Things are moving along well. Colin – at this moment and for several moments following – is putting on architraves and skirtings in most of the house (except the area of main bedroom, small hall to garage and bathroom, which will be the last thing to be done when all else is finished, including the bathroom plastering) getting ready for the floor sander who will be here week after this coming one. An end, of sorts, is in sight. There is much to do still, of course, outside apart from the decks and drainage; all the finishing bits and pieces that take forever. But last week we had major assistance in getting the highlight windows in place – pics below – by Chris Briggs and his son Eli. Chris was at one time in history our carpenter here, and the last time I saw Eli he was a bratty little boy causing havoc at a barbecue. Now, he’s a lovely bloke and he and Chris are the best tradesman carpenters around and got this quite complex section done in five days.
The highlights of louvres face east over the bathroom and the small passageway from loungeroom to garage. Serious light needed in these, and the highlights along with the glass side facing north and high set louvre windows at the front will give light and warmth.

The finished highlight – narrow frame inset into the passageway from lounge to garage, the three-panel is above the bathroom. Below is the process by master carpenters.

This is what it looks like at the moment. There is a front door, at last, although you can’t see it here as it’s glass. The blue plastic above the new weatherboards is where three small louvre windows will let more light into the bathroom. The brown board in the highlight will be glass. Can’t wait for a real bathroom!
To end this short post on really good things – I tested the oven for pastry and found it perfect. After two years with no oven I’m rediscovering oven cooking and baking – could say going overboard a bit, but it will wear off soon. In the mean time, here’s the steak and mushroom pie we had for dinner – but this won’t be happening again with rough puff pastry as I had forgotten the time it takes to make it. Roll, turn, fold, chill, roll, roll, turn, fold chill all afternoon. I’ll find a better way.
The fireplace works brilliantly and warms the large-ish area even without curtains or blinds to keep the heat in. The cats are rather fond of it, too. And here’s a pic of Merimbula lake early morning a few days ago – looking down through the trees with next door’s building carefully edited out!
Have a warm week, all in Oz, and warm summer days for those in the northern part of the world.
Thanks for the update, lovy to hear progress is going well. That pie looked yummy by the way.
Lovy should read lovely