24th February 2010 (Wednesday)

We've been sitting here after the Non has gone to bed trying to figure out how to re-do The Shack, but frankly come to to conclusion that on a single brief viewing we simply can't remember it well enough to compile anything like a decent list to present to a builder. We do have the general notion that: it's odd and needs rectifying on the front of having... Oh it's too long to go into, it would all be boomeranging through and knocking down and partitioning, but we can't even cohesively remember where the bathroom was, or where the listed second bathroom was, let alone even approximate measurements for the house so I think I'll try calling the agent again tomorrow to see if I can get a second view with a tape measure sometime. Or access to some plans, even better. Peculiarity is that in essence it backs onto two roads, one about 30 meters higher than the other, as it's sensible to build a double garage onto the lower side that is presently just grit and slope, and join up the two ends. Almost impossible to explain. Anyway, the thing is that we can get a builder out to quote for us roughly, but we do need to know what to demand from him - and it'll cost us a little ($250) so we do slightly need to know what we're on about. However, as an exercise in seeing whether we'd like to go down this route (buy a house and renovate), it's probably a perfect example. At 495K asking price you don't get much cheaper in that area, and it's no measly space of land, either - though not overwhelming. The other options are - buy mediocre and wait, but mediocre and extend slowly, buy expensive and pay through the hilt. Buy Very cheap and knock down - this one is just about on the cusp of that. But again, that makes it all very expensive, so in a way in a n already developed area the option of buying expensive and done is more attractive than buying semi-redone and destroying. it's all a bit of a different concept from the UK, or indeed Europe in general, I think. Also, although we don't particularly like the idea of living permanently in a 'prefab' house, and would prefer a brick one, the Aussies don't seem to have a preference. Therefore, there is no intrinsic re-sale advantage to buying a brick property, and re-furbing a pre-fab flimsy one and making it nice might well turn out a good investment, which could later trade in for a new / newer build mainly brick one at a later date. The new, predominantly brick-construct ones are generally more expensive but not because they're brick, but because they've got larger bedrooms and are more modern. So in short I think I'll try and get another look at the property and get a hang of what we're thinking of, and then quite probably go for a building quote. as for where/when we'll get the money for all of this from, that's quite another matter. it's quite a peculiar situation actually, literally not knowing how much money you've got because of the exchange rate. Curious. The question unfortunately is probably either 'little' of 'very little'.
What a dull drone again, so sorry. Can I just say, many apologies IN ADVANCE for the late arrival of Makoto's birthday card - we got it ages ago, got it ready, but simply could NOT get to a postbox. Car shortage and so on - they are quite far apart (post boxes, not cars). Today I saw what was probably our nearest one but unfortunately I didn't have the card on me at the time, so once again, no post. Please please do note that it's not for lack of remembering that it won't be there on time, just logistics. Many apologies, and hope it's a great birthday in the meantime.

The reason we saw the postbox in question was that in the afternoon (after going to Merewether Heights and getting the Non her school hat - much to her delight - and doing all our work - and having lunch), we snooped back down to The Shack because I was trying to remember what the layout was. Although there's some to be gleaned from a quick glance at the side, there's a certain limitation. Anyway, we did have a considerable walk all round the place, and took a turn round the whole area until the Non was pretty pooped. It's all VERY hilly round here - effort tends to be expended easily. Then we went back and I drew up my proposed pans while she did her colouring - mind you in retrospect I think they were drawn up on utterly erroneous recollections so the colouring is entirely more valid an occupation, probably. (However, as far as the Shack goes whatever the unmemorable details are we do think in principle the idea should be made to work. ) In the early afternoon the Mr came back for us with the car and handed over - and we went initially to Blackbutt Reserve (with the Koalas and emus etc). Only got there at 4 (they close at 5) so not much time but enough to be thoroughly entertained. Saw quite a few amusing things at this late hour of the day, actually. Item, a pair of emerald doves making the most RIDICULOUS attempt at next-building you've ever seen - we'll possibly just standard if you've ever watched doves building a nest but anyway, laughable. They were evidently entirely serious in their endeavours though, and the little creatures and very shiny and bright so it's sweet. It's the 'I'll place a twig here, dear, what do you think of this angle' 'Oh, lovely, wonderful... where did it go?' (it's already fallen to the forest floor) 'I'm sure it's there somewhere dear, you must be standing on it' 'Yes, I'm sure you're right, I'll just sit here and you go and get another one just to make sure' (male flies down and get same / identical piece and goes over the motion for the umpteenth time, always hopefully treading the female on the way up to no result). Ad infinitum. Ah doves. How do they ever get to be so populous, it's always a mystery. Dead as the dodo, they should be.

Then there were to two curious sulphur-crested cockatoos, who were for some reason on the enclosure floor and ramming both their heads into a tiny opening they'd excavated in the base of a very small rock wall. Who knows. they seemed to be quite engrossed in the activity - so much so that on an extended observation I grew quite concerned that they had their heads jammed under there and couldn't get out, but no, it was purely recreational. No idea why.

Then there were the two somnolent wombats, who at this late hour were rammed (literally - I mean, have you seen the angle of their noses, they're like furry torpedoes) RIGHT up against the glass of the internal, viewable burrow - sleeping wombats up close and person in full and whiskery glory. Quite an occasion.

Anyway, we were meant to go straight onto shopping from there but I'd forgotten the list, so we had to stop off home - then went on. Spent ages trying to get everything, in the end it was gone 7 p.m. by they time we got home so in spite of all my new-cooking plans I just stuck another pizza on and we had that with salad - Littles was very pleased, anyway.

And so we come to the present. The Mr is upstairs already, I really must get up there and stop blabbering, lots of love to all and hope the W & W's colds get better very nicely and quickly, V xxxxxx