Life in the new house!!!

So here I am confessing again that its been a long time between blog posts.

So now I have so so much to tell, but most importantly we have moved into our new but very old home.

You can check out my previous post full of the real estate pics here

The real estate wrapped our front door in a bow, it was so nice to turn up with our keys for the first time & be greeted like this.

Thank you Ray White Maitland.

They also left a lovely gift basket full of goodies but the kids raided it before I could snap a pic.

We only have a single garage here so have temporarily put a shipping container in the back yard until my dream Guy can build his man cave.

We  have a narrow driveway so the crane driver lifted this big thing over the roof of our house.

I'm pretty happy he is good at what he does, no damage any where...pheww!!!

We used Tom Lawler Cranes for this job & I highly recommend them. Tom is a precision driver that's for sure.

Our lovely old home needs re peering, the floors slope off in all different directions.

As you can see by the above photo of just one of the peers, they are in a pretty bad way, this all all that is left of this one, it should be almost a metre long but has been eaten out by termites.

The termite damage is old & there are no active termites in the house now.

All of this is being replaced by adjustable steel peers, we only have to do about 48 of them....eeek!!!!

We knew this when we purchased the home.

Do you like how I say we... I don't really get my hands very dirty, I feed the worker, help with the clean up, sometimes I have to assist when it comes to lifting heavy things & most importantly take photos.

Doesn't everyone keep a wheel barrow in the laundry.

So the renovating has begun.

We are just taking it one step at a time but this part of the re peering process will allow us to build a much needed ensuite & set up the plumbing for a new main bath & laundry.

We currently have no water tanks for that all important water catchment from the roof to run the toilets & washing machine from & the way the house is set up at the moment it runs off two electric hot water systems , so it is a bit of a priority to address these issues as we go along, so we can be a little more energy & water efficient.

Its also a huge pain, if you flush the toilet while someone is showering as they lose their water & you cant run the washing machine & any other taps at the same time for the same reason.

Its time to make this 108 year old home a little more efficient!!

Stay tuned for my next installment, I have so much more to tell!!

CHEERS

Trish xx

The dream house is starting

Well its been a long year of indecision & uncertainty but we have made it through.

We have explored every option, resolved all issues  & the DREAM HOUSE has begun!!!

We are tackling this as owner builders with the Dream guy doing most of the work himself.

He is kind of clever like that.

It will be a long slow process, painful for you guys to watch, I'm sure.

We do hope to be in for Christmas next year.

So here is a little reminder of what we are building.

I am super excited to be finally moving forward, so please celebrate with me & enjoy the ride.

I'm sure there will be some funny stories to tell along the way!

CHEERS!

Trish xxx

My new job

I am so excited to share some news with you...

I started a new job this week as a New Homes Sales Consultant with a company called

 

Manor Group

 

My office is in this gorgeous display home, pop by the website & check it out. Its called the

 Mitchell 6 & its simply stunning!

 

I'm working in a full time position, Monday to Friday & I have just completed my first week.

I really enjoyed it & have learnt so much that by Friday I thought my head might explode & there is still so so much more to know. Its such a great feeling to be challenging myself in this way again. The people I work for & with are all really lovely which makes it so easy to go there each day

 

So if you don't hear from me much, I haven't forgotten you or anything & I am still keen to blog, I will just be a little time poor when it comes to my personal interests.

The dream guy has been doing a fabulous job at being Mr mum & the school daddy. I leave home pretty early of a morning so my little ones are still sleeping & he has had to learn to do a ponytail on dream child no4 who has hair to her waist. On the first day he rang the neighbor & got her to do it, but after a couple of lessons, he has improved a little each day, we might make a hairdresser out of him yet, he he he.

 I have a little chuckle when the kids tell me about some of the hi cups that occur, but I give him a 10/10 for effort!!!

 

Do you have a Mr mum getting the kids to school each day?

 I would love to hear your funny stories!!

 

CHEERS

Trish xxx

 







DIY coffee table inspiration

Source Kyandra Rose

Who would have thought the old shipping pallet would make such a fabulous decor item...

A very simple concept & definitely a great DIY project if you wanted one of these....

Source Bodie & Fou

Pity I don't have a place for one, it would be the cheapest coffee table on the planet, mind you the dream guy would think I have gone totally nuts, for sure.

We never do see eye to eye on these decorating ideas.

Only because he has NOOOOOO style...sshhh....don't tell him I said that!!!!

Source Flutter Flutter

Dream child No1 will be moving out into a house with friends in the new year, I think this is just the ticket for her & she would luuuurrrrve it!!!

What do you think of the pallet coffee table, YAY or NAY?

CHEERS

Trish xxx

Theres been a crash!

A crash of the technology kind!!!

My laptop has crashed, so I am sneaking a turn on someone else's right now just to let you know...

I am temporarily

OUT OF ORDER.

 My laptop died about 10 days ago now. She was 8 yrs old( which is a dinosaur in the computer world)   We have spent lots of hours together over the years, especially since I discovered blogging.

I feel like I have lost my best friend, luckily she can be replaced, Shhhhh,  don't tell her, he he he!!!

The lovely people from Dell will send something my way ASAP, thanks to the dream guy & his credit card.

I will be sure to drop by & introduce my new peacock blue bestie in the very near future.

AAAHHHH, she is going to be sooooo much faster than the old girl..

Im so excited

YAY!!!

CHEERS

Trish xxx

P.S Sorry for the lack of pics, guys just don't keep pretty inspiration files!

A chilly Date

Mydream guy & I like to get out at least once a month for an evening without the kids.

I like to call it date night!!

Most of the time we go out for a lovely dinner & often end up finishing the evening off by heading up to the shed on our block of land, lighting a fire in the chiminea & having a few drinks. Its always very peaceful & a good chance to chat, uninterrupted!!!

This time we decided to go to Stockton Beach & as you can see, it was a cold stormy afternoon &

 NO ONE

was around.

I took my camera so I could experiment with my photography.
 Stockton has lots of sand dunes, which are fantastic for 4wd adventures & sand boarding. It is one of Australia's longest beaches, stretching from Newcastle to Port Stephens, approx 30kms long if my memory serves me well.

Ive been learning lots of photography tricks from various blogs & web sites. This pic was done by experimenting with my shutter speed.

The Signa wreck is great for taking photo's of, my dream guy has taken some great pics here on nice sunny days

He took his fishing gear along to occupy himself, but the wind was to strong & the surf to rough to even get a bite!

He has a great set up for the back of his ute to make the whole experience fun...

This a photo looking thru the rear vision mirror on the ute.

Sunset is always pretty at Stockton Beach



We soon tired of the wind & decided to relocate, so we ventured into Newcastle harbour.



This is a picture of one of the numerous coal loaders, filling a ship at Walsh Point in Newcastle harbour. It is a huge industrial port.



These 2 pictures are of the same coal loader. I cant remember what they call this abstract style of photography

but, basically its just a long exposure & you move the camera around in all different directions for this fun effect!!!





All in all, we had a lovely relaxing evening, I took lots of photo's, experimenting with my aperture, shutter speed, white balnce & ISO settings. I have learn't so much about photography in the six months I have owned my camera & i cant wait to learn more! 

Even though my dream guy went home empty handed, he did have a story to tell about the one that got away, like a true fisherman always does, LOL!!!

Do you & your husband/partner have date nights ?

CHEERS

Trish xxx



 

Home gym inspiration

Well my friends the time has quickly arrived for  the dream guy & I to head off on our little kid free getaway to the centre of Australia, Uluru

But I think when I get back i will be needing to hit the gym!
After shopping for a few new bits & pieces I have discovered I don't like what I see in the mirror at the moment, so a serious workout on a regular basis is whats in order!!!

A large wall of mirrors certainly helps to add a bit of light if you don't have a lot of windows, which is exactly the case for the space my gym will occupy in my dream house. It will be in what you would probably call the basement, so I think I will need to keep an eye out for some mirrors.....don't think the weight will  sneek on then, LOL!!!

On that note, we will be sitting down with our architect in about 2 weeks to get the ball rolling on some official house plans ....
YIPEE!!!

I will post some pics of my holiday as soon as I return.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

CHEERS
Trish xxx 



Advice needed for A trip to the red centre,

Later this month my dream guy & I are taking a 3 day KID FREE trip to Australia's red centre or as most Aussies would know it

AYERS ROCK

 also called by its traditional aboriginal name

 ULURU

Uluru is the largest monolith in the world standing 348metres above ground level & has a circumference of 9.4km . I have booked to climb it after watching the sunrise & the next day a base walk with sunset canapes & wine. I think that should be a spectacular sight.

We will be attending "The sounds of silence" dinner on the first night, which is basically dinner under the stars,  in the middle of the desert, sampling some traditional Aussie cuisine & a star talk....

sounds rather romantic!

We will also be doing 2 different treks at Kata Juta, which is also known as The Olga's.

Kata Juta is a series of 36 big round domes that rise up from the desert floor, the highest being over 500 metres tall.There a 2 different walks you can do, so we will experience one at sunrise with a lovely picnic breakfast & then after the second trek we get to watch the sunsetting over the Olga's, whilst sipping champagne, so glad my chatterbox children wont be there to talk me thru such serene moments!

There are so many tours you can do in the area,  as well as many other places to see, it was extremely hard to decide & now I am concerned I may be missing something fantastic by just choosing  only cover two destinations.I figured we might as well experince the most of the rock & the Olga's rather than only seeing half of each location. I am also trying to keep in mind we only have 3 nights there & we would like to relax a little as well.

I have dream't of travelling to Ayers Rock for what feels like a lifetime now, so this really is a dream come true. I can't wait to take photos out there with my new camera, thank goodness for sd cards, I can snap away as much as my little heart desires!!

There is a safari you can do to a place called Mount Connor which is situated within a large cattle station, you get to see some  salt lakes & all the flora & fauna that live amongst it, as well as experience sunset at Mt Connor & dinner at the homestead, I would have enjoyed this alot

OR

there is the Kings Canyon tour which is a 300km trip from the resort & then a spectacular 7km trek around the rim of the canyon with some pretty incredible views to reward you, after climbing 500 rocky steps at the start of the trek. This tour last 12hours, starting at 4am. The thought of being on a bus for 6-7 hours all up was a bit of a turn off,but you can have an overnight stay out there & do sevaral different walks, so perhaps that would be better as a whole other trip!

Mmmmm, so many choices & to top it off the dream guy says

 " you choose, its your trip, its just a rock to me"

he is NO help!!

Have you been to Ayers Rock & do you have any advice of whats good & whats not, all tips are greatly appreciated!
Check out the website if your keen to visit this incredible part of Australia, you can book everything right down to your air fares .

Ayers Rock Resort

Any way I am soooo excited, I can't wait to share with you all!!!

CHEERS

Trish xxx



An outdoor dining project

With the dream house taking a little longer to get off the ground than we ever imagined, we have begun to get a little tired of having a lot of our favourite things in storage.

The house we rent is much smaller than we are used to, it was only meant to be temporary, but, here we are two years later & no end in sight.

At our back door we had a nice big slab of concrete & nothing more, exposing the back of the house to the hot afternoon sun as well as the rain, so my ultra clever dream guy whipped up a fabulous alfresco area...

 We have a handrail all the way around with a gate to keep our enormous drooling dog out.This is what he does best mind you!

Its been nice to be able to have friends over & sit outside with nibblies & drinks

I stitched up some cushions from some bargain fabric that I purchased on sale at spotlight, originally

 $18.99 mtr, I only paid $4.00 mtr, YAY for me !!

My dream guy gave me this fabulous lantern as a birthday present, I burn a citronella candle in it which smells divine & keeps the mosquitos at bay....

Not only did we bring our outdoor setting out of storage, we also managed to find a place for my beloved "arles clock" . I got it at Freedom years ago, before big clocks became super trendy & I don't think I will ever tire of it!!!

Hope you love our new outdoor space, drop by & have a glass of wine with me anytime!!!

CHEERS

Trish xxx



Television Taboo

traditional bedroom design by Portland interior designer Garrison Hullinger Interior Design Inc.

I love how this TV is recessed into the wall, minimising its impact on the room.

Do you have a TV  in your bedroom?

 Its okay if you don't want to tell us, after all, it's certainly NOT a stylish design feature & apparently the dreaded black box messes with your sleep patterns.

This might explain MY poor sleeping habits as we could,nt live without one in our master bedroom. The dream guy & I have very different sleeping habits, so he will watch TV well into the night, whilst I rack up a fews zzzzz's & when he is on night shift I use it to drown out the little sounds that spook me in the night. I am a big fraidy cat!

Image via DIY Show off

Building a frame around your TV to make it look more like a piece of art certainly helps to reduce it visual impact on the room

I don't recall where I found this image, but  you can purchase a system like this where your favourite piece of art is mounted to a mechanical device that lifts up to reveal a TV that is recessed into the wall.

Another perfectly framed black box....

This one really does look classy....

The rest of this room is so stunning, I think you could have built a monkeys cage into the ever so stylish cabinetry & no one would care.

So.....

Do you have a television in the bedroom?

 Is it just cluttering up your tall boy like mine, or have you put the time into making it a stylish, yet somewhat camouflaged feature in your master suite or dare I say boudoir?

I have some wonderful plans for the TV in the master bedroom of my dream house....ssshhhh...don't tell my dream guy, I don't want to scare him, LOL, my ideas list that requires is fabulous handiwork is growing by the minute!!!

CHEERS

Trish xxx