Just because...

...he is such a handsome little man.

10 years on.

It was 10 years ago today that Trevor and I first went out on a ‘blind date’. I guess it wasn’t technically a blind date as such because we had crossed paths previous to that. He went to school with the boyfriend (and now husband) of my mate Kate – the one in the pictures with her baby a few entries back.

Anyway, Kate and I worked at McDonalds back in the day. Her then boyfriend used to come in and visit and Trev used to tag along (apparently) which is when he first noticed me (or so I am told). Because he was friends with Kate’s then boyfriend I used to see him around the place (one time being when he was in a rather compromising position blind drunk – if he knew I even mentioned that he would kill me. he he he). Anyway, after some time, and some pressure from Kate we decided to go on a date.

It was a Saturday night and we were going to head out to the movies. I remember hearing his car arrive out the front. It was a hotted up corolla with one loud exhaust (I hated that exhaust and was rather happy when it was stolen a few years later). It was strange, the awkward feelings that accompany getting into a car with someone you hardly know – God I hope my Lily never does that.

I remember there wasn’t anything particularly exciting on at the movies, hence the reason we saw 'Red Corner' staring Richard Gere. For illustrative purposes the plot centred around an American attorney on business in China, ends up wrongfully on trial for murder and his only key to innocence is a female defense lawyer from the country. Hardly a romantic comedy.

There was nothing too exhilarating about our first date – probably much like the first dates of many others – small talk, uncomfortable silence, and just plain awkwardness. I guess it couldn’t have been too bad because we went back out again and again and well…here we are 10 years later, two kids, mortgage and well…there you have it.

Those early years were so much fun. It was full of excitement, learning and happiness. I remember fondly the first time he ever gave me flowers. I was studying hard, as you do when you have exams at uni, when I heard a knock at the door. It was the middle of a working day so I had no idea who it could have been. I opened the door to see Trevor standing there with a bunch of dozen gorgeous red roses; roses for no particular occasion – just because. He had been out and about in my area for some reason I can’t recall and he thought he would drop some flowers around to pep me up from the dreary study session. It was the first time a boy had ever given me such beautiful flowers (or flowers of any kind come to think of it) that I could never part with them. I hung them in my wardrobe upside down in the hope they would dry out just so. They did and to this day, I still have those flowers.

Since 7 March 1998, we’ve travelled a winding road with steep hills, gentle inclines and the longest straights. Sometimes things moved at the speed of lightening and other times it’s felt like we’re out for a Sunday drive. There have been some crashes and repairs but the cars are still running and running strong. Overall, it’s been a journey of love, frustration, tears, happiness and laughter. A journey I would happily take again – but maybe with a few less turns here and perhaps some more reliable tyres.

More house stuff

Trevor has been doing his daily duty of attending to the house to monitor progress. He has been taking photos (albeit absolutely shocking ones at that – he certainly won’t be any right hand man of mine should I start a photography business).

Anyway, there have been workers there everyday this week. Like I have noted previously, the doors are in and the skirting has been done. The vanities are now in. Plus we have eaves on the outside. It’s really starting to look like a house…

(laundry tub)

(ensuite vanity)

(kids' bathroom vanity)

(outside eaves)

…a house that needs a kitchen.

Don’t talk to me about the kitchen!!!!

We are having big problems with trying to get the money out of our financier to pay for it. I sent the invoice for payment two weeks ago and the money hasn’t been released. You see, it’s not directly payable to the builder because they are not putting the kitchen in. It’s one of our ‘extras’ in the building contract. So, whilst accounted for in the contract with money allocated in the construction loan, the financier *apparently* needs to seek permission from our building company to release the funds (i.e making sure that once payment is made for the kitchen there will still be enough left to cover the builder’s costs). I have this dreaded fear that they will say, ‘nope sorry, you can have the money after hand over’. Ummm, if that’s the case, how am I meant to pay for the kitchen?! Our supervisor has already said that he won’t order the tiler until the kitchen is in and well, we can’t get the kitchen until it’s paid for. All I can see ahead is dramas. I am just so TOTALLY over this whole process.

I’m over phone calls. I’m over emails. I’m over it all. I just want to get in the house and never have to think about quotes, labourers or anything building and house related for a very long time!

My first 'newbie' shoot

One of my good mates just had her second little baby girl 5 weeks ago. It was a pleasure to take some pictures for her.

Taking pictures of 5 week old babies is way harder then I thought it would be. Little Miss M was wide awake the whole time so no ‘sleeping’ baby opportunities. I had heard that if you are doing a newborn session you should aim to shoot them when they are less then 2 weeks old – the sleepy stage. That said, she was a darling little thing as was her big sister (just under 13 months older).

I was pretty happy with the result bearing in mind my previous experience in this department – which was nothing.

And one of Little Miss A...just check out those eyes. Amazing.

I see doors...can you?

Doors...exactly what you see huh? You get to observe progress as much as me – this lock up thing really sucks.

In addition to the doors (sanford style doors), you can see they have done the skirting now too.

*Apparently* or so Trevor tells me (but alas no pictures yet) they were putting in the vanities and laundry tub whilst he was there today. I want to see my vanity…dying to see my vanity. I guess that will have to wait until tomorrow – fingers crossed Trevor makes it in time before they leave – or worst still perhaps they won’t even be working tomorrow.

Man this lock up thing bites but you already knew my feelings in that regard. I'll stop harping now.

My locked up house (and poor roof)!

I wasn’t expecting to see a few things at the house when I popped down this weekend.

First and foremost I wasn’t expecting the lovely little surprise of...wait for it…

DAMAGE TO MY ROOF!!


I could scarcely lift my jaw of the car floor as I drove by and saw the damage. Seriously, how does damage like that occur when there are no trees, proximal buildings or something similar? I could see the lot was cleared so I figured it must have been something to do with that. If it wasn’t a Sunday, I would have called the builder ASAP…when I did call him today he was really good about it. He went around and checked it out, took photos and organised for it to be fixed pronto.

I knew it would be fixed but it just kinda takes away from my *soon to be* completed house *sigh*.

Secondly, and to my delight…I noticed my house had a garage door! How exciting. Although, that only meant one thing…it was locked up. Alas, there was no more coming and going as one pleased *sigh*. I suppose that’s a good thing. It means things are moving along.

(The garage door is the same colour as the roof - Jasper)

(Gotta love the electric garage door!)

Speaking of moving along, they have started to install all the door jams and doors in today. Tomorrow they will apparently finish that off and also start the eaves outside. I still can’t get an answer as to when they might actually be close to finishing. I do know that our damn kitchen is holding things up. I am having such a hard time getting an answer from the financier as to whether it has been paid for. Grrrr!!!!

As each week ticks by it is one week closer to hand over. I so can’t wait!

Just because...

...she is too damn cute!!!