I see trees of green

Well our sales rep at Masterton has come back and found a landscaper for us so we have forwarded some rough sketches we had of what we wanted our gardens to look like... the cost of the plans is a bit cheaper than the original quote so that is something i suppose, oh and we were also told we won't be needing a flood report (did I already mention that?)

Hank looks so big and spacious but when we look at Nora, she seems quite small and tiny but i have read other blogs saying the same thing.

we're really just waiting now for the final drafts to be done and sent to the council.. so hopefully it should be sometime soon. I am assuming that building will not commence until late December or early next year.

Meanwhile, there needs to be some major cleanup to make space for the outlaws!

On a personal note, i start full time work next week... my boy has started childcare last week for 2 days a week and let's just say that this week has been really rough emotionally and physically for him and for me! i'm in his bad books at the moment for leaving him in the care of strangers so am feeling outcast and depressed.

Lock it in ...

Well we have had another meeting with our CSR to finalise details and this will be our last chance for any variations before council submission. Thankfully, we've been told we don't need a flood report so there is one cost we won't have to wear. We're generally happy with the pre-final plans now and waiting on some quotes for getting Hank a bigger door (we have asked for the XS26?) its 1200mm and will be wood with rectangular frosted glass panels or something and we've also asked how much to upgrade to gloss silver window frames... we figure it will make Hank a little more unique and will complement his planned white plantation shutters and vertical blinds... we prefer to keep him looking neat and trim with blinds instead of curtains... still have to decide what dressing we will use for his alfresco doors...

Also, it appears their landscape designer has emigrated so they may be submitting the landscape design for us hopefully without cost! we are going to provide a draft plan of what we want which they will use as a starting point...

on another note, just came back from a weekend at the snows, Perisher and Thredbo and it was beaut weather with fresh snow falling every day! am sore but content from my two days of boarding...

The tide has turned, let the flooding begin...

The builder has told us that council require a flood report so we're waiting on the costings for that. Hopefully it should be too expensive? I am anticipating numerous incidental costs occurring so hopefully the ride isn't too bumpy. On another note, went to check out boral bricks in Castle Hill (the only boral bricks site open on a sunday) and finally picked our brick. Its Desert Sage, i know you were on the edge of your seat waiting anxiously to know. We also went round to a house that had this brick in Bella Vista (bella indeed and also grande) and this brick looked a'ight! With some lovely assistance from the lady at Boral we also went with ironstone guttering and fascia, paperbark downpipe, ironstone equivalent color for window frames, barramundi roof tiles and bushland garage. It sounds like it was a simple decision but there was lots of flip flopping. I always thought the downpipes would be same as guttering but hubs said its good to have guttering to match the brick so you don't notice it... And I guess the eaves will match the brick color as most houses seem to match.

stuck at the desk for lunch today, anyone watch ramsay last night? he made a nice looking steamed black bream. Am thinking of trying my hand at salmon carpaccio later in the week. But this is an entree style dish, what to have for main? hmmnnnnn