great bathroom and even better hot water

for those you you not on face book , here are some more pictures of the house. the living room is huge which is nice lots of space , there after a few boxes still around , just out of site .

 the Bathroom is compact , but the  hot water makes  up for it, the shower is amazing .

 Lets just say my project  list for the weekend is long.

 the living room window look west to the setting sun, overlooking the next suburb.

The back yard

Moved into house yesterday, signed and settled on Monday . Spent all week moving the stuff I could lift , delt with plumbers , got the chimney cleaned, and a couple of new fire bricks. Tonight I sat down with dinner and champiegn.
I took some photos of the back yard.
So it's official this is me hanging out the welcome mat,
Who wants to come visit? I have a spare room for visitors. Book you tickets, and let me know

My house- soon to be mine..

Ok it s official i have bought a house, for  those of my friend s who don't run into me on facebook its probably time that I Put something up here , sorry there are no photo at this time, the agents took the  photos down from the website cause its sold . i get to settle( that's close ) on august 20  umm let me see that's 2 weeks away tomorrow.

 I will see if i can drive around and take  some photos etc. any way this house is in Whitby, a pricier suburb But ti think i have bought the cheapest house around, its 3 bedroom and a car port , a lovey garden (Of course ) 90 sq meters ( 970 s feet ) with a deck of 45 sq meters  its on quite a slope, rain will down and across the road it wont stop on  my placed, up the back there is large trees( read firewood ) and they block with wind .
 it s Lockwood house which means the internal walls are wood no sheet rock . an open standing fire place .
Moving day will be august 25.
there is some plumbing that needs attention and the roof and fence need painting . projects for the summer .
 the garden will be never ending, i have so many great ideas for the garden.
I am sure there will be more about my house, the address  is
 6 the Bollard Whitby.
 a subburb full of navy and sailing terms and captain cook  names.

A Week in Brisbane

I thought it was time for a holiday, work gets busy late June and July, so thought  i would cut and run , for some sun. i have a brother and sister in law in Brisbane,  as well as 2 nephews. Alex  and Damian.  Being 7 and 5 they kept me busy. They got to go to their first fair. which is actually funnier than  H,  cause they are not quite sure if a ride is going to be fun or scary.  Alex lost tooth number 2

Kerrie is pretty cool as well , except when i take Photos of her and she is not sure what I am up to. She homes schools them. We had a great week,  we made some macadamia nut  biscuits, and some fresh strawberry  jam. cause i really like making jam but the idea is not to eat too much of it.

We got a day to go to the Budrim ginger factory,  and bought lots of ginger:  marmalade, spread , crystallized ginger , a hot ginger drink, chocolate covered ginger. (you know how long that lasted ) and a hot chili with ginger sauce.  customs kinda laughed at me when I came back home.

some of the bird life is Aus. is quite colourful  these are one of the more common ones called rainbow lorrakets, pretty colours  but they can't sing, its more of a swalk. On the day that \I was walking along the beach  they decided to stop still long enough for me to take some photos. Beaches are lovely over here .  Yes the weather was warm and pleasant, 23  for the last 4 days . almost hot  actually. OK so maybe i am not quite as acclimatized as  I thought.
 it was just a lovey relaxing holiday , thank you Richard and Kerrie.  but  for  now its back to work.

Views or not

 house hunting in NZ  part 2 

When going to an open home, its not the person whose listing house that is showing , its one of her co workers , looking to make friends with buyers.

 There is an assumption that if you make an offer on a house you will use the person who showed you the house,

 I have looked at 5 now  still refining what I want ,   so who you make friend with will change  depend on where you buy .  There are some hungry  agents around here.  A lady called me today to get some feed back  for one place i looked on Sunday and   she wants to show me some others on Wednesday .. a public holiday  ANZAC day.

 Lots of houses built in 50 's house that have been done up, but people  forget the wiring,  and the breakers boxes still look like  they are from the 1950 's  ( old and not to code ? )

 there are less power points in rooms here,  1 in each bedroom in older houses.  single Closits in the main bedroom ( this is not a house that i want to buy )   

 Lots of real wood floors  from the 1950 's . some are in good condition some aren't  some have had carpet over the top for 20 years   ( take the carpet out and a good coat of varnish )

 my favorite so far  is this  http://www.realestate.co.nz/1744600    is the favourite   built in the 80 's  but the land underneath is on a cross lease ,  ( someone had a really large section and  put 2 houses in the back yard)  and then sold the houses , so there is a 1/ 3 share in the land ..  

 the down falls- are  that if,  and i say if,  one of my parents needs to live with me sometime i need to have  minimum stairs   and the ones  here are quite steep to get inside . there is a school a the bottom of the driveway, which is also quite steep.   (  the view is stunning..  ) and the kitchen could do with  a little more storage space .. there is a large park just round the corner , where people play sports  every weekend  rugby fields etc. perhaps a bit close for my liking.   Floor space is 860 s feet  (80 s meters )  

 interest rates are from 5 5 to 6.5.

 I will keep looking.

 yes of course I am having fun

House hunting

Gosh have I really not posted anything since December?
Oops sorry about that. Life must have been somewhat boring. I have discovered I have some friends that don't hang out on Facebook, hopefully I can keep you a bit more up to date than before.
Last Wednesday, I went to the bank for something else and walked out the a letter of preapproval for house finance.... So the house hunting begins. House buying will be quite different here, for starters there is no such thing as title agencies. That's what lawyers are for. They do the title search.
Open homes are barely 1/2 hour ,40 minutes if you are lucky. Then there is the can I get yor phone number before you leave . I looked at 3 on Sunday all built in the 1950's. I have decided a garden is important( supprise)or at least space for one. And kitchen cupboard space.

I will have to be selective in my photos and links. Due to the power of other people's search engines. (Read other real estate agents)