House Build

House Build – Update 6

Starting the ceiling batts. It takes a bit longer as it needs a double layer.
Lounge ceiling done!
We needed to borrow a higher scaffold for the peak.
A few sheets of cladding at the front
A last minute addition of 2 windows in the entrance to make it lighter.
It doesn’t look like I just came back from the hairdressers 🙂
Outside view
Progress on the cladding
Windows in and ready for the cladding
Front door
The front entrance
It looks like the windows were meant to be there.
The doggies can usually be found staring in a window whenever we are working downstairs
On to the wiring
All wires lead back to the attic
Painting the wall for the main switchboards and solar hub.
The Hub
Framing the fireplace
Now onto the upsatirs deck cladding.
Cladding the front. Need to get the high cladding up and a 2nd coat of stain before the scaffold comes down.
Lots of nailing
Garage door looks great with the cladding.
The view from afar
Just a triangle left.
Downstairs deck cladding
The lift
Looking down the lift shaft
The bathroom cladding
A visit from Sammy – not sure he;s that impressed with the house.
Finishing off the chimney cap
Chimney all done
Then this happened!
Grey hospital stayed in ward overnight, had to lie flat with collar on.
Being flown to CPH with flying docs. Apparently I missed an amazing view.
Orthapaedic trauma unit. Initially was on full spinal immobilisation inclduing hoist. Fortunately this was reduced so I could walk to the toilet under supervision.
Day after surgery I was lucky enough to be moved to own room
Sammy keeping Mum’s beanbag warm and Dad company.
Post surgery xray – plate in place.
First day back home
The rest of the batts have arrived
Did you say there were a few batts in the garage?
Holy moly that’s more than a few!
Al’s batt cutting area
Bathroom – heat foils in place
We did warn Sam!
Finally feel well enough to check out the house and soak up the sun.
Essie just adores Sammy. It’s not mutual lol.
Getting all set up for Bathurst
Feeling a lot better my turn to cook for Al
Yay I can finally see out of the kitchen window with the scaffold down
Ducting for the heat transfer
The final bit of batting
The scaffold is coming down we finally see. You can see where Al stained the 2nd coat before the scaffold came down.
Al was a busy bee while I was in hospital. Can finally see his staining efforts now.
It’s no wonder he is knackered. Not sure what Sammy’s excuse is though.

Facebook updates

1 August

A few photos of the timber cladding going up on the driveway side. The sheets have already had a coat of stain and will need another coat once up. It is quite intricate work one sheet at a time – measure, cut, seal the back of each sheet around the edges with stain and let dry, put it in place with fingers crossed the measurements were right 😂As we got higher it was a bit of a torturous route up and around the scaffold.

Hopefully all going to plan Sam (roofer) is back tomorrow and the metal cladding will start going up. We had to run around late this afternoon tying down all the sheets of iron as a short mini storm came through. Just as well we are used to extreme weather events and apart from getting soaked all is well.

26 August

The tray cladding is taking a lot longer than expected which has been out of our control. We are looking forward to it being finished though as the scaffolding has a weekly rental and it’s been up since April!

We have put up all the timber cladding we can until the flashings are all completed. It is exciting though to see it finally taking shape and we are loving the look. The plumbing is underway and we’ve started putting in the electrical wiring. We’ve also put the batts in the high ceiling. Thanks to Smithy & Grant for the use of their scaffold for the peak where we couldn’t quite reach. The timber framing has dried out a lot now it is totally enclosed, but is still quiet wet on the west side. The diesel heater and dehumidifier should sort that over the next few weeks.

Building and also living in a confined space during winter has been a challenge but spring is in the air yay! We are really enjoying being part of the Blackball community and it is always to hear the nice comments from locals about our labour of love. We definitely won’t be waiting until it is completely finished before moving in. As soon as it is liveable we’re in 😂😂

30 September

This was me at this time last week being flown to ChCh with a stable fracture of T1, 2 unstable fractures of C6&7 plus ligament damage. This was caused by a freak occurrence on Thursday (21 Sept) near midnight sitting on my bean bag about to go to bed when the storage cupboard behind me fell forward on to my back and head.

Still trying to comprehend what had just happened Al was frantically trying to determine what the damage was and I was still trying to take in what had occurred. I knew something wasn’t right though as I had shooting pains down my neck and back. I remained as still as possible and I was lucky to have my very own ambo immediately looking after me. I was taken in to Greymouth ED by Blackball ambulance by Al & Richard and it was comforting to have Al in the back with me. I got to experience real hand what it is like to be a patient and couldn’t fault my care. It was early morning by then and I was taken for a CT scan and then in the morning an X-ray. I was told that these showed a stable fracture of T1 and I could go home and a dr would call me later. The fracture would heal over time. I still had the collar in place and was being very careful on the journey back to BB and pretty much lay in bed until the dr called about 4. She said your X-rays have been reviewed by the senior consultants at CPH and you actually have 2 unstable fractures of the C6&7 vertebrae as well and you need to get back to hospital asap.

So I had my 2nd trip back in BB ambulance with Al and Richard. From that moment I was lying flat and I already had the collar on and it was to be my constant companion for the next week. Last Saturday I was flown to CPH where I had an MRI which confirmed the fractures and was admitted to what is effectively a Orthopaedic ICU. I was on full spinal immobilization including being hoisted from stretcher to bed, bedpans etc. Luckily my Orthopaedic surgeon Richard Cowley came in and said I could mobilize with collar to the toilet as I had full feeling in all my limbs and had already been walking. It was a pretty scary time for both of us made harder by the fact Al had to stay in BB. As everyone knows we have a bit going on plus dogs, a cat, chickens and a marine fish tank and although plenty of people offered to help we decided it was best Al stayed at home. But I was not alone in ChCh I had my sisters and friends visiting everyday checking I was okay and bringing me supplies as well as texts and calls to & fromAl all hours of the day and night. It was difficult to type on my phone lying flat as well as having a sore left shoulder & arm so I had to keep texting to a minimum.

Tuesday am I had my operation it is called a ACDF procedure if anyone wants to look it up. Basically the surgeon goes in through the neck past the vocal cords to the cervical vertebrae. They then took some bone from my hip and made 2 new discs and inserted those after taking out the damaged ones. Then last screwed a plate to keep all in place. I was told that the operation was a common procedure which the surgeon had done many times. This did make me feel less apprehensive. The surgeon called Al to say the op was successful and an X-ray the next day confirmed this.

The result is that my spine is now fused. I still have my stable fracture which will heal itself and the ligament damage which still needs to repair. Al came to pick me up on Thursday and brought me back to BB. It was so good to see him and to be back home. The surgeon says I don’t have to wear a collar but at the moment I feel more comfortable wearing it walking around. I am still on a regime of drugs which I need to keep up to the pain at bay but otherwise feeling pretty good considering. Being in a ward where there was a lot of trauma cases it made me realise how lucky I was as it could’ve been a lot worse.

Latest update

The above is just a snapshot of the trials and tribulations of the last 3 months.   I have been out of hospital for almost 2 weeks now.  The recovery is going well and I can feel my improvement each day.  There was some miscommunication with what I needed to do post surgery and consequently I had to wear my collar when up and about for 6 weeks.  So 4 weeks to go.  Me being out of action has meant even more pressure on Al.  Not only has he had to carry on with the house build he has had to look after me as well. Adding cooking, cleaning and animal chores to his already long list of things to do. 

The months long saga of installation of the roof and cladding is finally coming to an end.  The scaffold went up in April and what was to be a few weeks work has turned into months.  When you are paying for weekly scaffold rental and accommodation it gets quite costly.   The one consolation is that Sam (Roofies) is meticulous, and the end result is stunning with the contrast of our timber cladding.  He is back this week hopefully to finish the porch roof. We are looking forward to see the house behind the scaffold finally. 

The original plan was to have a traditional roof shout Queens birthday weekend but in the end with all the delays the roof was only finally completed last week. The excitement for a roof shout has long dissipated and the momentum gone.  We may still have a bit of an open home and some drinkies with friends to mark the occasion of the roof and cladding being finished and the scaffold down.  

 On the 7th November it will be a year since we first started the foundations for the house.  We plan to move into as soon the living area is habitable hopefully late November/early December.   That will probably be when I write our next blog.