The Kitchen

It's the kitchen all the way today. Nail holes in the living room, checking out the kitchen and electrics with Nicki. At least three holes in the wall have to go. We walk around the house checking the location of light switches and power sockets. Some days, I feel like I'm going in circles. Ever decreasing I hope. Nicki's impressed with the kitchen, thank goodness, it's her design. We peer in the drawers and cupboards then get the broom out and move pieces of cardboard and bubble wrap around the floor to protect it from the multiple pairs of boots trudging over the mud to get to the verandah and through the French doors.

Chaos on Site

A sick day but no sleep in. I drop off Kahu at the usual time and drive to site. It's all quiet and I odd job it, wondering if anyone is going to turn up. First arrivals, Murray Hewitt Joinery with the kitchen cabinetry. I watch the mortgage walk in the door. Oh well, the inevitable has eventuated. I figure I'll end up borrowing what it would have cost to renovate the old dunger. And I'll be fine once I'm in my new financial regime. I try not to get under their feet as I take photos. High on kitchen fever. Rene arrives and I try to organise jobs. I intercept a four wheel drive loiterer; he says they're about to lay concrete. Oow. First I knew. I find hard materials to lay down a path over the dirt for the kitchen staff. I'm snipping the fence string when Kirk arrives, tells me the 27th has always been concrete day. Ok, maybe I confused it with driveway day. It's all go once the truck arrives. Concrete can't wait. I dash back to Cashmere to get coins: 1960 for me, 2002 for Kahu.

Garry, the plumber, has arrived when I get back. He's out of sorts because he needed to put a copper pipe for the solar outlet beneath the path and the boys told him it's too late. This puts him off for the rest of the day. He's lost his plumbing mojo. I try to nurse him through but I'm also sorting Rene's stuff and have to make 2 trips to get screws and one for electrical supplies. I can't keep up and start to feel overwhelmed. One job that does get done is the ensuite vanity, on the wall at last. But the light, power socket and tiles will have to wait till I've moved in. I don't have the wherewithal to sort them out now. Looking at the toilet seat I realise it's the wrong colour...soft close though. Luxury. When Rene leaves I don't feel like we've got much done. Tomorrow is another day. The kitchen looks real. It changes the interior space yet again and I need to get my head around it. I do know it's the heart of the house.

Labour Day Monday

Labour Day, a holiday for workers to put their feet up with a beer. I've been an absentee member of a committee to organise a picnic. So I feel obliged to show up. It turns out well as Kahu and I get some landscaping done then head down to eat our lunch. It's been moved inside so there's a kitchen with a microwave, and a nice young man in the kitchen keen for a chat. We eat and keep working. Calmer today. I'm on odd jobs and Kahu is moving the dirt pile round the back. When there's one of you with one shovel and one wheelbarrow it's a big job. I have to give it to him, he doesn't complain. We tidy up as drizzle starts. Any rain is welcome as well overdue. The ground is like concrete. I'm lucky as the water table under my place is high and once plants get their roots down they survive. Drought, a sign of things to come. I make a few calls and prepare for a sick day on site. My first all year.