matt and sonia's renovation blog

After being corrected too many times i finally now understand the difference between concrete and cement! Saturday started off with the alarm going off at 630am for a 7am delivery of concrete (sand and gravel) mix - lovely way to start a sunny Saturday. Dizzy (the cement mixer) got a major work out - with part of our first mixture all over me! The mixer wasnt balanced and tipped over me - quite funny actually! A quick clean up and some new clothes we then got stuck into a very busy day! I was in charge of the mix, shoveling all mix in. With the cement stock running low, a trip to bunnings was in order. Matt was busy with his concrete mix so I had to drive his truck up to bunnings. As you know i am not the most confident driver in the world - and when i got there i had to back the truck into the pick up area and load it up with 32 bags of cement (with some help from the guys in the shop). I was quite proud of my self for actually just going and doing it. Finally cliffy came down to lend a hand with the footings and i was finally off the hook for labouring. All the footings (about 13) have now been poured for the addition with just the deck footings to go. I worked very hard all day and my muscles are very sore today (or was it that dancing last night at the pub?) I keep trying to tell matt that i dont know any other girl that would be doing any of this building stuff and in his wise words... "oh sonnie i know, i just sometimes forget your a girl and think you can do all the boy stuff" hmm!

Three more days gone and lots more has been done! Cliffy helped out on Sunday with the setting out , lots of strings lines and marking of where the footings are to be dug. Mum came over to and the girls provided the refreshments and we watched the marathon off and on. Matt has been working at North Avoca on another job for the last couple of days but has been coming home and digging with the help of rossco and robyn. Hoping we can get the footings inspected by council this week and testing out 'dizzy' the cement mixer! Stay tuned for more!

Day one of major renovations and we wake up to a horrible wet and windy day. Matt (of course) still pulls on the work boots and watches the clock till its turns 8am (councils approval states work on saturdays may not commence until 8am - and of course we dont want to get ourselves in trouble on day one). Matt gets the sledge hammer out and starts knocking away the concrete slab out the back. Cliffy and Di come around for a 'quick' visit and end up staying for breakfast and all the boys do is talk about the footings and the best way to do them. Then a quick trip to bunnings to check out supplies and buy some siltation fence and back to work knocking away the slab. Matt has given me given the little sledge hammer and himself in charge of the big one. Honestly i think i was pretty good, in the runnings for labourer of year i think. A couple of wheel barrow loads of rubble, some broken bricks and we come across our first taste of the termite infested house! After knocking the slab off and having a clear view of under the house, we see a bearer that has had some damage. Hmm.. a few minutes thought and a couple of refreshments matt has worked out a solution. Work finishes, a quick clean up and no back door access?!? Will get onto that tomorrow!

Finally we have got Council approval - thanks to all of matts hard work in drawing up the plans. We didnt even have to change anything and all was signed off as submitted (except the council made us pay MORE fees for under estimating the costs of work - always worth a try). Digging will hopefully start on the weekend sometime. The washing line has been moved to make way for the 'new' room, tools have all been polished and sharpened and ready to go, budget has been drawn up and work clothes laid out.