Mounds of Dirt and Minds with Designs

So not a lot to report over the last couple of weeks.

I'll go back to where I left off the other week, which was we were heading out looking at splashback and kitchen designs..

So that weekend went very well! We drove all over Melbourne pretty much on that Saturday!
We started off looking at kitchen places in the South East of Melbourne to get ideas on the splashbacks, cupboard's, doors and benchtops. We spoke with a few kitchen guys, who gave us some really good information on the differences between Laminex and Formica and Caesar Stone and Essa Stone. Helped a lot just to talk to people.

Then we headed into Frank Walker at National Tiles so I could show Derek my ideas for our tile selections. He was pleased with the choices I had made on the colours and size of the tiles and we agreed on a pebble feature as well! TILES CHOSEN - TICK!

Next we headed over to the Hopetoun Interior place again to just go over what we already knew on the colours/styles we liked for everything. But it was nice to really know what we liked and have a firmer grasp of the choices we will make before we get to our appointment.

Hopping back in the car the next place to visit was display homes! So off we headed out to Point Cook in Melbourne's West. We needed petrol, so a quick detour to the servo for fuel and a coke that apparently came with a "free - all I had pay was an extra $1" Snickers bar for afternoon tea. I complained about having it for all of about 10 seconds till all that was left in my hand was the wrapper...ooops!
We wandered through the Porter Davis homes there, at Point Cook, to look at colours and designs etc but nothing really tickled our fancy or stood out to us and we were still happy with the choices we had made! Good news!

Meanwhile back at the block....
Someone was kindly dumping soil on our land and not just a little either!
The mound was massive!!! See pic below...
That week Porter Davis were due to do our site and soil survey, but I received a phone call from our Customer Service Representative, K, to say that the survey could not be completed due to the mound blocking the surveyor!
Bummer.
So I had back and forth phone calls with the people down in Somerfield estate to arrange for a call to be put through to the site supervisor of Lot 86's block to get it removed. It took a few days but finally it was taken away! Although this, then in turn, delayed them with our results for the survey so we have had to put our Tender appointment with them back a week.

We have also arranged our colour selection appointment and our electrical appointment..
We are feeling quite daunted by the electrical appointment. We have to make decisions now as to where we want power points, light fittings etc etc and the list goes on and on.. Very daunting indeed especially when they don't give you prices for anything and we already know that 1 down light = $100 eeek! So that will be a fun and enormously expensive appointment I am sure..

We also visited Carpet Court last weekend and no we didn't see the Court Jester!
The service there was fairly lacking and we waited for about 20 minutes to be served! But, on the upside once we had the attention of the guy, his information was extremely helpful. He told us what the best choice would be out of the "Porter Davis Range" of carpets, adding after it "I probably shouldn't be telling you this but....." So we have bedded down our carpet selection now too! YAY!

Side tracking from house stuff for a minute -

Last weekend we had two special birthdays to attend!
Our beautiful nephew Merrick had his very first birthday and my middle brother Stuart celebrated his 40th!
I have popped in a couple of photos and send out to them a massive
HAPPY BIRTHDAY wish!

Back to house stuff -

This last week, we have been looking into the design of swimming pools.. well I have anyway.. Derek has been looking into the expense of swimming pools.. that one is still yet to be decided.. I will post a picture of a possible design and you tell me what you guys think ;). The pool idea also relies on the broker getting back to us on how much money the bank will give us!

Maybe baby, just a maybe...

Tomorrow we are heading into the House and Garden Show in Jeff's Shed. I am so excited as I have been told its very very good! They have all types of exhibitors there. From curtain people to landscapers, to furniture to wall paper.. they will all be there I will be looking at all of them..
Better offer up a good trade off to my husband in exchange for his patience!

Peace out for now
Ax

Mound of dirt

Possible Backyard Design ;)

Dan and Merrick with his favourite character Iggle Piggle in cake form made by Nana

Blowing out his candle with Mum and Dad

Stuart and Angela