Kitchen Reno's

So, what's M been up to over the past couple of months beside settling back into work in the Sydney office & getting used to the one-way 2 hour commute. Btw, surf has been pretty crap & with El Nino change, more rain during summer - bugger for the beach but we need the water in the dams.

It's kitchen reno time !

In classic Portman style, quick conception & committment to fast implementation. Install date is the week of April 18th, touchwood, things seem to be going to plan.

What are we doing ......... basically rip & replace the kitchen, floor and appliances.

Floor - we've ripped up the carpet & tiles in the kitchen & living room to replace with Spotted Gum (130mmx19mm) hardwood T/G flooring to match the rest of the house - no more carpet for us. M and friends are installing - fun with power saws & nail guns - lol.

Old Kitchen & appliances - sold on Ebay for $2k AUD to Melbourne couple - search for item 330095714870 to see the old pictures. Ripping out this weekend.

New Kitchen - vacuum sealed doors in a country type look - cafe cream colour. Cashmere 40mm Caesarstone benchtops and Flamingo purple glass splashbacks. Will post some pictures once all installed

New Appliances - Ilve 120cm stove and extraction unit, Jenn-Air french style fridge/freezer, Meile integrated dishwasher and Abey sink

J is pretty excited about her new kitchen. Actually, me too ! We'll be without a kitchen for about 3 weeks - advanced camping in the house.

Need to get everything finished before India/New York trip coming soon. Pressure is on, no spare weekends for next month.

2008 project is the entertainment room.

Ciao, M

Family Fun afternoon

Last Thursday N's school had a family fun night (school fund raiser). There were fair rides like spinning cups, giant slide, and a giant jumping castle, as well as cake stall, ice cream, fairyfloss and coffee van. The school has a large flat field so there was plenty of room for running such an event.









During the fete, N had to go to her Circus afternoon where she did stilts,
with ups and downs and
plenty of walking by the end.

Native blue bees

Lately we have been visited by some native blue banded bees and also what I think are Neon Cuckoo bees, gathering nectare from our basil. I mentioned it to our neighbour Bruce (a bee keeper - he now only keeps a native stingless bee, which is really cute being only 4mm small) and he lent me his book on identifying native bees of the Sydney region.
I've tried to take a picture of one but they seem to know and buzz off...but this one shows you how vivid they are in the sun.
Here's a better shot, aren't they an amazing colour.

Ran off and joined the circus...

One of N's new after school activities is Circus. She thinks it's fab. She particularly enjoys the tissu. Check out her style. She will be learning many circus skills from hula hooping, trapeze, juggling, stilts, clowning, twirling and human pyramids.
She has also started Latin dancing on Tuesday nights with me. Unlike me she can remember the steps and the instructors think she is great. They just smile at me and say "let's do it again slowly". N just shakes her head and tells me I'm hopeless, but is over the moon that we are learning together.

Keeping on the circus theme, daddy has bought N an early birthday present. Yes....just like everything M buys it is supersized....15ft circular tampoline with net. Only just fits in the grassed section of the yard.