Enjoying the autumn sun...

It's been a little quiet on the house renovations this past week, I didn't say we hadn't done anything, but...

... after the first month of the work being very full on it was time to put some time aside to start 'proper' work...  Birchall & Dyer - Shipwrights and Boat Builders have begun, the business cards have been printed and gradually work is coming in, so let's keep our fingers crossed that it's not too long until the diary is full of jobs.

Although Kris has been busy on other 'projects' he still had time to help me with a few 'creative' chores and fix the leaky patio door.  So off to his workshop he went and before we knew it the door was 'fixed', he just needs to finish off the bottom, fix the other patio door and and of course paint the outside of the house to see the full effect.

        

In the meantime I was homemaking...  The majority of the boxes are now  unpacked, I've found homes for the 'odds and ends' and have sorted out my dressing room.  When I first saw the smallest of the small bedrooms I wondered what we could use it for, it was Kris who suggested my own dressing room, and what a fantastic idea that was.  Okay it still needs decorating, shelves have not yet been made for my huge shoe collection, but it's looking just fine for the moment and I love 'my girlie space'.

                       

Now that the house feels homely it's been time to get out into the garden.  Other than the odd rainy day the autumn weather has been fantastic.  So to make up for not going to the gym I have been digging, carrying rocks, pulling down fences, chopping whatever gets in my way and basically having a good work out in the sun...  It's still a work in progress but the messy border at the front is now a rock/shell garden, as for my other garden work, hopefully my next blog will show you what I've been up to...



Full of weeds and not very
 fitting for a beach house



Rocks from the stream, shells from the beach
and an old washing machine drum aka a herb pot

                                                                      






So, that's it for now...  My back aches, my legs ache but I'll be back in the garden tomorrow as there is so much to do, so much for me to learn, but I'm loving every minute, I just wished I had my green fingers Mum and Dad here to help...

It's beginning to look like home...

... Finally after a 3 month wait the contents of our container arrived at Little Munro Bay.  We were fortunate enough to have some extra helping hands, so with me ticking off the item numbers while the 'boys' unloaded the truck it wasn't long before the garage and house were full of boxes and pieces of furniture totalling 111.   It should have been 112 but we had a missing box and soon realised a couple of missing items, but I am pleased to say we are now in receipt of everything.





Just a few of the 111 items

Well then the fun really started, with so many boxes to be unpacked and items unwrapped it was never going to be a quick job.  It was soon evident that the helping hands were better off going fishing to let me enjoy seeing all our lovely things and to start finding homes for everything.  I did quite well on my own and with some 'girlie' help the following day a good chunk had found a home.  If I'm honest I didn't expect to feel so emotional seeing all my things that had been lovingly bought for our home in England, so to see them in New Zealand I guess made it really sink in that this is not a holiday home, this is our new home.  So, yes there has been some tears, not for sadness, I guess just for change.





Spare room -
finally no more sleeping on the floor





Dining area -
still more pictures to go up but looking better





Lounge area -
somewhere to chill out with fantastric views





My office space where I can watch the TV
and look out to sea



Woo hoo - TV, Sky and our beloved Postbox

Kitchen -
we're a little more organised despite the lack of cupboards



Got to love the old Pantry



Garage -
great for the fridge / freezer, laundry and storage

We're still not completely unpacked but at least the majority is now done so Little Munro Beach House is beginning to look more like a home.

Other than the arrival of the furniture only one transformation this week, the old and I mean the old washing line which is at least 40 years old (replacements cost a few hundred pounds - honest) had rusty wire for the clothes, infact the whole structure was so rusty it would have ruined anything put on it.  So after a wire brush, paint and some new line it looks as good as new.  It's huge and holds so much so it was worth saving.



Looks as good as new



A very unloved washing line












So, that's it for now...  Another busy week over, me 'homemaking' and Kris doing some 'proper' work as he has started working for himself...

I wonder what is in store for Little Munro Bay Beach House this week?

The best things are worth waiting for...

...  in our case there are lots of those things, but the first being the shower!

So, it's almost 4 weeks since we moved into Little Munro Beach House and today I can proudly say we have a working shower.  It's not finished but after the alternatives this is fantastic news.  It's a one off, it's unique and it's been made from all sorts from various sources and it looks great.  I can't wait to see the final result not only the shower but the whole bathroom...


Before work starts on the shower

 

Looking good



Just need the taps and door but what a difference


Another big difference is the floor in the spare room, lounge, dining room and kitchen.  The flooring had been there for at least 20 years so you can imagine removing it was not an easy task.  The lino in the kitchen was stuck with a glue which did not want to shift, then the carpet in the spare room, lounge and dining room was just as bad.  First the carpet was pulled up, then the foam backing had to be scraped up followed by the heat gun and a scraper to remove the glue.  But if that wasn't bad enough, Kris sanded it all with a belt sander, he spent hours over 3 days on his knees wearing a his protective gear, to say he is shattered is an understatement but again it has been worth it.



This carpet was in the spare room
as well as the lounge & dining room



After ripping up the carpet and foam
backing we were left with the glue






The spare room after being sanded



Removing the glue with the scraper and heat gun

 

Next job was the sanding with a belt sander





The lounge after being sanded



and the dining room

















We have the container arriving first thing tomorrow, so we have been getting organised as there are 112 items of furniture and boxes.  But despite there being so much to do at least with our stuff here it will feel more like home.