To keep everyone on their toes this storm came in ever increasing strength.  Not content with making roads impassable it knocked out power and telecoms to thousands of houses.  Ours included.  Thank goodness for mobile phone technology.  And woodburners, gas hobs and natural wool house insulation.  The fun disappeared from this weather event pretty quickly as our perceived levels of vulnerability steadily increased.

To raise the levels of tension higher we were knee deep in snow the day before I had to be in Wellington leading a Coaching Workshop.  A workshop in the planning for around 6 months with 12 paying customers flying in from across the country. Contingency plans were made but no doubt pressure was on to dig the car out and hope that the roads would be cleared in time. Things turned out fine in the end.  My Wellington Boot fashion statement was quite a hit.

Once again nature taught us a lesson who is in charge of the natural world.  We were safe, relatively warm and self sufficient aside from no power to pump water.  It could have been a lot worse.  It was nevertheless an exhausting few days.

As always there is a fun side with two bassets who just couldn’t get enough of the snow.  This time it was an altogether bigger proposition to move around – this snow was the maximum for a bassets dwarf stature. But it didn’t stop them making the most of the new sniffing opportunities.

 

Keen to take a walk with us in the garden, it was quite a struggle.

The garden has taken a real hammering.  Not just the kitchen garden but the beds around the house which have had regular snow avalanches off the roof.  It’s going to be a case of cutting back the broken plants and hoping Spring will bring them alive again.

The strange thing about all this is just a km down the road it was just a light covering of snow.  nothing compared to the 25-30cm we had amassed all around us.

Now the snow has cleared we can see the enormous amount of damage the snow caused to the native trees which aren’t used to having to carry such heavy weights on their branches.  We are going to have to clear out heaps of fallen Manuka trees from our bush area.  It will at least allow the smaller natives and ferns grab some of the new light.

I noticed walking tracks to the back of our property through the forestry have really suffered with fallen trees all over.  Even Tunnel Gully Reserve is closed due to “overhead hazards”.

Even now, the snow is still lying around the house.  This is where the roof dumped it’s load.

It was like looking out of an igloo with the snow frozen over the veranda roof.  For all the cold and inconvenience it was a beautiful sight.

For all it’s beauty and potential for fun, there is no doubt the bassets were wishing they were a little taller.

Down in the garden things have been very much frozen fruit and veg.  I am trying desperately not to worry too much about the damage to the herbs and vegetables but fear the only things that would be enjoying this cold snap are the parsnips and leeks who don’t mind a touch of cold.  Shame that my greenhouse is bare only for a few lettuces since we were late getting things up and running after the gale wind episode that I’m still trying to forget.

Looking back up to the house I can’t help but wish I were a little more reckless and tested out a perfect downhill sledging route.  I do however value my fruit trees which otherwise provide a perfect slalom course.

There is of course one obvious benefit from all the snow.  It provides perfect camouflage for the weeds and the perfect excuse to ignor them for a few more days which is more than I can afford to do with the work piling up on my desk after such an exciting day of distractions yesterday.  Today, normal service must resume however tempting it is to escape for a quick snowball fight with the bassets.

Whilst the Wellington region shivered in a southerly chill we did at least have the added entertainment of not just snow capped hills but a three inch blanket of snow all around us.  This is a first for us,  aside from a light dusting in 2008 which was so light and it was gone the next morning, it doesn’t really count as real snow.  I couldn’t help but be captivated by the snow dripping everywhere.

Impatient to share my excitement I tweeted what was to be the first of hundreds of photographs I’ve taken today.

Although I wasn’t able to declare a full personal holiday, I have to admit that I’ve been a little distracted and productivity in the Domestic Executive Office hasn’t been high.  But, since snow of this proportion is a rarity I thought I’d make the most of the occasion.  After all with views from your kitchen window like this it’s hard not to get side-tracked.

I ventured out before breakfast to explore and check out the state of the local roads which were were reported as closed due to the snow fall.  The Kaitoke Hill was clearly not well prepared for it’s big freeze and the Rimutaka Hill Road was also closed after 10cm of snow had fallen overnight.  Although by most people’s standards this was really just a snow flurry, I was content to relish in the beauty of the snow in a sharp blue light of early morning.

All along the lane snow was gathering on the trees and fencing.  Every now and then the snow slipped off the trees which just aren’t built to withstand such adornment.

Up on the Loop Road there was a lone traveler making the best of the open roads.

As I wandered back home for breakfast I couldn’t help enjoy the foreboding look of the sky which promised more snow to come.

Seeing the pristine snow was quite something.  It would only be a matter of time before it’s perfect state would be destroyed by hooning bassets.

I admit that despite the attractions of this winter wonderland I was pretty worried about the state of my kitchen garden and herb bed which undoubtedly copped the full weight of the snow.

Still, no use worrying about what will be. For today we’ve been able to enjoy a few winter frolics with the bassets.  Although strangely they didn’t like my suggestion of a basset chariot ride.  But if the snow is still here tomorrow I have a cunning plan.

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.

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.

When I drove back from the commuter run the other morning I was dazzled by the view when home popped into view.  I had that home sweet home feeling.  Those arms of “home” reaching out to wrap you up in it’s comfort.

I started to think about all the other homes I’ve lived in and the extend to which I’ve had that home sweet home feeling. Even when I lived in rented places that were less than warming.  My friends used to call one place I lived a Fridgedair on account of it’s lack of heating – they created all sorts of endearing fridge stories like – at least the light comes on when you open the door.  But it was home to me – it may have been warmer outside than inside but it was home.  Cosy it was not but it was where I used to slam the world outside and hunker down in my own tranquility.

When I started to own my own homes (or at least co-owned with the bank) those feelings of homeliness seemed to have more significance.  But whether rented or mortgaged that feeling of home sweet home started long before I arrived at the front door.  There were landmarks on the journey home that started those warm feelings. Over time those landmarks have included a railway bridge, a pub, a roundabout, an indian restaurant, a church or just the sight of the house itself in the distance.

Those feelings of home have never been more intense than this week here in New Zealand when I came back and saw the valley, the hills and our home in the morning sunshine.

Whether all these home sweet home feelings have been brought on by tiredness I don’t know.  The fact that I’ll be leaving home behind for a few weeks is probably a greater factor.  In a week’s time I’ll be leaving all this behind to start out travel adventure back to the homeland.  We’ll be leaving out home in capable hands who’ll enjoy what we enjoy.

I rather like to think of it as home-sitting.  An altogether more attractive proposition than house sitting don’t you think?

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.

We were very excited when Mark (the architect) and Chris (the project manager) and co-owners of the business went up on stage to collect the award.  It was hard to get any decent photographs as I’d only put my wee compact camera in my bag for the evening but I think you’ll get a sense of pleased as punch people.

In case you’re wondering, yes I do scrub up occasionally.  I don’t think the Moss Brother crew will have recognised me though as they were used to seeing me in my civvies will a little less make up and not what you would call a hair do.  It was nice not to be worrying about the driving home either as MT volunteered for the chauffeur duties.

It was great to see the whole Moss Brother Team feeling the gold too.  They all play their part in making things happen.  Even almost two years after we took possession.

All in all, building your own home comes up there for stress value as bereavement,  divorce and moving to the other side of the world.  My reflections on this were that the stresses were almost always about money.  Building your own home always costs more than you ever imagine.  We drove our finances hard but it was quite something to bring the project almost in on budget – almost because 3% over is bang on really.  We have friends and neighbours who have had budget blow outs of 30-5o%.  It was hard to sleep at night as it was and if we’d had bigger financial worries I’m not sure how I would have survived.

There is a lot of fun in housebuilding too. That is if you have an almost obsessive like tendency for researching toilets, taps and tiles.  I loved the finishings and fittings side of home building.  There is very little I would change about our house we got exactly what we wanted.  Now all we need is to finish the interiors, like rugs and pictures that will bring the absolute finishing touches.  We’ve got slightly side tracked and invested more in the land but 2010 will be the year when we finally finish the house.

The thing about Moss Brothers is that you pay for what you get. They are definitely not the cheapest builders around but I’d say they are the best value.  The attention to detail by Mark Jerling, the architect has to be experienced to be believed.  Right down to designing tile layouts, coving (scotias to the kiwis) and hinges on doors.  Mark is determined for things to be just right for the money you have available to spend.

Chris Kingdom is the only person in the world to have ever got away with calling me “my dear”.  Even during our most stressful moments he was able to draw breath, count to 10 (or at least 5) and then pick out his mobile phone from his pocket and call someone to fix up something.  There were only a couple of occasions we agreed to disagree!  The project managers job is a tough one and Chris mostly managed it with a smile and a joke.

If you’re interested in our house building journey and you have a few spare hours you can read our story by catching up with our house blogging adventures.  I fully intend to write up a more succinct and easy to read account but that will have to wait for a few long plane journeys for me to make sense of the 1,500 photographs I took over the period of land hunting and building.

All in all the Gold Award goes to Moss Brothers for building us a beautiful home and being part of our New Zealand adventures.  I’d picked them out to build our house long before we even arrived in New Zealand, there are some things that are just meant to be!

Thanks Moss Brothers you deserve this award as much as we’re going to enjoy it.

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!

Confused?  I can’t blame you.

My blessed basset Fortnum had trouble with his teeth when he was a baby.  They hurt him when they grew and the only way to relieve his pain was for him to chew.  We supplied him with endless toys, bones and even cool teething rings.  But no, our Fortnum found something much more soothing for his growing teeth.

Here’s what he used.

The wall.  To be precise, it was actually walls.

Fortnum would get no better pleasure than lying in his bed and rubbing his new teeth up and down the wall.

Sounds ridiculous but it’s true.

My cerub basset has a full set of gnashers now and he seems satisfied these days to chew on his bone.  He’s given up chewing the wall.  But the damage he caused has been my DIY dilemma for a while.

I considered a range of repair options including just filling and painting.  But bassets are mucky dogs with lots of slobber which they love nothing better to share with the rest of the world.  To be showered by basset slobber fresh from the water bowl is treat that you should really experience at least once in your life.

Such behaviour has led to the walls of the laundry where they are fed and sleep looking like a war zone.  Regular cleaning was starting to wear the colour off the wall.

After much procrastination of what to do.  It suddenly came to me.  Tile.  But not just tile.  Tile with my most coveted tile I couldn’t find a home for first time round.  Some things are just meant to be.

So the bassets room has had a makeover.  It means that I can just wipe down the tiles now and keep it nice and clean.  Also, the laundry area looks much smarter and brighter than it did before.

This is the perfect match for the slate style floor tiles and the paint on the walls.  Note the puddle of basset water on the floor!

I’m very pleased with how they look.  It will make life a whole heap easier and I have lots of off cut tiles now to think what to do with.  I love the tile pattern, so groovy.  Modern yet traditional.  A bit like all of our house.

Now all I need to do is repaint the skirting boards to get rid of the basset baby marks and we’ll be ship shape again.  I’m also going to paint a blackboard on the wall to help me remember the things I’m suposed to do.

As I say, the most expensive teething ring in the world.  But all in all it’s been a win win.  Repaired basset biting, cleaned up the laundry area and I’ve finally be able to find a use for the tiles I first coveted almost 2 years ago.

Now I just need to get a couple more coaching clients to pay for it all!

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.

Here’s a picture of the window seat when it was first installed.

Now it looks much more inviting.  It’s big enough for two people to sit or lie end to end.  Often I find my in-laws sitting there like book ends reading or just enjoying the view. MT and I will park ourselves there regularly to listen to the radio, drink tea and read the papers.

It’s a handy viewing point for the bassets too who can often be found with their front paws up as they peer out the window, usually barking furiously at nothing out of the window or indeed their own reflection on a dark night!

Technically speaking the window seat is a no basset zone.  Quite apart from the fact I don’t want their hairs on the cushions it’s a long way up and down for a basset and I’d hate to see them getting hurt if they fell off.

Having said that Fortnum has worked out how to get up on the window seat himself.  He’s a tinker. Just one more push and he’ll be up.

Tada, he’s up and checking out what’s to sniff or eat.

It’s a perfect spot for looking out the window.

“What do you mean I shouldn’t be up here.  Who says?”

“If I lie here quietly, that will be OK won’t it?”

Lying quietly without making mischief is not a basset trait you see often.  And, it wasn’t the case here.

But he did show signs of wanting to read the paper!

Silly me, I meant eat the paper.

Doesn’t he look sad now “his” paper has been confiscated!

Nothing for it.  Better just look out of the window.

Or maybe a snooze.

You might be wondering where little basset was whilst all this was going on. He took momentary interest.

Then stretched as only bassets can.

And then went back to sleep.

Who needs a window seat when you have your own giant cushion to lounge around on?

I have to admit I’ll take the window seat any day.  For lounging, reading, tea drinking and of course snoozing!

Which is the most popular seat in your house?

]]> https://www.domestic-executive.com/houseblogging/the-most-popular-seat-in-the-house/feed/ 2 2415 https://www.domestic-executive.com/houseblogging/there-is-no-escaping-now/ https://www.domestic-executive.com/houseblogging/there-is-no-escaping-now/#respond Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:12:34 +0000 http://www.domestic-executive.com/?p=1263

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. 

Almost the first question we were asked when we were searching for basset hound puppies was whether we had a completely fenced section.  In truth we do but it’s hardly basset proof as they can readily escape under the post and rail and farm style gate.   But not any more!

The new picket fence and gates will keep them close to the house but still give them about 2 acres in which to roam.  Boy these dogs don’t know how lucky they are.

FORTNUM AND MASON TESTING THEIR ESCAPE ROUTE

THIS PICKET FENCE AND PAIR OF GATES WILL LOOK AS BEAUTIFUL AS THE HOUSE IN TIME.  JUST A LICK OF PAINT NEEDED, SOME GRASS ON THE GROUND AND MAYBE A COUPLE OF FANCY KNOBS ON THE POST TO FINISH THEM OFF.

Just in case you’re wondering, they are going to be painted the same colour as the weather board on the house.  They’ll be painted “Windchime” if you’re really that interested!

It’s been raining again but we’re strong and can endure the weather to get our daily constitutional.  They good thing about the rain is that everything around us looks greener and continues to grow.  The forestry land behind the house is sprouting pine trees and look quite cute right now. I shan’t be saying that in about 10 years time when they block our views to and from the house.  So, you gotta enjoy them whilst you can.

I THINK IT WILL BE A WHILE BEFORE THESE LITTLE NIPPERS BLOCK OUR VIEW!

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.