A gal's home is her castle

Well, this last week I've been planning my house. I've been doing the costings and take-offs for the build. The council have thrown a spanner in the works, they don't like my plan, so I have to re-submit it or argue it out with them. I'll try the latter, then the former.

In the meantime, I'm going through all the organising. I've just about finished the full list of everything required to build a house, right down to the last nail. It's absolutely fascinating!

I think I've remembered everything. There's not a website (that I've found) where you can download a list of everything required to build a house!!!

Today, we went to a newly opened Second Hand Building products warehouse. The lady that owns it is really nice, and she's got a good eye for recycled materials. I found the PERFECT doors for my house. Well, the Back doors that will open out onto my deck. They used to be in a pub, and are HUGE cedar framed glass sliding doors. They're 3m wide each, and each side has about 15 glass lights in it. They are simply magnificent. And, the BEST thing is, they cost the same as a stock standard 2.1m wide glass door !!!

We have also decided to live on the block while we build. We'll be living in a caravan or similar, and since neither of us are keen on 'camping' as such, we're building an amenities hut. It's a 2.4m x 1.8m Bathroom. We're going to build it here and move it there complete. Then we'll connect it to our sewage and use that while we build. At least that way we'll be able to shower and go to the loo without having to use a porta-potty!!! It will also give me a small sink so I can do dishes and stuff. We bought all the timber for it on the weekend, and the plans are done. We've picked up a Shower base cheaply, and this will go into the hut. We will go to the recycled place tomorrow and pick up a small sink/vanity unit we saw there today, and then all we need is the Toilet. I've got lino left over from another property a while ago and will use that in the hut. I don't want to tile it as I'm afraid that moving it on a truck will pop the tiles.

We've also been down to the block in the last week and stood on the house site. I am extremely pleased with where the house will sit. It's 100m from the lagoon, and whilst this doesn't have me hanging over the water, it also means I won't get flooded should a 1/100 flood befall us. I'm on stumps, so even a 1/1000 flood should be fine!

We're going back to the recycled place tomorrow (as I said) and I'll be looking for other windows and such that will work well in the house. Hopefully I can save some more money.

There are so many things I'd 'like' in the house, but the budget is getting in the way. Like Stainless steel wire balustrading on the main deck, there's a difference of $500 between the stainless wire, and pine pickets. So, pine pickets it is. Still, if it's a choice between stainless balustrading and a dishwasher, the dishwasher wins.

So, planning's getting there, so long as the council plays ball we'll be turning sods soon!

And so it begins....

This week we've become proud owners of a CHAINSAW and a couple of LOG ARCHES!

Also the previously mentioned Generator. The aquisition of farm related stuff has begun!

Also, my Diggers stuff turned up today, there was a book, a catalogue and a poster. Must admit, the poster was a little smaller than I thought it was going to be (or hoped it was going to be), but the book called "The Australian Fruit and Vegetable Garden" is magic. It's got heaps of veggies photographed and explained in it, and how and when to plant them. it's a really lovely book. The only way it could be improved is to be printed on waterproof pages and spiral bound, that would make it easier to take it out into the pottery shed.

I also got a packet of Sunflower seeds, which will be cool, girl child is thrilled with them. I've got other seeds of stuff I've bought in anticipation of planting them at the farm, so I've FINALLY got a box to put seed packets into so they don't get dispursed and lost.

Will start planning the garden beds in the next few weeks.

Certifiable!

The Certifier says the plans for my house will be in to council tomorrow (monday at the latest). It's VERY exciting. It means that in about 4 weeks we'll have the approval and can get STARTED!!!

We've now got our Septic plans, which, whilst perhaps not 'exciting' are definately necessary. The generator arrived this week, too. Still working on organising solar power for the main power supply, the genny's backup.

Got the water tests done, the water in the lagoon is basically spring water with tannin in it, how cool is that :D Working on organising high capacity water filters so we can use the water from the lagoon in the house.

There's so much to do, but it's all good fun, so far.

Going down to the farm next Monday, gotta take the kids to see their new school for next year, and for the school to see the kids.