Courtyard grid

 I have a before and after set of photos here showing the removal of a grid of beams over the courtyard area.  We have had a quote to mount an extendable shade on the wall above the door meaning the structure had to go.  We have to get them out again to see if the remaining beam is suitable for mounting the  new shade.  So far the covid closures have not stopped this kind of work.

Last night's Sunset

Kitchen Kulture

The renovation history has rolled on over the years. I have uncovered some photos from when we first moved in. Kitchens are the hub and we have spent $'s on keeping that area up to date.  When we arrived in 1980 I think it was more of a trough than a sink in the kitchen. Iteration kitchen two became an all wood affair, the mission brown approach. Iteration three is now your stone bench tops and lighter self closing self cleaning kitchen. The photos below are all taken from the same spot.

1980

1984

2014

Unreality BLOCK TV

There has been a bit of a to do about tradies lately and whether they can get things done in time. I have been surrounded by tradies over the years including this particular cabinetmaker. It doesn't surprise me that these cabinets weren't installed in time given our experience of him a couple of years back.  Yes on the one hand you have a chance to show your wares on national TV so you would want to get it right, given a lot of people are watching, however it was only one day late. Ordinarily if you were putting in a new kitchen and said cabinets were installed a day late, I wouldn't be making too much of a fuss, especially if they are quality.  This proves to me that trying to make building or renovation into a competition is unreality. Awarding of prizes and judging a kitchen refit is an artificial exercise completely foreign to most tradies.  And the hosts didn't even get the sales pitch to off load three fridges.  Kevin McCloud would have a fit at the idea of racing to finish by a timeframe  rather than doing it right but taking longer.