Saturday, May 31, 2008

Roof Framing

Moving forward, the bearers for the roof started to get installed this week.
You can see the hole in the Laundry slab here for the dumb waiter.
Master Bedroom
Kid's Balcony
Looking from Walk-In-Robe towards Ensuite
Bedroom 2
Bedroom 3
Scaffolding also went up so the brickies' could finish the exterior walls on the upper level. Unfortunately it looks like a wet week ahead, so progress will slow.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Frames go up

After the slab pouring on Monday, the formwork came off on Tuedsay and the builders started preparing to build the frames for the upstairs rooms. We were amazed to see most of the frames for the upstairs walls completed by the end of the week (24th May), especially given all the angles - not many 90 degree corners here! The bedrooms are taking shape... And we could admire our new balconies. Downstairs was taking shape too! with the detailed curve in the brickwork at the bottom of the stairs, and our "open" column at the end of the Kitchen Bench.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Upstairs Slab gets poured

Today the concrete was poured on the slab for the middle level 
(Front Door / Office / Bedrooms / Bathrooms & Laundry):
One more truck to go...
Finished!
The thickest section is the main house; Front Door is at the right.
the lower section in the foreground is the capping over the excavation,
forming the 'secret' alleyway behind the dumb-waiter & pantry.
The house is starting to take shape.
Look up from the old boatshed.
The stairs down to the Living level.
The timberwork for the frame on the upper floor should start later this week, then it will really start to look more like our house!

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Second Level begins

Last week, the Scaffold started going in to support the formwork (7 May)
This week the Bondek and formwork are almost completed.
Master bedroom and balcony are to be on the right.
The outline of the ensuite is shown in orange paint. The Front Door will be in the foreground with the office to the right.
Here the outline of the Main Bathroom and the stairwell down to the Kitchen can be clearly seen.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Lower Ground Floor completed

The Living room level has now been constructed. Here you can see the open space on the front for the Lounge and Kitchen with the pantry under the stairs. Closest is the store room behind the dumb waiter.
Lounge Room wall, with Terrace out front
Kitchen, with Fridge space on left and doorway to Pantry in Centre
Looking across Family Room, with stairs on left and WC at the back
The "Secret" alleyway behind the pantry

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Anzac Day long weekend - SNOW!

On the Anzac Day long weekend, we made a quick trip down to the Snowy Mountains. Unfortunately for Jess she had to stay behind with Work Commitments, so we took Kate's workmate Jane instead. We headed off after work on Thursday afternoon, laughing to "Vicar of Dibley" DVDs on the way, and arrived at Jindabyne around 11pm. Then we got up early on Friday morning to attend the Dawn Service by the lake at Jindabyne.

It is always mystical as the local stockmen appear on their horses.

After Breakfast, we headed up the hill to look at the main range... Mount Kosciuszko looking bare without snow And played around on the chairlift at Charlotte's Pass. Back at Perisher, we got the best parking spot - right outside the Pub! Sadly it was closed.

On Saturday, we did some shopping to top up our food box in the Perisher lodge (with more grog than food!). When we got back up to Perisher, it started snowing: Within 10 minutes, the car was covered with big fluffy flakes. It amazing how quickly the scenery changes - in April! Then we headed to Thredbo, to look for a ski jacket for Jake. On the way, we called into Bullocks Flat, and did a short walk to Bullocks Hut. Nearby, we found an old steam engine, which was very similar to one we saw last month on Norfolk Island, on Anson Bay Road near Jacob's Rock. Both were previously used for logging activities and are now derelict. Bullocks Flat NSW Norfolk Island March 2008

On the way back to Jindabyne, we called into the new Schnapps Distillery for a tasting...

and admired the sculptures on the lawn. On the Sunday, we visited the Yarrangobilly Caves at the Northern end of Kosciuszko National Park. We did the self-guided tour through the Glory Cave, which was sensational. It was even more amazing to have the entire cave to ourselves! On the way out, it started to snow again, this time the flakes were even bigger and fluffier, some almost the size of golf balls! We had to get out of the car to take some more photos; the fresh dry snow in the Australian Bush just looks so unique. On the Snowy Mountains Highway down to Adaminaby, the road became quite treacherous. The contrast with the red earth was beautiful. We came across Delany's Hut, which had recently been rebuilt after the 2003 fires. Hope you enjoy the photos...