All good things come to those who wait

I've never really been good at waiting for anything. Instant gratification. I want it now.......

Well, I guess there are some things that you have to wait for. Like building our dream. On that front, you've been probably wondering why we've been so quiet lately when it appeared things were moving along again.

Gareth reckons it's the mid life crisis I've been having (now I know the marvels of modern science have us living longer but I hardly think I'm going to make 100). Anyway, it was a crisis of sorts.

As most of my friends know, I've always jumped in regardless of consequence and fortunately luck has been on my side. This time, it's about both of our futures, so I wanted to make absolutely sure that the financial commitment we are about to make stacks up.

Recent world events don't make things easier either, however, despite the numerous setbacks we have had  we're now back on track. Thank god for Luke our accountant, I'm now 100% confident of the direction we are heading.

So I plan to be back on line more regularly and sharing our dream.

And for any of you also in the midst of change in your life, all I can say is embrace it ..... chances are we only get one go at it! xx

"Rocks r Us"

Remember the 70's (well some of you don't but hey, work with me).... remember when everyone wanted that prized piece of expensive bush rock for your new swimming pool backdrop or for that 'feature stone' in the middle of your front garden. Yes, Sydney bush rock adorned only the luckiest of my friends gardens in those days. We sadly we had to settle for a more modest adornment in the shape of river pebbles.

I'm pleased to say however that this is not the case for us in Carool. We have bush rock in abundance. In fact, I'm thinking of putting a sign out the front "Rocks r Us". We dig, U find. Yes, pretty much anywhere you dig a hole on this property, you'll find a boulder of some description, or if your lucky you'll manage to avoid that rock hiding in the grass that sends the ride on back to the repair shop yet again.

Given this bounty, our enthusiasm for bush rock uses knows no bounds. This week, we started building the "Great Wall of Carool" - an 80 metre retaining wall. Apart from stopping erosion on the hill (always handy when you are building a new house above) it means that we can now finally surface the road we had built last year..... which of course was washed out from the 6 months of rain that started immediately the day after it was completed.

So if you ever have the need for some rock, you know where to find us.

Here we go.....again!

June 2011 will be known as a defining month in our lives. The month Pete turns 50. The month we get to enjoy some time on an island paradise with 20 or so of our friends. And the month that we got back on the road to our wonderful new adventure.

As most of you know, we hit a rather large speed bump on our way to creating our little piece of paradise last year (if you don't, you'll find the story in an earlier blog). Well, I'm pleased to say that we have now put that behind us and are moving full steam ahead to realising our dream.

Today we signed up with a building company Civic Steel Homes. We met Kirsten and Kelly (the architect who has designed all their homes) a couple of months ago. After much comparison, we decided that they were the best option for us. 

What I love about them is that they are passionate about our project. They read our business plan. They spent time on our property to feel the ambiance. They understand our desire to create something beautiful but mindful of our budget. There are some design cues from our last design - we spent 2 years on it so we haven't let every idea go - but I'm confident that we're about to create something pretty cool.

Can't wait to share the journey with you all xx

Poor Danny and our Damara Girls

Sad news on the hill today, something (probably wild dogs) got in and killed our flock of Damara Sheep. It is very distressing, as we were expecting to have some baby lambs soon.

Danny, our ram, was particularly special as he had been bottle fed and used to walk around by your side just like a dog and was a good friend with Oscar. We can't find him - we found all the Ewes, but we suspect he suffered the same fate. I guess this is just part of life on a farm, but it is sad none the same.

Here was a photo of Danny on our front lawn (not his best side -  but any side would be better now than none). Shame we won't  have him running up the paddock to meet us any more.

Here's to some happier news next post!

We're still working on it....

We haven't had much to tell you all of late, hence things being a little quiet on the blog front. 

We're working on our revised proposal and I'm intending that we'll get to council next month. Gareth tells me that's a little ambitious (and he's probably right) but you know me, always the optimistic one.

Perhaps the highlight of the week: we've just become the proud owners of a small flock of Damara sheep. We pick them up next Saturday. Sheep farming is at least genetic for Gareth, as for me - who'd have ever thought!

Other than that the rain is back.... at least the gardens are lush!

Till next time. x

Grand Design Annus Horribilus

You may have been wondering why so quiet?  No posts for some months. Well, you've all watched the show Grand Designs? Unlike the show, we managed to have our own Grand Design meltdown even before we started building. Without boring you too much, here's the snapshot.

Basically, before we began the process some two years ago, we consulted builders to get a 'ballpark' figure for the development, not wanting to proceed unless it made economic sense. Well let's just say after 2 years of consultants, council and the occasional tantrum, the 'ball' was well and truly out of the 'park'  - the estimates we received from our 3 tenders were significantly above our previously set expectations. Hard to fathom in these times of massive downturns in new builds, little work for trades, a strong aussie dollar and the ability for immediate starts, but to proceed on this basis would have almost certainly seen the 'dream' become a 'nightmare'. To say ditching our plans was devastating was an understatement, given all the hard work Mark had put in with Gareth and I, but it had to be done.

After a mild implosion (putting behind us the 2 lost years and significant $$) we are moving to Escape Retreat Version 2. We're going back to council with a new design and a construction model that will make our development financially viable. Fortunately, as luck would have it, we have met someone who has provided us with a lifeline, working with us to realise our dream. More of that later.

I (Pete) have wrestled whether or not to write this post, as I really find the airing of most peoples problems rather boring. I'd always prefer to tell you all the good things that are happening on our journey. Those of you who know me well know that I will always look for the positive in things and rarely dwell on the negative, but I didn't know any other way to explain to you what has happened with our plans other than to tell it how it is.

Maybe this time, having someone to help us move forward land right on our doorstep has surprised even me on my usual scale of 'luckiness'. Who's fighting it? Not us!

Dream big for 2011. Extra love from P & G xx

Before and After

Now we all like a good before and after shot (that is of course if the 'after' is better than the 'before').  I can't always say that this has essentially been true for me at times, but when it comes to our little piece of paradise in Carool, the after is most certainly better than the before. It's just that these things take a little time.... and as Gareth says "you plant a garden for the next generation" (though, selfishly I'd like to stick around to see the fruits of our labours). Fortunately, this gorgeous climate of ours puts the plants on steroids  - check this photo out of Molly and I a few years ago and compare it to the gardens on the blog title photo above (even these have grown since it was taken).

There's been some major goings on this week. We've finally started building the tropical gardens on the right hand side of the entry to compliment Gareth's magnificent work that is the subject of much praise.

We've also started our bamboo tunnel in 'Bambusa Chungii' a beautiful blue/grey Bamboo, which will be a walkway from the cottage to the main gate. This should be around 4 metres tall in around 18 months. That's what I like, instant garden. That being said, just 1 more hour of daylight and time to shovel another 10 barrows of mulch.