March update

I've been slack and haven't updated my to do list since February. It's been kind of creepy to see the things I have planned actually start to happen, including some offers coming in out of the woodwork. Here's where I stand right now.


Put away money to buy tickets in October for the 2012 Brisbane International - have not done this yet

Paint the house - nearly finished

Have a BBQ or similar social event at least once a month here at the house - why yes we have :-)

Get my teeth re-bonded - dentist appt tomorrow

Have the house pest treated - thank goodness. No more fleas.

Reply to text messages and phone calls right away instead of 5 days later when I remember getting better

Plant the back garden bed done!

Create a reasonable Christmas Lights display

Go for a walk once a week no comment

Go somewhere on the plane - I have been literally blown away by sudden offers of work intra and inter-state. So far I've turned down Mackay but have accepted Maryborough and Sydney. I'm off soon for my first flight in a good few years and I'm excited.

Network more (work) - yep

Plan birthday parties for both the kids - One down one to go

De-clutter the playroom once and for all half done

Clean off the cornice over spray -done!

Achieve 100 followers by the end of 2011 (thanks Lauren)

Finish typing up my PhD proposal - done!

Sort out our computing needs




So that's my list, how is yours going?

Comfort is ...

Target 1000 thread count sheets. I missed out last year, was determined not to miss out again this year.

They make sleeping divine. Run ladies don't walk!

Tagged this as op shopping, which it isn't, but it's almost as good.

Different views

Much has happened this past few weeks and I thought it was time to share what the house looks like from all angles. Painting is progressing well, carpentry is nearly done, place is fairly tidy, life is good.

Pic 1: View of both floors. Note bottom floor is gray and top is cream. The top will be gray as well.

Pic 2: Left side

Pic 3:  View from the backyard. There will be a set of stairs in the vacant slot (between the poles). Note ladder balancing on the verandah.

Pic 4: Right side yard with soon to be installed black gates

Pic 5: Back yard. Note garden growing nicely

Pic 6: Front yard, garden all nicely trimmed and plants thriving

Painting in more depth

Now I know that yesterday's post showed a lovely, finished paiting job and you will be forgiven for thinking this happened quickly and easily. You will also be forgiven for thinking it is finished. I've tried to be as honest as possible on this blog so here is the reality behind the pretty picture.

For the last goodness-knows-how-long we have lived with undercoated exterior walls. As you can see in the picture, the walls were patchy and filthy for quite some time. They also fell victim to a prank gone wrong when Big Boy decided to attempt to hit the dog* with a tin of diesel oil  in a sneaky prank which thankfully didn't pan out as planned. It did however erupt violently all over one of our walls. I'll leave it up to you to decide whether Mark thought this was funny.

We also faced another issue with our walls which drove me mad for ages. If you look in the photo below you should be able to see spatter on the lower boards. The spatter is actually concrete which was left behind and set solid when we had the concrete poured. It was all over every wall, sometimes up to my head height. Poor Paul has had to scrape it all off when prepping to paint. The picture below is the third outside wall to be painted - this will get done this weekend.

So to make up for exhibits A and B (above) I am now relishing having exhibit C (below). It's so nice to have two walls painted and of course I got excited and had to purchase pots for the front door. At $35 a pop from The Reject Shop I couldn't let them pass me by.

And finally the money shot -our painted wall and lovely front door. I think I've mentioned it before but for those that might have missed it I will reveal all again - these doors came from an op shop and cost $70. Total. My husband, who refused to set foot in an op shop when we were first married, is now an eagle eye when we visit them. It was he who spotted these doors and snapped them up. I love them and for $70 they couldn't have been a better choice.

* Disclaimer: He wasn't actually trying to hurt the dog, he was trying to scare him AKA slapstick comedy.

Paul the Painter you're a star

Big changes

The final stages of our renovation are here now and our pace has picked up. We are sprinting toward the finish line in wonderful fashion and I couldn't be happier.

The last couple of weeks Paul has been painting away diligently. I have tried to keep the kids away as much as possible and he's been able to achieve a lot in a very short amount of time.

Until last week we were greeted each day by a horrible entry area. The walls were covered in paint splatter, pen marks (thanks kids) and a splotches of stain that fell everywhere when the staircase was being finished. This is what were were living with.

Then Paul rode in and waved his magic paintbrush. Soon we were left with a peaceful, clean entry area awash with paint.

Bliss!

Realestalking

I'm at home today doing paperwork. Of course when I was taking a break and painting my nails Mark chose that time to waltz in and proclaim 'so that's what you do all day.'

Now that I'm back to work I am also passing the time realestalking. Thought it would be interesting to show you a picture that immediately looses my (potential) sale. It is something that not only puts me off but is an absolute deal breaker. In fact, seeing 'it' gives me shivers, I can explain it but it's one of my quirks as a human. Can you guess what 'it' is?

P.S. Katrina- you are a rock star!!!!!
P.P.S Who votes that realestalking should be listed as a new word in the next Macquarie?