The Great Flood

Last week, I can't remember which day, but I was driving home from work and I thought "ow what a great sky, I am sure it is going to look awesome from the portico". So I called my Mum and asked her to grab the camera, as my one in the mobile is broken (see below).

I hit the Oran Park/Gregory Hills intersection on Cowpasture Road and it is raining. I call home and ask about the rain. My Mum says it's pouring and she wants to show me something when I get out of the car.

I get home and OMG:

The sky was lovely.


But because the block out the back sits higher, the rain rushed down to my backyard and down the sides of the house. It also came from the side neighbours backyard as her landscaping isn't complete yet but because of the way Allworth excavated my block, it just...


Pooled around the house. The water tank is on the back wall.


And at worst it was above my ankles. I'm wearing my gumboots, which come up to my knees.


My Mum reported this to a Mirvac SS the next day, and he said he is going to look into it.

1 week out - Painting not finished

With about one week to go on the basis of the conversation during the week I'm happy to say painting inside has commenced, but not yet finished :o(

I think they are working from the rear to the front as the lounge looks like it is ready for its second coat...


but the main bedroom looks done, except for the skirting boards. That's my Mum and Me in the reflection.


I noticed the backdoor's frame has been done but I forgot to go back around and check the front. The eaves are not yet done at all and nor are the downpipes. The downpipes get to be painted because they are PVC in order to be connected to the rainwater tank as the guttering companies haven't progressed to making round downpipes. Dumb huh?


Well taking another look at the budget some things will be prioritized and others left for later. I was walking around today looking at the level changes in the block and I've come to a bit of a conclusion...

The drop edge beam is ridiculously low! So having paid money to have dirt carted away I am hoping that the excavation from the driveway will be able to be used to raise the level in this photo to cover the bottom row of bricks...


and this will run along the wall to this point, being the bottom row of bricks here. Then a sleeper will be used here to create a step for the next two rows, filled in behind and around to the higher part and the backyard will continue at this height.


Generally this will need to happen all the way around although on the other side because the front yard under the window will be retained and raised that side will all sit at the higher level. Then across the back fence and 1.5m deep raised garden bed will be created by retaining the area in front of the back fenceline as the back neighbour sits higher again, though only by about 2-3 sleepers high.

A drawing might be developed and scanned if I get a chance this week.

Also ordered the blinds, flyscreens and screen doors during the day from Wynstan's at Narellan. Have gone for a vertical throughout with a sewn-in weight and then a 25mm venetian in the bathroom and ensuite. Oddly however as I stood peering through the window at the house into the ensuite I decided to go for a venetian in a pebble brown colour to match the vanity. I thought looking into the ensuite that it would be bland to go with white as the wall tiles are full height and that the window covering could be more of a feature. In the main bathroom it is a long sash window so I think it's going to work out nice. Well for better or worse it is ordered now.

The plan is that because the screen doors and flyscreens are going to be powdercoated to match Colorbond Surfmist (closest thing to Trend Anodic off-white) this takes 3-4 weeks for delivery, which puts it in the first week of November. All going to plan if the keys are handed over on 25 October that week will be the concreting of the driveway and entertainment area and the carpet and tiles going in. Then looking to move in or at least move across that weekend.

Remains to be seen, haha.