Off to the Shed

Hi there,

In the few months since finishing the renovations I must say that I have been feeling a little overwhelmed with what is still required in the back and front yards in order to be completely finished. Many people have been very comforting, suggesting that it doesn’t have to be done straight away and that I just have to chip away at it and that my work will never be done! Hmmm.

I reviewed the list of the items that I blogged about some time ago (My name is Owen) and have been quietly surprised at the progress I have made.

So the past few months what I have done is as follows:

• Installed new letter box - purchased from Bunnings, 2 bags of concrete and very level, watching it in the rear vision mirror everytime I leave the driveway
• Connected all of the downpipes to the storm water pits that I installed, so no water is going into the ground around the house and we will (whilst have no trees) have consistent ground moisture content - very good in a highly reactive site
• Pulled the old shed down - which you can witness in my previous blog
• Removed the mounds of dirt that were in the back yard - well I have done this but in digging out the new shed foundations, I have created a new mound which will be removed in the next couple of weeks
• Constructed three new paling fences around the house - I will blog about this in the near future so that you can all see how easy it is
• Began construction of my new shed - at present the slab has been poured, the boundary walls in brickwork have been completed on the two boundaries, the wall and roof framing is about 85% complete. I have some progressive photos of this too at which I will blog about shortly
• I have installed curtains in little M’s room that L had made, which still need hemming!
• I have replanted a fruit tree - our little peach tree, which I was doubtful would survive another relocation but I am optimistic that next year we will have fruit again!

So has you can see I have been busy, and obviously having a little addition to the family does slow me down a bit in my outside chores with my Saturdays now being swimming lesson day for little M. Combined with our busy little social life I will get there.

My goals and next tasks for the near future are:

• Complete the new shed
• Level off the backyard
• Construct planter boxes around the back and side fences
• Plant trees in the planter box for some greenery in the back yard
• Paint the new paling fences
• Move all of the things out of storage and into my new shed - and set my shed up! Very exciting (Early Feb 09)
• Get quotes for a new colourbond roof for our house
• Write up a new maintenance regime for our house
• Install a new clothes line

I think the above is enough for the next couple of months but I will keep you posted.

I want to wish everyone a happy new year and all the best for the future. I will endeavour to keep you updated more often in my trials and tribulations of the constant renovations at our family home and also keep you informed of some hobbies I am picking up along the way to keep life interesting.