Saturday, November 29, 2008

Quick update

I really miss blogging! I especially miss being part of the daily lives of all my blogging friends. One day I know things will settle down and I will have time again for all of that but in the meantime I'm almost starting to enjoy life on the run! Once your brain gets used to it, it's actually rewarding to be able to do so many things in one day. Every night when I lie in bed before I fall asleep - I try to think of everything that I've accomplished in the day that's gone and try to make a mental list of all I need to do the next day. I'm really starting to enjoy this little "project"!

Now for the update: This are going sort of according to plan. The rain has kept us back a little but when the sun's out the guys really make up for the lost time. We had to vacate one half of the house so that they can literally break out almost every single thing inside. The other half of the house is looking more like a storage site than a house - we hardly have space to sleep. We spend most of the time in the old house now and just pop in to check if everything is built the way we want it - which a lot of the time isn't! Then they need to make corrections and so on.

They will start fitting the new kitchen on 8th December and should complete it by the end of that week. The plan is that all the building and inside finishing must be completed by 19th December. Phase 2 will then start again mid January to complete the outside finishing touches, the swimming pool, paving and the garden.

The other great news is: my old house is sold! It was a rather emotional moment when we had to put up the "for sale" sign at the front gate. When the fist prospective buyers pitched up it was almost like they invaded our privacy. At the same time I was anxious because I was afraid that the house will stay in the market for months / years (like a whole lot of other houses in the neighborhood) and that I would be forced to rent it out in the end. I didn't really want to do that because I've heard so many horror stories about tenants who ruin your house and the rent would only cover about half the installment!

I was blown away when the agent phoned me about an hour after they came to view the house. The couple wanted to buy the house! It's a young newly wed couple and they love my house and wanted to buy it. The very first people who came to view the house! Mixed emotions filled my heart. I was so glad that the house was sold (at the price that I wanted!) but I really feel sentimental about that house! This is the house that I bought after I got divorced. It was the refuge for me and the boys. We made it into the safe and happy home that we all wanted and needed. I realise that now it is time to move on but I know that a couple of tears will flow the day we will have to say goodbye to "our house" permanently! I'm not sure when the move will be. The new owners want to wait for final registration before they move in. Hopefully this will only happen in the new year. At the moment there is just no way that we can move in to the Parys house before the building is completed.

Here are a couple of picture updates of the building in progress. These pics were taken on Wednesday, so they are already outdated but it will give you a general idea of the progress.

My new en-suite bathroom and walk in closet:
The "flat" where the boys will stay:
The patio:
What's left of the old garage on the left and the new garage on the right:The old kitchen after we moved out. By now it's only an empty shell with nothing inside - they broke everything down - even the ceiling!!Gotta run again - on our way to visit some friends for dinner - some kind of French meal with a VERY strange name - can't wait to taste it!

Will try to be back soon!

Buy for now!

10 comments:

Jacqui Bourne said...

Glad you're back.. There's something for you over at my blog!!!

caro said...

This is so interesting! Glad your doing so well. Hugs.

Muriel said...

Wow you're busy! ;)
Glad you enjoy your "little project"

CathQuillScrap said...

Definately missed you in blog land so nice to know you are actually still around.... I think you need all the help you can get to have your house finished by the 19th... jolly good luck!!

Michelle Ramsay said...

I am sure the inconvenience will have been worth it once all is complete. I am sure it is going to look stunning.

Congrats on selling your house - I know lots of people who are battling, so that is a relief for you.

Kim Watson said...

Wow! it looks like things are definitely progressing! I am thrilled that your house sold so fast! Wonderful news!!
Keep well!
X

{Candice} said...

Hi Michelle,

I just want to pop in & say "Thank You" for visiting my blog & for such a warm welcome to Blogland!
You're such a sweetie :o)
Looks like there are all sorts of exciting things going on i your life at the moment. It's always sad to leave a home behind but from the looks of things you are entering a wonderful new chapter in your life & you are going to have a dream home to go with it - can't wait to see the end result :o)

I hope you enjoyed the meal with the "strange" name - LOL! ;o)

Have a fabulous weekend.

xoxoxo

SABEE said...

Mich, they really have come a long way infact... soon you will be back in blog land... You are going to so enjoy your 'new' home.... see you around soon.
Love and Hugs
Bee

voodoo vixen said...

Wow Mich, the house is going to be awesome! Hope they stay on track for you and the 19th... that will leave you a few days to get Christmas organised!! PMLing!!
When we had the has done when I got back tot he UK... the builder left on the 18th... and I had peeps flying in from everywhere for Christmas from the 19th onwards... eeeeeek!

Kim B said...

Michelle your header LEKKER caught my eye- lol
Had to come over!
ARRGH- renovations and building are exciting and a PITA at the same time- I stopped ours until next year as I was soooo tired of DUST, BANGING and you know the house full of people in and out- lol
But the major construction is done- it's just the finishing off that needs to be done next year! YAY- looks like you also knocked out a whole house- hahahaha- They teased me saying I should have just built from scratch! hahahaha

I read you are doing SURESLIM-
YOU GO GIRL!! I lost 38 kg on Sureslim and that was over 4 years ago! It's still off and trust me I eat NORMALLY- with all the goodies in between-lol. Still cant drink FULL cream milk- can't handle too much butter and anything tooo rich makes me NAAR! hahahaha
But it WORKS!! Hang in there- oh and it will be quicker than you think ;-)

Goodness now you have a BOOK- lol
Will be *adding your blog* to my SA list ;-)

HUGS