The house build still underway we ended the past week a little behind where we were hoping to be. Tasks Those were the tasks, unfortunately there were hit with some delays. Internal walls The internal walls still had a bit of work to be completed this week, some tidying up and the cornices to be installed. Monday 2nd Before the build started, we requested trades didn’t smoke in the house. We had no issue if they smoked around the yard, but we asked them to clean up their cigarette butts and packaging when done. With some of our family having lung issues and our home being non-smoking, it was important…

With yet another flat out week behind us its time to update the house build.During the past week there were some delays but also a lot of progress. The original plan was Monday 26th the framers would be out to fix some frame work that wasn’t quite right. Tuesday 27th the crew would attend to start installing the internal walls. However we got word late Monday that council hadn’t updated their paperwork so the crew couldn’t attend. Basically when the frame is built council and the building company both need to sign off saying its to code. Well council inspected but didn’t lodge their paperwork so we had to wait.…

House build part 6. If you would like to read previous house build updates head here. Friday 16th August As week 1 of bricklaying wrapped up, we were amazed by how many bricks the two blokes had laid. Their progress was impressive, and seeing the electrical and plumbing being set up for the drywall installation made us even more excited about the build moving forward. Friday 23rd August We couldn’t visit the property until Friday, the 23rd, due to work commitments. During our visit, we met the new site supervisor. During this time Lanky raised some concerns with the build so far. Concerns we raised: Besides raising our concerns and…

Read along to see how house build part 5 develops. Friday, August 9th: We headed out to the property for our weekly cattle check, and to our surprise, we found the first set of bricks laid in place! The sight of those initial bricks set our hearts racing with excitement. It brought back the familiar conversations we’ve had, full of anticipation: “We can’t wait until we can finally move in.” With each new milestone, the excitement grows, and our patience seems to dwindle. I’ve always thought of myself as a patient person, but lately, I feel more like a child on Christmas Eve, counting down the days until the big…

We are up to house build part 4 if you would like to read previous updates head here . The waiting game is such a painful game. Funnily enough, you don’t need to play it for that long. This past fortnight felt like months, not weeks. We left the house with gutters on, eagerly anticipating the arrival and installation of the Colour-bond roof the following Friday. When the roof finally arrived, rain had drenched the property, bogging down the delivery driver. He drove off the driveway, and got stuck trying to get back on, and tore up part of our driveway, which now needs repairs. see stuck truck here. On…

Council approval and onsite meetings. On April 12, we finally got the final approval notice for the house build. On the 13th, we were onsite doing fencing. However, it was still a month until the earthworks started. After the fencing, we left for NSW for three weeks. GJ finished up the last paperwork during that time. James, the site manager, organized the surveyor to peg the build site. We arrived back in South Australia on May 5. On May 10, we met onsite with James. He walked us through the next steps in the process. This involved the surveyor coming onsite and the earthworks company prepping the ground. James informed…

Often considered the heart of the home, the kitchen is where love and warmth intertwine with nutrition. These elements enrich the meals that unite families and uplift our spirits while nourishing our bodies. Mealtime transforms into cherished moments of bonding, where stories are shared and memories are made together. My passion for cooking for loved ones and understanding these moments led us to invest extravagantly. We chose to spend a significant sum on our main stove and oven for enhancing our cooking process. A skilled cook can make a meal from humble ingredients with simple appliances, yet better tools add value. Just as I can knead dough by hand, I…

We purchased a tractor primarily for trenching work related to power and water systems. This investment not only saved us approximately $15,000 on plumbing and electrical expenses but also aids in other tasks around the property, you can see some of the tasks on our to-do list. All of the tasks help justify the investment in the tractor and its attachments. Dealing with Leaks This post is about the third task on our “to-do” list, which involves trenching for plumbing and electrical needs. Initially, we planned to start trenching around late March or early April. However, a $600 water bill and a neighbor’s call about a leak in the plumbing…