Fraser & Rileigh painting again and Cam's back Tuesday 18 - Friday 21 July 2023

These are now Fraser, Rileigh's and Cam's photos - as I had left on Tuesday afternoon - as I said in my previous post

Fraser & Rileigh cut in and sanded a bit on Tuesday afternoon, and had to wait for Matt to come back with another platform - so that they could reach the (currently) inaccessible parts of the wall

I was a little concerned that Fraser was standing on the scaffolding poles in the below photo - but he assured me that he was only about 45cm above the stairs 

Below is the new platform that Matt erected - made it a bit harder to get up and down the stairs (but not impossible)

   

You can see the difference in colour - between where they stopped and the bare plaster ceiling

So, they did 24 hours of painting and prepping each - a pretty good result I think - having done the stairwell area - the rest of the middle back hall downstairs and the upstairs wall still needs to be painted

Can't really do downstairs - as the fridge is in the way, - and plastering also hasn't been completed in the powder room.

I still want to paint the upstairs hallway with a marble effect - like the original wallpaper - but Justin doesn't seem that keen for me to do it 

Something like this - and if it doesn't work - I'll just paint over it 

Cam, the plumber, the electrician (maybe others too) came up on Thursday

First up - Cam wanted to double check the depth that we wanted the basin bowl cut into the vanity

And then the position of the taps

And voila - it was plumbed in

I thought that we might get a small Turkish rug  to go in front of the vanity - for a "pop" of colour.  Will need to go there to check what size would fit best

I'd also like to put some Turkish type paintings on the blank wall to the left of the vanity

Shower taps were plumbed in

As were the bath taps and spout

Toilet also  - I wasn't sure if the toilet was usable or not (because of the box on top)- so I texted Cam to ask - and he called back and said yes, it was, he just didn't want it used in the first 24-48 hours   

Cam advised that he still needs to caulk in the bath - its usable - but I shouldn't splash too much. And we need to paint the window frame - as I was never a fan of that lurid turquoise colour

They also put in the powder room vanity

and toilet

But these aren't plumbed in yet - so are unusable.  And the door frame needs to be completed, and the door installed 

Lot of digging outside - which can be filled back in when the powder room is connected up to the sewer

Lastly, it now looks as though the kitchen won't be ready til the end of August - arghh!

It was initially going to be ready last week of March, then by 20 of April - then a lull of no info (Cam's sick brother), then end of July - and now end of August.  I wonder how concrete this last time frame is.  Don't want to jinx myself though....  

Internal scaffolding Sunday 16 - Tuesday 18 July 2023

Left Melbourne after lunch on the Sunday and drove to Sutton Grange to pick up the olive oil.  Unfortunately despite our prodigious olive picking (around 120kg), and Terry's 36kg, John said that we had 153kg (have to allow for boxes/baskets weight) and only made 18 litres of oil.  I thought we were going to make much more than that - but John had said that the green olives didn't have much oil in them (hadn't fully ripened) and the black olives had taken on water - so the oil was harder to extract from them.  He did say that it was very nice oil though

So I didn't get to Inglewood til around 4.30

And it was cold - was very pleased to have the split system

Monday morning - there was a lot of frost - and the old kitchen bowl outside which had water in it was frozen

The ice was reasonably thick

The thermometer on the fridge said the downstairs temperature was around 7 degrees....which is pretty chilly

The scaffolders came around 7.30 - and didn't take long to put up the internal scaffolding

And I prepared for the new fridge - clearing out a suitable space in the hallway 

And also gathered together the painting supplies/equipment for Fraser & Rileigh 

I also had a coffee and a chat with Pauline

And then I got down to sanding - ie what Vic hadn't finished upstairs ie on the skirtings and also the wooden beading on the arches etc - was very dusty work 

Below are some before and after shots

I also rather fortuitously took photos of the scaffolding from various angles, and put them on our King St family whatsApp group

Justin quite rightly came back to me and asked how Fraser & Rileigh were supposed to paint the walls below the platform.  I hadn't even considered this - having concentrated on how they were to reach the ceiling

So I had to call back Matt from Bendigo Scaffolding to come back and rectify it - put another platform/ do something.....which he did - on Wednesday morning (after I'd left)

Fraser and Rileigh were going to come Monday afternoon, but ended up coming early Tuesday - maybe too early - as they were tired when they arrived, and so had a nap 

I also picked more olives - this time for table olives.  Ended up picking close to a full basket - around 9kg

Saw Terry out of the corner of my eye - leaving the front door - so we went in and had a coffee.  He told me that he was having a working bee at his place in 2 weekend's time - as he was maybe going to sell (I hope not)  

The fridge was also delivered from the Good Guys in Bendigo - and fit in well in the space I had made for it 

After Terry left I went back into the garden and did a bit of trimming, weeding, and also planted another loquat - maybe this is the 3rd or 4th - they never seem to survive - hopefully this one will

My final job was to empty the cellar (again) - got out the pump again, and the long hose.  And got Fraser to assist in holding it - while I unspooled it - and and worked out the correct length to cut it - so that it could reach the cellar and the scullery sink - but not be so long as to get kinked etc - which is what was currently happening   

So did this - and had to muck around a bit with the pump - it didn't seem to want to start - so I wondered if the water was too shallow - but I persevered - and it finally started up - hoorah, but there will still need to be further manual scooping out

No plumber again and Madeleine & Hughie

So, I dropped off that Jacobbean loune suite in California Gully on the way to Inglewood (yes we'd finally sold it for a song)

George helped me strap it down securely in the Ute - making sure that I had a clear backward view with the rear vision mirror

We were so pleased to eventually get rid of it - didn't want it to go to landfill, so were pleased when the lady said she wanted it 

Got to Inglewood around 1pm, and Craig, the 2IC was there, the electrician had already been - and changed the light fittings, and put in the ensuite one, but the plumber hadn't shown up at all

Craig was trying to contact him, but couldn't get through.  As it was we never found out why the plumber didn't show up - and it was so frustrating, as it had already been cancelled/no show twice before

I had been looking forward to a lovely hot bath in our gorgeous new ensuite - as yes, the weather is now quite cold - however sadly that was not to be.  The plumber is now supposed to come 20/7/23 - but I won't be holding my breath....

Anyway, I checked out the electrician's work

Kitchen - the  light will be positioned over the island bench, and can be lowered/put higher.  I think it  looks fab

Ensuite - we swapped out the original light fitting that we'd put in - to the scullery - as it was brass, and we didn't think that it would go with the chrome tapware/sconces 

Scullery - as I said this was the light that we'd originally put in the bathroom

Music Room - Justin had picked up this light fitting from ebay last year some time  - it was too long, the extension rod was taken off it (the ceiling is not as high in this room) 

Bee room - I wasn't quite happy with the bee room light - as the light fitting should have been lower.  I did ask them to take the rod from the existing bee room light, if they thought it wasn't low enough - so either they thought it was ok, or didn't read the email properly

  

He also put the powerpoint in on the landing  - but for some reason it didn't seem to work.  I also tried the electric kettle - in case it was the light that didn't work

Craig had also fixed up the floor in the powder room

 After inspecting inside - and having a late lunch - I went and planted the bulbs that I bought from Bunnings a while back.  I hope that they flower for me

Also did some weeding out the back - the gravel around the vegie garden

Is quite annoying that there are hundreds if not thousands of parsley seedlings in the gravel, but not one in the actual vegie bed!

Went back inside around 5.30 or so

Given that it is cold, and Justin isn't here - I put a hot water bottle in my bed - however I must not have closed the lid properly, or else it's a bit faulty, anyway when I moved it some water came out and wet the sheet/my pjs etc - I decided to just stay - thought that my body heat would eventually dry it out.  No such luck - it was still damp in the morning

I had to put the split system heater on to fully dry it out - decided not to have a hot water bottle for the next few nights 

Thursday, and Matt the scaffolder came to have another look at the stairway - and yes he'll come back on the 16th to set it all up - in preparation for Fraser & Rileigh to paint the stairway

Madeleine & Hughie said they'd come up for a few days (as they hadn't last weekend) - Hughie wanted to pick some olives etc

They haven't been here for ages ie last time with us was November 2020 - so they haven't seen the wallpaper, new plastering, bee room etc - they knew that we'd done it - and seen photos - but nice to see it in real life

I thought I'd make them a nice dinner in my tiny scullery kitchen

Went to Deb the butcher and asked her for her "best steaks" - she said they were "all good", but then pulled out a huge 1.2kg cryo vacced scotch steak - which she said would be perfect first seared, and then slow cooked for hours 

I explained that I didn't have a slow cooker at the moment, but realised that I could use the electric frying pan that Alex gave us years ago - so I bought it - along with some cabana and sausages

Made a feast - seared and slow cooked the steak

In the early evening I wrapped the steak in foil, and then cooked up sliced onions in the rendered fat - delicious!

Once these were done I removed them and cooked up the mushrooms in the same pan

I cooked the potatoes in the microwave, and then mashed them, and also cooked up some broccoli in the microwave

No dessert - I'd bought some chocolate, and we also had some pastries from Fraser/Baker's Wife 

Despite Madeleine finishing work (at Deakin) at 4.20pm - they didn't arrive til close to 9pm

We ate in the dining room 

I corrupted them a little - ie they were going to do "Dry July" - but decided to have some red wine with dinner (we also had lime flavoured soda water)

I also had to go back down into the cellar (in my pajamas) - to get another bottle of wine.  Had to take off my dressing gown, and put on gum boots- as there is still water down there

After dinner we went upstairs and played some board games - Madeleine had asked me to get them out before hand

We played a couple of games of Uno - which Hughie won, and then scrabble - Mum would have been so proud

They also sampled some of my "gins" - a spiced Sloe Gin, and also Genepy - which they liked 

Because I felt like spoiling them - (wanted them to come back) - I brought them breakfast in bed on Friday morning once I'd established that they were awake (around  10am I think) - coffees and avocado on toast

Pottered around a bit and then went up to the Post Office to have a look at the mugs with a photo of our house for sale (Pauline had seen them and told me)

They were with other gift merchandise at the back - $10 for the mug - we didn't buy one.  I was leaving and the Post office woman asked if I had needed any help.  I explained that I came to have a look at the mugs, as my house was on it -she then apologised to me - and asked if it was ok for them to sell.  It was fine - not as though we have a copyright on the house image 

Walked back towards Chancery lane - and Mad and Hughie liked the broad trunked trees leading up to it

 They felt like takeway for lunch - so we went to GGs - however we were told that they would take at least 20-30 minutes for an order. And Maile and David were coming at 1pm 

Despite the wait, Madeleine still wanted chicken kebabs from there, while Hughie and I went and got a pie from the bakery.

I went back to the house and ate it, while Hughie went back to Madeleine - and they fossicked in the Op Shop while they waited for Mad's kebabs

As it was, Maile and David got to our place around 1.15 - so there was plenty of time for them to finish off their lunch

The reason that Maile and David came to our place was that the Kingower road is still washed out to their place, and I couldn't remember the other way, so we followed them back

Saw quite a few kangaroos on the way - which was unusual during the day

Maile showed Mad and Hughie around - as they hadn't been there before - and then we started picking the big beautiful kalamata olives - we were picking them for table olives, not for oil

 

  Maile also gave us some limes and rosemary

Had a coffee and some biscuits, and then back to Inglewood  - no more kangaroos

Mad took a nice photo in the bee room

Hughie and I picked some more of our olives - so that we can compare and contrast them - have a competition as to who made the best tasting olives.  I'll be making 3 types ie - Maile's kalamatas, my smaller green olives, and then my tiny wild black olives.

I'd booked the pub for 7pm, and was very surprised when we arrived and there was only one other table there - given that it was Friday I thought it would be packed.  Plenty of people in the bar though.

I had the calamari and prawns, and suggested that Hughie get the mixed grill - he was stunned by how big it was (he ended up taking half of it home).  Can't remember what Mad had

Back to the house - and we watched a movie in the bee room - to be honest I can't remember what it was - was falling asleep - so went to bed 

Saturday - and I thought we might have brunch at Cafe 3517 - as I had seen it advertised in the window

However when we went in - the woman there said that the owner wasn't there (who normally cooks these brunches)and that she couldn't poach an egg, but could do fried eggs and bacon, so Madeleine and I had that, and Hughie had a bacon and egg focaccia

When she said "bacon and eggs" - that's literally what we got 2 x fried eggs, quite a lot of bacon, and a  little one half piece of untoasted but buttered foccacia on the side.  I certainly would have wanted/ expected some toast - so wasn't really very impressed

Back to the house - a quick tidy and pack up - and then back to Melbourne