Installation

Had a bit of  a lie in as the two guys today didn't arrive till after 8. We stood around looking at the hole in the floor. The boards run towards the window they have just been cut off at the edge of the bearer! But they are going to use some chip board from the old cupboards to cover it.
I got Spencer outside with a bone as they arrived, so he has just been sulking at the back door as I sit in my red chair. Barking as anyone new arrives.
One of the guys is about 6.2 and has hit his head on the kitchen door jamb three times. They guys think it's a great joke that he hasn't learnt to duck after the 2nd time! I know it is lower than normal but not had anyone affected before. Maybe Andrew always ducks!

The stove is sticking out till the power is done

the lower shelf is for the microwave

Pot drawers and wine rack

 At 230 the installation guys have just left and they are checking if the plumber and electrician can get back today. They are currently in Avondale Heights and need to install the dishwasher and attache the power for the stove and microwave.
If they can't it will have to be Friday as I am off at 645am tomorrow and not back till 8pm +.
But you can see the way it will be. Just realised I haven't got the sink there but will add a pic when I have the dishwasher as well
Will not start replacing things till Friday.  Still quite tired after little effort!
The tiler will be here next week and of course then there is painting!

A new one

Just got back my latest booklet from the Printer.

The Clingy Baby joins my other two small but successful publications

The Demolition

Amazing how fast workmen can get something done! He arrived at 7:15 am and was starting as I left for work. I managed to cope at work till about 2pm but have come home to rest up.
The demolished kitchen is all out the front as they have more staff to cart away after the installation so they take it all at once.

The old stuff. Rescued a sushi plate I had missed in the cupboard!

They have delivered the bits to be installed so that is cuttering up the place.

There are always a few surprises when one pulls stuff out. (When we had the stumps done they found all of the old lathe and plaster from the lounge under the house!)
This time there are no floor boards under the sink! No wonder we had mice getting in!

The floor under the sink

 Also the cork tiles before the new Lino we had were not original, as under the cabinets is some old lino. 

the old lino

New plaster wall, hole in floor and taps in wall

 Only glitch that I rang them about, is that the taps are still in the old spot, and it is to be a mixer tap coming from the sink not the wall. Maybe the plumber has not been here yet and that is just the carpenter's work.
A lovely surprise is that they replaced the window sill (was told probably not possible as it is the window frame)

They haven't removed the ceiling fan yet, but I notice they have kept some boards to replace on the ceiling when it goes.
All the new power points are in and I didn't get a call about needing a new power board. But I will be around tomorrow so can get the (good) news then.

A new kitchen Stage 1.

First day back at work I was wiped out by 130, but had to hang around till 4pm for a DHS client in Outpatients. So arrived home a little jaded to have to finish the kitchen. Luckily I had been doing  a lot over the last few weeks  

While Celia was home we decided to get a new kitchen put in as our old one, with our pridefully built bench, was past its time.

So over the last 8 weeks I have been buying and selecting things we need. We are getting a dishwasher, my first ever! We decided on the two drawer Fisher & Paykel, and shopping around and with Clive Peters merging with Harvey Norman I got a good deal. 

I also found you can buy taps for $500 but I went for the $129 version. Similarly you can pay over $1000 for  a sink!! Needless to say I chose a 1.5 sink at a more modest price. 

The tiles I bought in the middle of my two weeks of illness just before I went downhill again, so I hope they are fine. 

I remember a friend of Celia's, Robyn saying she had gone to buy a tin of paint for doing a mirror surround,  She had a migraine and when she got home she realized she had paid $95 for a tiny can!

 I have spent the last week sorting and moving stuff from the kitchen ( and lots of stuff in the garbage as well as the Op Shop)

It now is on every available surface .

The pine wall will go, and there will be tiles along this wall and under the window.

The bench Celia and I built

There will be  a Canopy above the stove, and a section of tiling under that to the stove.

The cupboards are bare and it feels a little sad to be destroying the work I/we have done on the kitchen over the years.I can't get the table out because of the angle of the fridge and the door so will get them to try tomorrow when they move things.

Well 7am they will be here to start removal, and the installation on Wednesday. I have Book Club Tues night so can dine out then. 

Then moving it all back, But with new drawers etc that should be fun

A birthday weekend

It is amazing how fast birthdays come around and how the number creeps up! But as I read somewhere the good thing about birthdays is the more you have the longer you live!
I had some phone call/ text  birthday wishes from Celia (Virgin Islands) Tony (Perth) Jo Edgar (Konya Turkey) Andrew Lynne et al en route to see Tutankhamen Exhibition.

The Bath house entrance

On Saturday I decided rather than spend the day affected by the Grand Final (a thrilling game till the last quarter when Collingwood died, and Geelong swept away) I would do something indulgent and relaxing. So I went to the Japanese bathhouse and when I got there also booked  a Shiatsu massage. The bath was very relaxing and the massage just what I needed after 2 weeks of no energy
The Bath house is great with very attentive staff and good facilities. 2 hours at the Bath is $28. A good spend  Relaxing in the tatami room afterward, a woman near me stretched sighing 'This is the life"

Tatami Room

Sunday I slept and awoke 'early' having not realized it was the start of daylight saving.
My early waking (Spencer barking at the side gate banging in the wind)was not so early as it was after 8 not after 7. Good thing I realised earlier or I would have been VERY late for lunch.
I met Sue and Wendy at Fed Square along with a large proportion of Victoria's Seniors as it is the start of Seniors' month. An appropriate day I guess with we maturing women.
We had lunch at Chocolate Buddha a Japanese restaurant that Wendy &  Sue had not been to before and we had  a good meal of Bento and Prawn Tempura.

Not our meal but a dish of Theirs

After that we went to have a browse through the Australian Collection and Man Style exhibition at The Ian Potter Gallery of the NGV

Fred Williams. A retrospective is at NG IN Canberra

Came home to do some more clearing of the kitchen for preparation for the new kitchen going in on Wednesday.
Then I rested ! Again!

Dylan is One!

Sculpture in the garden

I rested up Sunday Morning so I had the energy to go to Dylan's 1st birthday party. It was from 11-1pm in a Park in Balwyn and when I arrived at 11am there was a crowd already.

Mainly adults including Cresten, Bridie's mum who I had not seen for a while, and Sean's family and Dylan's cousins etc.

It was a glorious day sunny 21 degrees and very relaxing sitting or standing round under the trees.

Bridie, Sean and Dylan

Happy Chappy!

His cake made by a friend of Bridie's

Bridie said Dylan had had an early sleep so was in a fine form,and much admired by all, a credit to his parent! 

We saw his recent skill of walking 5 steps, a feat on the uneven ground.

Nick & Dylan trying the walk!

The gifts!

His haul of presents looked impressive with lots of new stuff to try out.

Andrew & Lynne with Nick & Kate

All in all a lovely few hours. I got home and slept for 4 hours, so need a bit more time before working all day again!

Laid so low

I take inordinate (read, smug) pride in not getting winter colds.
I think my years of exposure as  a student nurse at the  Royal Children's Hospital built my immunity.
In those days I had a cold every 2nd week! Now I get one every 3-4 years.
But WOW!! I have been ill (but feeling poorly Tues Wed last week) since last Thursday. On the mend Sunday morning, At deaths door on Monday (NEVER felt so bad in all my life) slowly improving and all ready to do things yesterday. Any outings have lasted 2 hours at the most then back to bed with aches, and now an asthma cough that is strangely exhausting.
I still have a few days to recover before work on Monday and hopefully energetic for Dylan's 1st Birthday on Sunday

I think a photo of him is better than a one of me in my paltry state