Wandering back from a walk with the bassets today I looked towards home and was struck by how lucky we are. A place in the country and a moment of sunshine to enjoy. At last I feel that the Domestic Executive equilibrium is coming back and with it a better perspective on life. But all this effort so far this year means I could do with a break from it all. Luckily it’s only a couple more weeks before I declare an official staycation. In other words – a holiday at home.
Whatever the weather we’ll be making the most of the time to rest and kick back – to meander through the days without any outside world pressures. Just thinking about it makes me tingle. Books to read, cooking to be done, photographs to be sorted and fun to be had. It’s the bright spot on my horizon right now.
Friday tired is something I’ve been feeling since Tuesday. I can’t remember feeling quite as tired as I do now for a very long time. It was probably when we moved into the house but I can’t be sure. The recollections I have of feeling this tired tend to be more of when I was working like a maniac in the UK. It’s hardly surprising I have this association as I’ve been working (paid working) harder than I have for a long time.
It’s that typical rush before you go away behaviour. Trying to get everything cleared up. Except for me I’m having to juggle a pattern of working with other people that will accomodate me taking a 6 week break. I see my coaching clients at varying intervals but they all wanted to see me before I went away and they all want to see me when I get back. This is right and proper but it means I’ve had to increase the number of days I’ve been working and the number of hours in the day. None of this leisurely part time, flexible working it’s been full on and pack ‘em in.
Through the fog of appointments and concentration I’ve come to appreciate more and more my life as a Domestic Executive. Central to all of this is my place in the home. Not just where I live but the fact that I have the luxury of working from home.
Last night was something of a watershed in our house building adventures. We are now the proud owners of a Gold Award New Home as judged by the Master Builders Association. We were thrilled for our Architect and Build Company Moss Brothers Wellington Wairarapa Limited who deserve the accolade as a testament to their efforts to achieve a top notch home for us.
A little like Chelsea Flower Show houses are judged for an award and then there are category winners. We of course feel we should have won the best in show but can understand it when the competition is so tough.
Shopping for things to incorporate into the house build was almost a full time occupation for a while. I’d spend hours on the internet, mooching around shops and reading magazines looking for inspiration.
During that time there were quite a few things I coveted but either they didn’t fit the bill or more often than not they were just too expensive. This included $300 door handles and $3000 heated towel rails.
In the category of loved them but didn’t fit in anywhere were these tiles. But never fear it was only a matter of time before I’d find a home for them in our house. They have just become the worlds most expensive teething ring!
A window seat was a key feature we wanted to build into our house. Somewhere light and bright you could languish reading the papers and drink pots of tea. A place to hang out and be at peace with the world.
We built a window seat in the “family room”. This is the large open plan area adjacent to the kitchen. It’s not just the bassets that love the window seat. Pretty much anyone who comes to visit will be attracted to it. Read more
Our gates have finally arrived and we’re officially sectioned in! This has been a long time in coming and I can now relax and let the bassets roam free.
I know that this seems like such a small thing to do but bassets are bred for hunting and if they get the wandering lust there’d be no stopping them. Also they have no road sense at all and with a State Highway a few minutes stroll from the front lane I don’t want to take any chances. Read more
It must have been sixth sense, whilst cruising the internet I decided to have a peak at what’s happening in the UK village we lived in. Imagine my surprise to find that “our” house was up for sale.
On closer inspection it seems that there is daylight robbery going on. We loved the house and the location but it seems that the price has shot up by about 42% in 2 years. I am reliably informed that’s just inflation and how things are in the UK. I don’t believe it!
It was very strange to see the house which has hardly changed at all. New flooring in the hallway and new paint job on the front door. Otherwise it looks pretty much as we left it, except of course there is different furniture in.
Described by the real estate agents as “outstanding” with “flexible accommodation”. The house “boasts” and is “immaculate”. I guess you need lots of superlatives to justify asking such a high price.
We’re living on a building site again. In fact, as I write this blog there is an enormous truck delivering metal (that’s road gravel) moving past my window.
After months of waiting the ground works people have returned to finish of the drive and spread the top soil back on the land around the house. It’s typical, it’s also raining too so it will be a case of raking mud and moving it around. Hmm, just think of the mess that the bassets will make in that.
Despite the impending mess it’s an important part of the building and landscaping jigsaw that’s finally coming together. Hopefully the southerly that’s going to blow through today (that will bring the temperatures down by at least 5 degrees) will dry things out and we can prepare for tree planting next week.
It’s been a long time since Fortnum and Mason have seen a digger so they spent a fair amount of time last night barking at the stationery machinery parked by the barn. They weren’t at least as worried as my neighbours girlfriend who thought we were putting up more buildings.
In the couple of hours work they’ve done the area behind the barn has been flattened to the same level and created a much more useable area. Keeping the bassets off the newly turned soil is going to be a battle I’m just not going to try and win. I’ll just have to get reaquainted with my trusty mop and bucket every day to wipe their muddy paw marks away.
Great excitement this weekend – we’ve planted our hedge that will in time grow to be a stylish surround for our herb and salad bed.
Our hedge arrived by courier in two banana boxes – 120 Buxus sempervirens (English Box). The aim is to make an ornamental design which will not only look good but keep out the pooches from our lettuces and parsley. We’ve got a while to wait though, they are only about 3″ tall at the moment.
As you can imagine Fortnum and Mason took great interest in the planting and had to be banished to the barn out of harms way. Mason thought it was great fun to put his nose down every hole dug for a plant to go in!
It didn’t take long to do the planting – mainly because I have my own mathematician to work out the spacing. We were left with a few extra plants which I’ve potted on and will be grown for specimen topiary for the veranda.
The most exciting thing about the gardening this weekend was that I could wear my birthday present – a stylish pair of Hunter wellies. I’ve never been outdoorsy enough to warrant anything so flash in the past but now I’m Domestic Executive I thought it only right to have the right foot attire. As you can see from the pictures I’m wasting no time in getting them worn in!
Box in a box!
Ready for action!
I fear my hedge is bushier than my lawn!
Hedge laid for future delight.
Oh yes, protective barrier to be installed at earliest opportunity. In meantime Fortnum and Mason will be supervised and under strict control in this vicinity!
Loyal blogger readers will remember that our house building dreams haven’t entirely run a smooth course. For new readers, here’s the crux of our story.
Anyway, we were out yesterday with the bassets walking the Rimutaka Incline Trail which is a recreational path that follows the line of the old Rimutaka Train Line. Lo and behold as we doodled along and opening in the hedge gave us full sight of the land we were going to buy but never did.
Little did we know at the time that there was a perfect viewing point straight onto the land (and possibly our bathroom) had we proceeded with our intended plans. It was interesting to see how the land has developed.
Funny how life turns out – although this is still a beautiful spot I reckon we did get some luck with the land we now have and the home we’ve built.
The bridge that has been the cause of much environmental strife
Dead ahead is the building platform that never was with the paddocks on the low lying area
