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...
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