Diary of a House: Wednesday- Ploughing on in uncertain times

I turn the radio on to news of falling milk powder prices and continued jitters on the stock market. Airlines and airports are hit hard. I arrive to get my bike at the same time as the boys. The morning is cold so at lunchtime I pick up some hot dogs and hot chips before a meeting with Kirk. He fills in what I have to organise next. Rene and Reuben are there finishing pre-wiring. I had to find out which way the front door opens to get the wiring and door bell in the right place. The team from Terra Lana Wool are busy installing wool insulation. It's grey, an antidote from the bubble gum pink of Batts. Not itchy either. They're handling it without gloves.
At Ambrose Heal Pete has the round window finished. I'm carrying it to the car with him when a crack opens up in the old wood surround. It's made of cedar. So we put it back for more glue. Pete shows me the rimu they have glued together for the ensuite vanity. He also takes me next door to his mate's to look at door handles and locks for narrow door panels. Didn't know it was quite so complicated. As I leave he cheerily calls out, "Thanks for wasting so much of my time." Cracks me up.
I drop in on Thompson Hardie to choose architraves and skirting boards. I'm helped immediately and choose what I want quickly. I've looked at variations of these over time and talked about them with Nicki so have a clear idea. Something plain. I go back to 22 College and Gary is there. He tells me that the Perrin and Rowe shower taps have been a real pain to install. I watch him struggle with the water pressure through the shower nozzle and get the idea.
On the way home from the beach I drop in on Nicki. She's off to her building site to finalise a few details. I walk through and listen. Her house feels spacious. Big. It's going to be interesting to see how it feels as it goes up. Definitely bigger than mine.