What a surprise! The carpet's not ready

Yesterday was another epic reno day.  I got floor leveling compound down, and got the first coat of paint onto the wardrobes.  Was all set to push through and get the second coat on too - but I was working faster on the second coat and discovered that I was too early for re-coating.  So had to stop.  I've had to take all the white wine out of the fridge to fit the paint roller and paint tray in!

So with another hour's work tonight, we'll be all ready for the carpet layer on Friday.

Except that he isn't coming.

The carpet people rang and said that the carpet wasn't in yet.  Grump grump grump!  So our plans to finally sort our house in the weekend won't happen.  We'll still be able to move Toby into his room, on a temporary basis though.  Just a bed and bedside table.

I was late to bed so pretty groggy this morning - ended up late enough that I had to drive in.  This is getting to be a habit! 

Earthquakes, cubs and renovations

We had an earthquake here at about 3:30 yesterday afternoon, which created a bit of chatter in the office.  In my building, the Majestic Centre, we got gentle swaying for about 20 sec or so.  Angela got a sway, a jolt and a sway.  I think the damping in the Majestic Centre works better.

I skived off cubs last night - more renovations.  I was leveling the floor in Toby's room ready for the carpetlayer on Friday.  Sounds like cubs went pretty well.  Toby has come back with a pat of butter that he made all by himself.

Again, a good morning from both of us this morning.  I got Toby off relatively early and got an early bus in.  I had mission only partly accomplished last night, because I ran out of cement.  So I did an early morning trip to Bunnings and lugged 25kg of cement back to the office in my tramping backpack.  I feel more awake than most mornings now!

Tonight I finish leveling the floor, and paint the insides of the cupboards.  Then we'll be ready for carpet on Friday and finally - finally! - being able to move into all of our rooms in the weekend.

Toby's parent teacher interview

We had Toby's parent teacher interview last night.  His last school report wasn't fantastic - he's slipped for concentration, initiative and leadership.  Conclusion was he just needs to 'knuckle down'.  Time to bring in beatings and imposing unachievable expectations on him I reckon.  OK, let's start with less computer games.

We had a good morning this morning, Toby was up and showered and dressed and breakfasted like clockwork.  Got away fairly early - we drove in so that Cubs logistics can work.  I'm missing cubs tonight, I have to get some concrete laid on Toby's bedroom floor because the carpet layer is allegedly coming on Friday!

Parked in the usual parking building, which has very tight parks, especially later in the morning (like 8:20am).  I've quite often got to wedge the car in so that I have to slide across to the passenger seat and go out the passenger door.  But today was a first - it was so tight a space that I had to climb out the BACK left seat!  It's good I still have some flexibility ay.

Another epic painting weekend

This weekend we more or less just painted.  Angela was very good, she turned down many social engagements and gamely painted away. 

We make a good team - I can do the labouring jobs that require height, like rollering the tops of the walls, and Angela can do the jobs that require skill and coordination, like cutting in the paint on the skirtings and scotias.  Though Toby's room has a LOT of doors and windows, and I think she was well over cutting in by the end of it.

We did get through all of the painting though.  Toby's room is now virulent orange and ready for carpet (er, once I re-concrete the floor in one corner).  It took absolutely ages!  We were starting from where the plasterer left off, so undercoat, filling, and topcoating everything.  All those doors and windows had fiddly architraves to put aqua-enamel on.  We also had some aqua-enameling in our bedroom and the foyer to hit at the same time.

If we have time, we'll move him in there tonight!  Not properly, because there's still the carpet to do, but the room is certainly useable for putting in a single bed and bedside table.  He'll be happy.  We certainly will be!

This morning was okay, but I missed my bus and had to drive in.  Re-fitting window catches in Toby's room took just a little bit longer than I expected...


Have a great day everyone!

Tradespeople in the Wellington area

Here are all of the tradespeople that we've used in the ongoing saga of our house renovations.  They're all either ones we've used ourselves, or people that have been recommended first-hand.

Let us know other good tradespeople in the comments, and/or give us feedback on anyone here!

If you are thinking of doing any house maintenance work, there are two websites that are invaluable for estimating costs - getting quotes and finding someone to do it
http://builderscrack.co.nz/
and 
http://www.nocowboys.co.nz/ 
 
ARCHITECT - Helen Law, Goodson Architects, http://www.goodsonarchitects.co.nz/
BUILDER Wilfrid Dickinson, ph 233 0453, 021 209 2806 - One Construction Ltd, 417A Grays Rd, Porirua
PLASTERER - Peter Piotrkowski, 26 Kellsmere Cre Island Bay, ph 04-383 6251, 0274 36 36 96
PLASTERER - Bill Allen 0274 469 874
PLASTERER - Donny 021 500 470
PAINTER Chris Hopkins, Moores Valley Rd, Wainuiomata 04-564 3980
PAINTER  Gary Telfer 499 7799
BATHROOM FITOUTS - Barry Emmerson 027 497 5528 http://www.bathroomrenovations.co.nz/
KITCHENS - Your Kitchen, Petone http://www.yourkitchenltd.co.nz/
KITCHENS - Noble Kitchens, U Hutt (04) 528 3965;
COLORSTEEL SPOUTING - Continuous Spouting http://www.nojoins.co.nz
FLOOR SANDING - Kim, 4-star flooring 021 422 191
TILER - Phil Bryan 027 6461173, 04 2327840
PLUMBER Rob 027 238 2225
PLUMBER Tony Steffensen, Capital Plumbing Ltd 0274 368228
PLUMBER Tasman Plumbers 04 384 3463 027 241 0003 http://www.wellingtonplumber.co.nz/
ELECTRICIAN Damien 021 410 125
CONCRETE CUTTER Rob - Lowery's 972-1279
UNDERFLOOR POLYSTYRENE INSULATION - Richard Moore, Poly Palace 0800 PALACE http://www.trashpalace.co.nz/index.cfm/poly_palace
CARPET - Graeme & Justine, Carpet One, 0800 CARPET
CARPET LAYERS - Dean, HawkNZ Carpets, 027 240 8700
WARDROBES - Boston Wardrobe Systems 04 576 0644 http://bostonwardrobes.co.nz
ALU WINDOWS/DOORS - Capital (Nulook) Windows, 04 526 9933 http://www.nulook.co.nz/index.pl?page=licensee&region=14
GARDENERS - Robyn Henderson 0275 304 291

if you building a patio/fence /deck - An Engineer friend of my sisters recommends Peter Ashton
http://www.nocowboys.co.nz/businesses/decks!-decks!-ashton-building/

Estadio is nice! And the plasterer comes today

Last night Sally, Andrew and I went out to Estadio, because I had a $25 off TreatMe voucher to spend before the end of the month.  It's had some pretty terrible reviews so our expectations weren't high, but in the end we had a very pleasant evening.  The staff were friendly and quick, and the food was pretty good - It'll be a long time before they get their Michelin Star, but pretty good value for money.  I think I'll be back with Angela and Toby in tow.  A good restaurant to take well behaved kids to I reckon.

Joy of joys, the plasterer really is coming today, to do Toby's new bedroom.  If all goes to plan we'll be able to get it painted in the weekend and move Toby in on Monday night!.  So we've cleared the last of the stuff out of the room and let's see how Peter the Plasterer goes, and then how we go.

After that, we'll need to do a Remedial Tidy of the house - find everything a place, and get rid of everything that doesn't have a place.  Maybe we need more furniture, too.

This morning went well.  I fixed Angela's bike tyre and she rode in.  It's very strange - she gets a puncture every few days at the moment.  I found the hole and felt all around the tyre and the rim to see if there was anything sharp in there... nada.  My hope is, whatever it was fell out while I was looking for it.

Toby was up not-too-late, he got ready pretty well and we got off not-too-late.  Not enough for me to get my on-time bus but that's okay.

Today we have Wagamama for lunch with Aidan and Josh!  Looking forward to it.

When nerds have too much disposable income

Sighted in our local supermarket carpark the other day.