We are battling tiredness right now but if we stop, this project will never get finished. We've been going for 12 days and probably have another 12 before we are done. It's kind of like a set of dominoes. You fix one thing then another needs doing. The door joining the alfresco to the kitchen (so we no longer have to go out through the double French doors, through the pool gate to the outside) is now in and one coat of paint has gone on. That was a big job with the removal of a lot of bricks to make way for the new door having to come out. We have to make a cabinet for the microwave to sit above the oven, so that needs building and rewiring. We have to remove old beige (blech!) tiles, but they are concreted on, so theres another massive job involving a mini jackhammer. There's exposed brick to be covered with gyprock, slate flooring had to be ripped up and a million other jobs that need to be sorted. The list goes on.
On the up side, the kitchen is stripped bare. Just the old cabinets remain and the plasterboard is being finished today. Then the microwave cabinet will be finished and set in. I am working around a holy mess in the kitchen and its driving me nuts! Just choosing the various things needed - new sink, taps, dishwasher, colours that work etc has been doing my head in. Its much harder than I thought it would be - co-ordination not being my best asset. But we are doing it. Watch this page for the befores and afters. Hooray - can't wait for that day.
On a much much sadder note - have you guys seen the news about the flooding in Queensland? On the other side of Australia, a whole city has gone under and 75 percent of Queensland has been deemed a disaster with flooding. I can't believe it - its horrific. But if theres one thing us Aussies are known for its resilience and I watch with pride and equal sadness (that we have to do this in the first place) as we all pick up after one another - even us over here - donating money and just doing what we can. Its been so awful. 13 people have died so far and over 70 are still missing. 70 towns just gone - the Mayor saying its going to take a post-war like cleanup that will last 2 years or more. It just breaks your heart. The people of Queensland are doing it hard - so very very hard. I finally got hold of a friend who lives over there yesterday. She wasn't answering email - but that figures since a lot of electricity has been cut off. Shes fine - her house had to be evacuated as she lives near the Brisbane River but her and her family are safely ensconced with her sister who's over there too, so at least that's something.
I'm leaving band news for last because - well, all is good as usual in that regard. I'm just living day to day life with it, trundling along doing what I do. I still have a few times when it plays up - for instance - I can eat a half a small toasted turkish roll for lunch, then dinner time creates a drama when the food is hard to eat. Or it might be vice versa. But for the most part - I have no worries eating pretty much what I want. I am still moving around a lot - working hard on the kitchen - and when I jumped on the scale this morning - I actually showed a half kilo loss. So that was good news.
I hope you're all doing well. Will try and sneak in a few readings of blogs today. Not sure I will get the chance but hey - I'm thinking of you all.
Love to you all
Cara xx
Well hello you..I am glad things are going well for you. I know you will love love your kitchen when it is done and I do hope you will show us all of the pictures. You are, I am sure in that ugly not so pretty phase that will all pass as soon as the good stuff starts going in.
ReplyDeleteI am glad the band is doing its good work!
I have thought a time or two about you and my other Aussie region lapbander blog friends hoping you were safely across the country from the horrific flooding. I am glad you are having home-fix it woes instead of flooding.
xxxooo
I have heard about the flooding but haven't seen those images--so sad. :( I'm praying for the folks in and around Queensland.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the continued renovations!
I'm so glad to hear you're not affected by the flooding (at least not physically). Your kitchen sounds like a wreck but you'll love it when it's done!
ReplyDeleteI was in tears watching the news last night. It is devastating especially when you see the people on top of the cars careening down the street in the water rush. It is so sad to know that many of them died. My sister's son-in-law and his wife live near Brisebane but they have been in Canada for his mom's funeral. I hope when they return next week that their home is ok.
ReplyDeleteWe did our kitchen 6 years ago, but I hired someone to come do it all. It still took 4 weeks and I was cooking in the dining room with the microwave all that time. We ate out to much. But the new kitchen was so worth it so think about that when you feel the exhaustion coming on. You will love it.
Wow, Cara, those photos of Queensland are heartbreaking. Having previously lived in Houston, Texas, and experienced massive flooding myself (not in my home, but in my neighborhood and surrounding areas), I know how devastating it can be. I hope you stay safe where you are at.
ReplyDeleteI'm back from the dead and ready to tackle the band again. So far it's been tackling me. :/