It looks like all is settled with the installation of the phone line: Telstra has agreed to put in 400 metres of copper cable to our property, as the NextG wireless solution just didn't cut it. Service Stream is looking after the trenching (order no: 721507). Well yay... finally.

Still no quotes back from builders. Hmmm...

I've come to the conclusion that Telstra (Australian telephony provider) is a good example of a company that's too large to know what it's doing.

This morning I spent another hour on the phone to them, having discovered the order for the new telephone connection has cancelled our internet contract! So what had been put in place (presumably an order to put in a cable to our property) has now had to be cancelled, and then re-entered.

The new order number is 08568966, with a technician due to meet me on site on 24 April. Why do I have doubts even that will happen?

We've been getting some bizarre correspondence lately. A letter from Kingborough Council, worried that we're building some sort of major business in Lower Longley; and a business in the far north of the State thinking we're going to steal their customers.

To reassure everyone, THIS IS NOT A BUSINESS! We're simply doing our best to build our family home, which is a challenge in itself. If we do ever decide to turn the property into a money-making venture, it will be many, many years away... if at all. Settle down everyone!

Good lord, it's like Tasmania's never seen a professionally-designed PERSONAL blog before...

11 March 2008

It's been a slow month, as we're now in the quoting phase to find builders and contractors. Tasmania has been in a building boom for the past few years, and it really shows when trying to find good tradesmen.

The delay has given us time to source more bits and pieces, including this lovely light (right) that we bought off eBay in the US. Postage was actually four times the price of the light itself, but that comes from living on the other side of the world! Other eBay goodies have been data and power points, and an amazing Hansa shower arm and tap fittings (thanks Deanna!).

Telephone update: I called ServiceStream today to follow up how things were going with the phone connection. They said I should call Telstra again, so I did... multiple times. One guy (Wayne) in the Telstra design area said the nearest line was 400m away from the property, so we should consider "Next G Wireless Home"... whatever that is. So I called another department to ask about it, and they didn't know (?) and put in the order anyway (Order no: 22315489). Seems it's been left in the hands of the on-site technician. Comforting, very comforting.

As it stands now, the line is due to be connected and billed on 30 Sept 2008, and the new number will be 6239 6792. I guess we'll see...

7 February 2008

Bought the new dishwasher today from Clive Peeters in Moonah -- the manufacturer was having a $200 cashback, and the discounted store price made it hard to pass up. Now we just need a kitchen to put it in...

I know I know... it's a bathroom basin (purchased for the princely sum of $69 on eBay). Have you ever seen a sexier piece of porcelain?

Kristy says I need to get out more...

Excellent news today -- a letter arrived from Aurora Energy to say they will upgrade the power pole and transformer on our block to dual-phase power for FREE! Some very bright news in this money pit we call Wychwood.

Speaking of money, the bill for the excavating also arrived -- $20k, which is around what I had expected. But still... ouch.

The new Oliveri sink arrived in the post today, all steely and stainless. Cost me a whole $46.20 on eBay.

Goes to show, if you browse there long enough, bargains do happen.

I called Telstra today to try and get the telephone line organised: for new supply (with trenches etc) they have a specialist contractor. So I phoned the contractor (ServiceStream Ph:1800 773 776 Ref:721507) and the friendly lady told me we're no where near a phone line... so we need to put in a special order (!).

As I understand it, Telstra has a duty of care to get a phone line close to our block. Once that's done, someone (apparently) will call me to organise getting the line from there to the house.

Wow... living out of town can be complicated!

6 January 2008

Kristy and I had differing opinions on how we should do the kitchen hearth for the oven. Fortunately, 3DS Max came to the rescue -- I rendered the room up and we both agreed it looked great. Click the image for a larger view...

Who'd have ever thought I'd get excited about buying a toilet?...

After a loooong break where nothing has really happened on the house (still waiting on the final drawings), we went out today and bought two of the new Caroma basin toilets. Fabulous idea, and the best water-saver product I've seen for quite a while.

Took a 3-day road trip up to Launceston and Devonport, stopping along the way at the antique and salvage yards.

Very little spiked our interest, but we did find a company in Devonport that imports the replication stuff made in India and China. Ended up buying some massive wrought iron entry gates for the front of the property, and a copy of an 18th century cast iron gate... for use between the house and garage.

Fun trip, and thanks to Casey for minding the cat!

We have a driveway! The main cut for the house and driveway are just about done, and now it's a matter of fine tuning the levels and repositioning topsoil. The excavator is also bringing in gravel to cover the driveway, which is something I hadn't thought of. Next step will be to dig the pond, and then it's on to the footings...

Now that's a rock... We both went out to the block today to meet our building designer and discuss the exact lay of the house. Kristy was seeing the work for the first time, and seemed quite happy with how things were going (whew!). You can see her here, playing marbles with one of the boulders excavated from the soil...

My, what a big hole in the ground! John went back today and was a little surprised at the size of the cut into the slope, and also the position of the house -- it seems to be further down the slope than we anticipated. Nigel (designer) advised that the position was for two reasons: one, to move away from the shading of the tall-tree line; and two, bushfire strategy requires the house to be 25 metres from the nearest boundary. Oh well, still very exciting, and not a big problem at all...

It begins!! Today John was there to witness the turning of the first sod, something that has taken years and so much thought and effort to achieve. Wychwood is finally underway!

Planning approval! Kingborough Council has just sent us a letter to say that we can use our land to build our house -- not that we were too concerned, but you never know.