29th September 2014

Well there has been a few things happening of late...

Pete finally got the chance to start work on our front garden retaining wall. It was getting pushed back every weekend due to all the rain we were getting. Hopefully this weekend will see the wall on the left side of driveway (looking out to the street) finished. Then we can bag and paint to match the facade or render it. Ideally I would like it rendered, but it won't match the facade and rendering the facade will be a way off yet. Then I can finally start work on the garden...yay :) I can't wait. Our facade looks so bland without any plants around it.

I've created a bit of a monster. Because our timber fence looks crap and is already bowing and fading in colour, I decided I would paint it, not only to make it look better, but because plants look so much nicer in front of a charcoal coloured fence. It makes the plants and green grass really pop. I decided to paint it Colourbond - Monument to match our roof and gutters and for contrast against the light grey bricks. Its coming along nicely, but the only thing I don't like about Monument, is that in certain light it gives off a blue tinge rather than a charcoal grey. Most of the fence will be covered with plants anyway, so no biggy. Stupid me didn't realise how big a job it was going to be. I reckon I have spent 3 x full days on it and its nowhere near finished :(

We also now have a footpath on our nature strip thanks to Blacktown Council. All they need to do is plant a tree apparently. I'm hoping its something decent. Ideally, I would like 2 x trees out the front.

I must call MJH and find our when the maintenance guy is going to come and finish off what didn't get done. I was told it would be a few weeks, which was 4 weeks ago now. Time to crack the whip! It's only been a year.

Some progress pics...

Jack helping daddy with the foundation!

The footpath contractors happened to be pouring concrete the same day we were pouring ours, so we asked the guys if there was leftover concrete we would have it...and they had some - perfect timing and saved us some coin.

Foundation poured!

First row of besser blocks!

First row of besser blocks!

First row of besser blocks!

Second row of besser blocks!

Second row of besser blocks!

The monster I created :(

The back fence is almost done!

New footpath left side!

New footpath right side!

2nd September 2014

Not much to report on, except that yesterday, Scott (MJH Maintenance Manager) popped in for a visit to review the work that was carried out recently. He is going to arrange for another guy to come out and fix everything that wasn't fixed and also get the painters back for some touch ups, which is fantastic.

Also really disappointed about the extra downlights we wanted installed. I ended up getting another Electricians opinion and it was all bad news due to restricted access. I've got my fingers cross that we could still somehow get a downlight in the hallway cutout. I'm determined to find a way. As for out the front, it's looking impossible. The only thing I could think of is when our gardens are done to put a heap of lighting in them and a feature spotlight in front of the right side window so it makes the house look more even in terms of lighting. At this stage only the left side of the house is lit up. I am planning on putting some kind of feature plant in front of the window anyway, so might shine a spotlight onto the house to help.