of the underpinning - - but we had chosen to believe the engineer

Anyway, underpinner Peter said he'd try and come up next week - and check it out - then we need to see when he can fit us into his schedule - and as he said - its all very weather dependent ....

And as it was  - Peter the underpinner couldn't make it up the following week, so it might be the week after, and Peter the engineer called back a few days ago - to suggest another system - whereby they would inject the ground with a chemical to stabilise the walls - ie prevent them from shifting any further.  he thought that a good and more economical option, but hadn't worked with it himself

We just don't know....

I also let RA know about this hold up - I guess they won't be too happy either

Anyway, I'll go up again tomorrow night after work (18/3) and will see how much further progress Vic has made.  I hope he finishes soon, as he's costing us a small fortune each week (but is doing a very good job).  Fraser and Rileigh are also supposed to go up soon to paint the hallway stairwell while the scaffolding is still there.

We need some wins...