We are in!

We are in our new house!

After more than 3 years of living in rentals or on the road or in temporary places, we are once again residing in our own home and it feels so, so good.

The inaugural sleep - evidence.

The first shower. Solar warmed water. Sweet.

The driveway is still a work in progress and some finishing of detail on the house is required. Such as tidying the gaps in the edge bits of the roof flashings so they don't shriek in the nor' easterlies.

Some exterior painting is still required.  These pergolas will eventually have retractable blinds underneath the transparent roofed sections, so that we can have the sun when we want it and shade when we don't. But for the time being the sun is lovely; it warms the interior tiles and the house has no need of heating. Just as well, because there is no heater. Yet.

This area beside the garage will become guest parking, in the event that it ever dries out.  A bit of finishing is required here as well.

This action shot shows a tree being casually plucked out of our dam wall with incredible ease and precision by the big yellow arm. Trees in dam walls are not a good idea, their roots form a channel by which water can leak.

These are wonderful old recycled railway sleepers that we bought to make the desk in our study off the main room.

 Here they have been cut and joined, then clamped.

Here is the installed result.  We will do an oiled finish to bring out the beautiful grain of the old wood. We particularly like the marks where the old spikes used to be.

Nothing old about the rest of the house though.  The overall effect is minimalist and very, very modern.

Here is the inaugural breakfast. Our furniture is mostly still in storage, but we do have a table and a bed. Plus some cushions. Don't come to stay just yet, unless you bring a blow up mattress.

The house was not, exactly, quite ready for occupation. Here David turns on the gas tap for the cooktop.

Here there was evidence of the plumber and the electrician having a turf war. Not possible to plug the dishwasher in, so I was washing up by hand for a bit. Fixed now.

Things are gradually coming together. We have hot water. The toilets flush and the on-site treatment system seems to be working. We now have a phone line, plus internet. Still to come - a heater. The garden (a big one). A shed. Outdoor paving. Indoor blinds and curtains. Some furniture.  In the fullness of time, perhaps a pool? We are in pioneer mode. This will go on for some time. About ten years, I reckon.

Now for some news about Mae - she's OK, all things considered.  Sounding quite cheerful on the phone. She has decided that in the interests of her sanity, she needs to be hopeful rather than hopeless. So she is focusing on her recovery and feeling more normal as a result. Chemotherapy will be the next challenge. It starts in about two weeks.  Meanwhile, she is feeling reasonably well and pain-free, nausea-free for the first time in months. She is now also free of her dressings and her catheter pal, so is much more able to move around comfortably. She and Nick are planning their wedding!