Hi all,
We are
weather-tight at last. All our windows are in, the cladding is just about
finished (only some of the trims to complete now), the gib is up and the
plasterers started today (there were 12 cars up here and the plasterers
wandering around on stilts!). The stairs are in, the woolblock is in all the
walls and the joinery plans have been finalised and sent off to the relevant
tradespeople. All the internal door handles have arrived, the internal doors
have arrived, the fireplace should be here tomorrow, we have signed the
contract for the photo voltaics and we have the first fix wiring in for the
units on the roof. We have determined our external plaster finish over the
blockwork, but have yet to talk to the plasterer about the plaster shade we
want. The kitchen has been signed off & all the finishing details
determined like the positioning of the handles etc - and it should be on site
in a fortnight, just as the painter finishes.
I still
need to find someone to make a cowling for the range hood as the one that came
with the range hood is too short to reach the ceiling. We also still need to
source some stainless steel to go behind the kitchen hob bench to prevent the
possibility of the gas igniting the wall! We have finally received the last
light shade to go above our kitchen island bench, which we had been waiting for
since September, so it has taken quite a long time to get this tiny piece of
equipment (it arrived last Friday). Amazing.
Jan has
heaps of projects on the go at the moment; since Lew retired in January, the
projects are coming through thick and fast. He is supposed to be having a
meeting with the Operations Manager about workload, but it has been put back
and put back. He isn't too stressed yet, but I am sure he will be as the
projects all start to come on line.
NMIT
& AUT's classes have started again, and I have some excellent students. I
have high expectations of the calibre of work this year! In addition, the South
Island Master's Games are being hosted in Nelson in 2011, and I have managed to
get the organising committee interested in having teams of my Sports Comms
students write a Communications Plan for them in a real bidding situation, and
the Master's Games Cttee will sit on the interview and bid evaluation panel.
There is nothing like a real situation to really boost student performance, and
it will be great for the winning team to put in their CVs. My professional
development continues - I am still working on my second-to-last CAT unit, one
assignment down, one in progress, two to go.
Fliss has
been into the vet to get a couple of benign cysts cut out - one of them was on
her toe and was starting to grow, so we decided to get them removed now before
it became more serious. The surgery went well and she was back at being a
barking door bell on the building site in no time at all.
We head
off to Chch this weekend for Warren & Trace's wedding (27 Feb), and will be
coming along to Pat's 40th on the Friday night. John F is baby-sitting the
house & the dogs while we are away. It should be a great weekend.
We have
booked our tickets for Germany - we leave NZ on the 21st of June for Paris, and
leave Frankfurt for NZ again on July 14th. We have yet to firm up the trip
arrangements, but we want to get a few days in the north of France, then catch
up with Andreas & Katrin, Justine & Gareth for a few days, then finish
up with a good week with Jan's family. There are some family functions that we
will be able to attend, which will be fantastic. As soon as we firm up our
plans, we will let you all know.
Last
Sunday we were busy with my folk's 50th Wedding Anniversary, which was a great
occasion - I think everyone had a blast. Thanks so much for those of you who
sent best wishes. I raised a toast to absent friends after reading out your
kind thoughts; and Jeremy & Lindsay; your readings had everyone in stitches
- thanks for those.
This
weekend we had my folks, and friends of theirs (the Pahls & the Kissells)
out to visit, & John F & Bon dog, and Paul & Noreen Inwood (Paul
was coming up to check the joinery details for the Laundry & our
wardrobes). Before that swarm, we had Kathleen & Frits & Magda out to
view the progress & have lunch - fantastic vege soup, slow cooked &
delivered by Kathleen. The Saturday before, Noreen & Paul Inwood called in,
as did Andrew & Jennie, Ella & Maya.
And some
very sad news - Megs has lost her Rottweiler Jimmy to bone cancer ...at far too
young an age to be losing a doggy friend :-(
Our
housewarming is still going to be on 3 April (Easter Saturday), ready or not
:-)
Invite
attached for you all - let us know if you can make it.
Take care
& alles liebe!
Sam & Jan
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