Friday, May 21, 2010

The Building Inspector from Hell







Whilst Dave works I am in charge of meeting the building inspector.  The previous inspectors were lovely and friendly and just came to do the job.  Building inspector number 3 ......... well what can I say about him?

I was to meet him at the house at 1.30pm I was prompt and waited, 1.45 no inspector, 2pm no inspector, 2.15 still no inspector at 2.26 the car pulls up. You can imagine I wasn't a happy camper but polite I remained.  Did he come and knock on the door oh no he walked around the house a couple of times and so I went outside to meet him:

Me:  "hello"
BI: "hello, I'm suppose to meet a Dave Finnie to inspect the brick work"
Me: I'm Paula Finnie the wife
BI: "hi but I'm suppose to meet Dave to do an inspection
Me: "he's at work and he told me to come and let you in and give you the consent papers"
BI: "Well it says on my paper Dave Finne"
Me: (in my head) "what part of he's at work did he not get" I smiled
BI: "Well i'm here to check out the brick work"

Now I'm not a brick layer or a builder and he starts telling me things I have no idea about. He insisted that we need some bars under the windows and doors. I asked him if Dave would know this? He should do was his reply and I wont be able to sign it off until its done. He started to notice things that were already signed off and suggested to me that this needed doing and so forth.  Go figure I had no idea what he was on about.  So I said I'm the wife not the builder I have no idea what you mean.  I asked him if he was going to do the pre-line inspection. No was his reply. I asked are you sure because my husband told me you were coming to check the bricks and the pre-line. No he replied. He then opens his planner to show me surprise surprise in the fine print it said brick work and pre-line inspection.  He then went on to say oh I didn't see that there. Funny the print was the same throughout.  I'll just go and get the moisture metre.  Few minutes later he returns I can't do the pre-line inspection I left my metre in Momona. I need to go back and get it you stay here and I'll be back.  I looked at my watch it was 2.55pm. I replied I'm sorry I can't stay I have to pick up kids from school.  I had offered to look after the Mendy clan for Amiee.  He then says well I'm sorry I can't sign it off without the metre. To which I said well I really need to get my kids from school, but I can come back. He then says I suppose that'll be alright then. I was some what hot around the collar by then, was it my fault he was late no, my fault hubby wasn't there no, my fault I'm not a brick layer or a builder no my fault he had left the moisture metre ...no, my fault I was the wife ok yes.

So I left to pick up all the kids thats 6 kids in the car and headed back to the house and waited and waited.  The BI finally turns up and tested the house for moisture content.  Was it over oh no it was just the beginning!!!! He asked me if I had a pink batts bag so he could check the correct size of batt in the walls and ceiling.  I said no we had a big clean up and all that rubbish had gone.  He goes on to say well I will need to see a receipt for the batts. To which I replied well I'm sure its at home somewhere.  Being a BI you would think by looking at the batts he would instantly know they were the correct ones.  He goes on to ask me if I knew what type of lighting we were installing. I told him just your normal lighting I'm not sure again I'm just the wife not the builder. I then asked him if he wanted to speak to Dave via a phone as I pulled out my phone ready to dial. He replied oh no I'm sure he knows what is required when it comes to lighting.  He then went on about the batts how there were some gaps that needed filled and straightened etc ...... By now it was 3.50 amd I was somewhat over him.  So I asked are you going to be any longer as I need to get all 6 children home.  Oh no just need to give you the paper work.  What a relief but you would think the paper work would be as simple as pushing a button but oh no its a much more complicated than that oh yes another 15 more minutes of waiting.  I had put all the kids in the car thinking the paper work would be quick. Six kids in a car not a great combination I opened the boot so the noise could travel to BI car.  As I sat on the bumper one of the kids said I'm bored whats taking so long.  I voiced my opinion loudly I'm bored too sorry its taking so long we are waiting for some paper work.

BI finally gives me the paperwork and then pointed out the spelling mistakes he had made. I smiled and bid farewell. 

I told everything to Dave and he knew which BI it was and so he rang the BI's boss and put in a complaint. The stuff he was pointing out had already been passed and approved from the other inspectors what should have been a 30min job took 2hours 40min.

May I never meet that BI ever again

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Remember This?


Remember this picture? I asked if anyone knew what it was? I took it to work and some of my colleagues thought it was a white pumpkin.  Well George (landlord) came the other day and I asked him what it was.  Its not a pumpkin its a courgette who would have guessed that.  Apparently very nice in salads, I told George I thought it was a pumpkin and had roasted it he grinned.  So readers mystery solved thanks for the imput.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

The Curtains

Chosing the curtains for the house is a process I dread because I've had some terrible experiences.  Once when Dave renovated one of our many houses I purchased some pre-made curtains took them home ironed all 10 curtains gathered all 10 and put all 10 up, only  to have Dave arrive home screw his face up and say "no don't like them take them back". Could you imagine what my face looked like???? I hate gathering curtains its a process that has to look even and when you live with a man who has an eye for detail its tough.  The next house I got pre-made again and was a bit more clever showed the hubby before taking them out of the bag and then I only ironed one lot of curtain and put it up and awaited the approval from him in doors and lucky for me cause he did not approve.  Apparently its another whole look when they are out of the packaging go figure.

Building the next house I did get a curtain expert in and they made and put up the curtains which was awesome however,  when it came to selling the house some of the comments where the curtains were bland and why have the same coloured curtain in every room.

This time Ive gone with another curtain expert and I told her to give me options.  So I went in for a consultation and was most impressed with her choice of fabric and colours.  The greatest thing of all Dave really really likes them too which is a bonus. 

So readers what is your opininon??

Our bedroom

The lounge


The kids/spare room in a Roman Blind style

As we have three large windows in the lounge we are going to go with blinds as this will still give us wall space and not over power the lounge with lots of curtains these blinds will be a dark grey with a stainless steel rod (to blend with the kitchen appliance).  As we await the quote I hope they come within budget as I do not want to go through the whole process again.

Monday, May 17, 2010

The Bricks Go On




On Wednesday I had to meet the building inspector so he could approve the pre-line inspection. All but one thing passed and we couldn't get that passed off until the bricks were three quaters on. I rang Dave to tell him the not so good news. He was on the case and rang the brick supplier who unfortunately forgot to inform Dave that the bricks we wanted were not in the country and weren't able to get any for a couple of months. I would have been a little angry about that but not Dave he just changed to another colour and I must admit I like these bricks way better than the others.

Friday came and the bricks are placed on the section already for the brickies to come and start work. Dave informs me that they will have it done in two Saturdays?????? Really????? I don't think so.
Saturday and Nicholas, Kate and I go off to the soccer tournament. I left at 8.30am and arrived at the section at 2pm. WOW!! these brick layers do not muck around they are a working machine. I think there were approx 8 guys there and they had completed over half the house. If they didn't have to wait for the building inspector to come and inspect the cavity space I think they would have had the whole house completed. IMPRESSIVE!!!





Dave meanwhile is busy inside putting on door handles and starting to line the walls and generally just potting around with odd jobs.  The gibbies and gibstopping should start next week followed by the painters and then the kitchen so stay tuned for more on the Finnie Family Home.


Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Young Stars

From the moment I could talk, my mum taught us many songs. She played the guitar and we would sing. My mum was a hard teacher and sometimes she would smack us if we got the words wrong.  Even though she was tough I still loved singing and to this day its my most favourite thing I love to do. 

Pete and I would often be the nights entertainment at pubs and family gatherings (weddings, 21st etc).  My sister sent me this photo of me and Pete.  I am 4years old and Pete is 5yrs.  Its 1973 and we are singing at my Aunty wedding in Palmerston North.  I'm not to sure of the song but at a guess its probably "I'm Nobodys Child"  



Monday, May 10, 2010

Tough & Yuck

I consider myself to be a good cook. One of my favourite dishes I love to cook is a roast dinner.  Whilst at the supermarket I was in the meat department and I had an urge to cook a roast.  So I found a nice roast mutton @ $11.00 a little on the expensive side but I really wanted a roast dinner so I purchased it.  I prepared it with herbs and seasoning and placed it in my slow cooker and went off to bed leaving my roast to cook.  When I awoke the smell throughout the house was yummy. I so wanted to eat it right there and then.  However I refrained and went to get the children from school/daycare.  I prepared the veges and approx an hour later I took out the meat, which had been slowly cooking for 7 hours.  I was looking forward carving this soft tender juicey meat.  Oh my goodness it was as tough as old boots and full of gristle and fat and it was totally disgusting I needed a chainsaw to cut this rubber.  Oh how disappointed I felt for two reasons: 1) I had been dreaming about my dinner and was really looking forward to it and 2) The money I had spent made me a little bit angry.  Lucky the roast veges and gravey were still delicious.  I took a photo and when I look at it I can understand why some people are vegetarians.



Monday, May 03, 2010

Windows Installed

No windows

Cut Out Windows

Windows In

All doors and windows are in place now and its amazing how much warmer it is inside.  Tonight I bought butter chicken and we went around to the house and had our first meal inside the house. Dave setup the portable light and we sat on the gib-board and ate our dinner. It was very cool and exciting.


The internal doors
This is our ensuite and walkin wardrobe

Saturday, May 01, 2010

Kitchen Appliances

I went to Harvey Normans to choose the kitchen appliances and lucky for me it was "slash n grab" sale on.  Lets find a salesman and buy buy buy.

I have cooked with both electric and gas and I like gas better its quick and instant sometimes too quick and instant. Gas ovens are not cheap though and I was fortunate to get this beauty on sale

Gas Oven

The rangehood had to be a glass canope (Dave preferance) and again I was able to score the hood on sale too

Rangehood

The fridge/freezer had to be side by side because my current fridge/freezer in particular freezer part is so small I can only fit in a loaf of bread, frozen mixed vege, fries, ice-cream and 4 trays of meat and then thats maxed out. I wanted a big freezer and again SALE was sweet.

  
Fridge/Freezer

Last and certainly not least the dishwasher, I wanted to get dish drawers and too my amazement the salesman highly recommend that I didn't.  He recommended BOSCH which is so expensive and I knew money bags wouldn't go for it. So I went with a delonghi brand (goes with the gas oven too)

But wait all the appliance are stainless steel and my current microwave is not???? Oh well as long as I'm here I might as well throw in a new microwave.


Now lets talk about money bags he was in contact with me on the cellphone the whole time and I'm sure his fingers were doing the walking on the calculator. He was asking all the questions and I had to send photos of each appliances I love my i-phone.  So after approx an hour I had chosen and sealed a deal that pleased money bags and if hes happy we are all happy.

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