Friday, June 4, 2010

slow progress at Villa Maria

[dutch husband the brilliant builder.. he is definately a keeper I think! - I love that man!]

the bathroom has taken longer than expected.. the plumber extraordinaire [read, Miss Sophie's boyfriend who is a plumber] has been working on our bathroom after work and on Saturdays.. he has finished all the rough-in and now it is time for the tiler to do his bit. Our tiles are sitting all boxed up just waiting. then our bath, shower and vanity will go in & then the final plumbing will be done and finished !!

[as dutch husband tore the walls down in the bathroom, we thought we had discovered asbestos so had to wrap it all in thick plastic and will have to pay to have it dumped safely.. but it turned out that it wasn't the dreaded substance.. oh well better safe than very sorry...]

during this past week, I have been going down at night to pull up some more of the stinking carpet and underlay.. I have only two more rooms to do & they will be done after a few walls have been knocked down.. this renovation has turned into something bigger than we expected but we are having fun and enjoying the process.. I take dinner down at night and we sit among the rubble with a glass of red for Joe & green leaf tea for me. [with me dressed very elegantly in a pair of grey tracksuit pants, an old skivvy & a flannelette shirt & sometimes even beanie on my head - it is winter here and Villa Maria does not have any heating.. which brings back memories of Inglewood when we were renovating - it was middle of June and it started to snow.. no heating and holes in the walls.. brrr.. but a lovely hot soup simmering on the stove]

[this wall above is going sometime this week.. we have a retired builder coming in and doing it for us.. that will open up the dining room alot and will let so much more light into the space]

[and here is the art desk.. we also put some huge storage cupboards in - they are a mauve colour and for the walls I have chosen bright pink and turquoise.. very much the same as I have at Inglewood..although my choice might change once I go to the paint shop to choose!]

the tree-feller is booked in for next week to remove some cypress & other shrubby weeds.. this will open up the garden a little and allow more sunlight in to the citrus trees. The oranges are ripening along however the damn possums are feasting on the fruit. My garlic is in and has now sprouted and I am ordering the potato tubers this week.. the gardenias are settling in very well and a lovely rainy week has helped them along. and I found a worm!!!!


8 comments:

laoi gaul~williams said...

oh robyn it sounds as if things are going so well down there~i wish i could spirit myself there to see it all~so exciting!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Yes Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall! Ha ha. Don't renovations always take longer than expected?

C said...

Oh sounds amazing hun gla its coming along its lovely to see pics and the progress. blessings for a great weekend x x x

Sheila said...

Yippee, one worm leads to two and so on..!
You are really going to town on the house, I wish I had the guts to move and do what you are doing.
I shall have to live vicariously through you and Joe.
Have a great weekend.
hugs
xx

amelia said...

Congrats on finding a worm!!!

This is probably why Inglewood hasn't sold yet, it's waiting till your new home is liveable.

Anonymous said...

I love a person who gets excited about a worm. I know I do! The statement from me, "Wow, would you look at that soil!" leaves some people seriously underwhelmed, so you can imagine how much I want to give you a big hug of excitement for all your plans and garden adventures!(How long was that sentence! As long as your worm hopefully!)xx

Manchester Lass, Now and Then said...

Like Sheila I am living vicariously through you and Joe:) Wish I had the energy to do half of what you are achieving Robyn. I love seeing your updates. Have fun xxx

gma said...

I know that Inglewood has been a home (temple) for your soul. Villa Maria will become that.
Every day sacred whether here or there.
xx

"She seemed to come suddenly upon happiness as if she had surprised a butterfly in the Winter woods"
(edith wharton)