We've got some work to do...Bakoven, here we come!

Not quite the Emerald City, but the Emerald Bathroom is starting to get us excited.  I tried to convince Nicci that the floor should be golden colored bricks, but I don't think that fits with her vision.  The kitchen is taking shape with the cabinetry being built, and with the open plan after blowing out that wall, it is going to be a nice central feature in the house.   The outside also got a bit of a facelift with the pool resurfacing, coping and pavers almost being complete.  And our 70s porn star palm trees have now come into the 21st Century with a more manicured look.  The top deck is being painted and is almost complete.              

When we bought this property and saw the elevation of the backyard and the views,  one thought came to our minds...how awesome would a hot tub be up here?  I had doubts that we could get this thing up top without a crane, but my wife, filled with ingenuity, assured me that she will find a way...and indeed she did.  Can't wait until our first hot tub braai!!!   Getting hot tubs in place is one thing, but how about 50 years of roots growing in your drains?  Well, that was conquered too!  And even a clutch of gecko eggs and their mothers, couldn't stand in our way of getting the new windows installed.  And one more big addition was getting the aircons in.                           

I don't think Bon Jovi was singing about a home renovation, but you Gen X'ers should get Nicci's title reference.   First, we kind of have a roof.  The  insulation is now in place instead of asbestos, so that's a good thing.  And with all this cold, crazy, Cape Town rain, besides one foot of a worker through the ceiling, and it taking three times as long as quoted, we are making headway.   Next, the inside crew keep pumping out the finishes with skimming, skirtings, crown molding, new 2.4m internal doors, ceiling base coats, custom made molded cement double basin, rebuilding outside stairs (so Michelle won't trip and fall) and getting the foundation ready for the hot tub.  And finally, another crew has completed the awesome braai area that is above the house, complete with new pavers and a brand new roof.  To celebrate half way, we had a team braai and played Bon Jovi for all the South Africans...who looked at Nicci like she was crazy :) ...

Craig is away this week in Saudi, so you are getting me on writing and picture duty.   The little  black girdled lizard went for a swim when we had an unusually hot day, and the common slug eater snake was living in the large window that we removed today.  The roof is about 1/2 complete - this remains the bane of the project :-(   Hot tub slab is almost done and the top deck patio is prepped for pavers. 2 large rocks have been broken up to allow the staircase to proceed in a more orderly fashion. Power washing has been done, and primer coat is going on the exterior. Pool weir has been replaced. The floors and stucco for the walls have been slightly delayed and our glass/aluminum is still going to be much later than anticipated. The contractors are starting to fight amongst each other, and 1 even tried to run another over :-) #fun&games                          ...