Bus visits
We've reached a dilemma with our bus visits.
The visits to the BBC in Taupo have always been absolutely amazing. We make lots of progress with each trip, because decisions are so much more easily made in person that by email or phone. And we have a lot of fun. Paul and Shelly know how to have a laugh with us, but at the same time keep everything professional. This has meant the few small issues that have arisen have been easily resolved.
But what to do now?
We are somewhere between one and two weeks till delivery. There's a real temptation to not visit again until the handover date - that way we get the surprise of the big reveal of the completed bus. But we're so nosy and controlling, can we stop ourselves from going up again next week?
The visits to the BBC in Taupo have always been absolutely amazing. We make lots of progress with each trip, because decisions are so much more easily made in person that by email or phone. And we have a lot of fun. Paul and Shelly know how to have a laugh with us, but at the same time keep everything professional. This has meant the few small issues that have arisen have been easily resolved.
But what to do now?
We are somewhere between one and two weeks till delivery. There's a real temptation to not visit again until the handover date - that way we get the surprise of the big reveal of the completed bus. But we're so nosy and controlling, can we stop ourselves from going up again next week?
And a few more photos from this week
Yet another of those long-winded discussions required here - where to put the sink?
This shows the 'jellybean' shape of the couches (also handy for fitting three enormous gel batteries underneath).
The front area taking shape, waiting for our captain's chairs to arrive.
And now it's even harder for us to hide, with our pictures plastered all over the back of our car!
This shows the 'jellybean' shape of the couches (also handy for fitting three enormous gel batteries underneath).
The front area taking shape, waiting for our captain's chairs to arrive.
And now it's even harder for us to hide, with our pictures plastered all over the back of our car!
Most un-Sue-like behaviour!
20 November 2010
I actually squealed with excitement when we saw the bus this week. More specifically, the vinyl in the bathroom and toilet.
The vinyl was one of the hardest choices we've made. Most of the options looked like something you'd find in the toilets at a pysch unit. We agonised and talked this around in circles for ages. But, as usual, Shelly and Paul from The Bus Boy Co persevered until we found something we loved. The shower is not-quite-white vinyl with one wall and the floor done in a charcoal and silver pattern. The bathroom, which doesn't need to be a wet room, is the same colour as the main walls in the lounge, but with one wall and the floor also done in the patterned vinyl.
And we're delighted with the outcome. Even though it's jolly hard to take a decent photo of it.
I actually squealed with excitement when we saw the bus this week. More specifically, the vinyl in the bathroom and toilet.
The vinyl was one of the hardest choices we've made. Most of the options looked like something you'd find in the toilets at a pysch unit. We agonised and talked this around in circles for ages. But, as usual, Shelly and Paul from The Bus Boy Co persevered until we found something we loved. The shower is not-quite-white vinyl with one wall and the floor done in a charcoal and silver pattern. The bathroom, which doesn't need to be a wet room, is the same colour as the main walls in the lounge, but with one wall and the floor also done in the patterned vinyl.
And we're delighted with the outcome. Even though it's jolly hard to take a decent photo of it.
Sorting, selling, storing
16 November 2010
These sort of scenes are fairly common around our place at the moment - not the washing on the line, but the stuff spread out everywhere.
We're sorting through everything we own, and it ends up in one of four piles - coming with us on the bus, going into storage, going somewhere else (being sold, given to the kids, donating to the hospice shop), or onto the trailer to go to the tip.
We live in a very small house (just 72sq.m), but have a garage like the Tardis - there's a mammoth amount of stuff in there.
The sorting process goes in fits and starts. Some stuff gets sorted very quickly, then you'll suddenly realise you've just spent an hour going through a box of photos and old school reports - it's the sentimental stuff that slows you down.
And deciding what to keep can be a real challenge. It's nice to hold on to memories, but when do they just become clutter? Craig's Mum's china for instance - in the end we can't keep it all, even though it meant so much to her. So, a few pieces with special meaning into the storage unit, a few more given away to friends, and the rest for sale on TradeMe. At least it's being bought by people who will enjoy it.
These sort of scenes are fairly common around our place at the moment - not the washing on the line, but the stuff spread out everywhere.
We're sorting through everything we own, and it ends up in one of four piles - coming with us on the bus, going into storage, going somewhere else (being sold, given to the kids, donating to the hospice shop), or onto the trailer to go to the tip.We live in a very small house (just 72sq.m), but have a garage like the Tardis - there's a mammoth amount of stuff in there.
The sorting process goes in fits and starts. Some stuff gets sorted very quickly, then you'll suddenly realise you've just spent an hour going through a box of photos and old school reports - it's the sentimental stuff that slows you down.
And deciding what to keep can be a real challenge. It's nice to hold on to memories, but when do they just become clutter? Craig's Mum's china for instance - in the end we can't keep it all, even though it meant so much to her. So, a few pieces with special meaning into the storage unit, a few more given away to friends, and the rest for sale on TradeMe. At least it's being bought by people who will enjoy it.
Te Kaianga (belated report)
13 November 2010
Te Kaianga is a magical bay in the Marlborough Sounds. Outward Bound has an outpost here - some land and buildings which were donated and have sea access only.
This is where Craig and I spent the first night of our Outward Bound course last year. We sailed a cutter straight from the Picton ferry terminal - still a bunch of strangers, thrown together in an incredible adventure. We arrived as the winter darkness was falling - luckily this was one of the dry days so the cold was easier to handle.
The cutter had to be anchored in just the right place so it wasn't out too deep but couldn't be stranded by the tide. We managed to do this after three attempts - I think the record is around 30. At this stage you only have oar power, so coming back round to try again is back breaking work.
The working bee weekend was spent on fix-up work to the watch house (the bunkhouse where the students sleep). Craig and his merry band of helpers stripped, insulated and reclad a wall, while another gang built a new front on the watch house and put in some pretty impressive windows.
I have absolutely no building skills, without even the ability to drive a nail, so painting and tidy-up work filled my hours.
It was a hard-working weekend, but there's lots of fun to be had as well. One couple comes as the cooks and we are incredibly well fed - cooked breakfasts, roast dinners, desserts and all sorts of other treats.
Outward Bound means a lot to us, and we love being able to 'give back' in the form of volunteer work. Hopefully we can continue to fit this in with our new lifestyle.
Glorious sunrise
Who thought it was a good idea to let Craig loose with a nail gun?
It's always best to give me tasks that don't require the use of tools. Here I am being a 'batt' girl.
The real builders hard at work putting the massive windows in the front.
Loading the Kurt Hahn at the end of the weekend.
Departing shot of the bay. Magic.
Te Kaianga is a magical bay in the Marlborough Sounds. Outward Bound has an outpost here - some land and buildings which were donated and have sea access only.
This is where Craig and I spent the first night of our Outward Bound course last year. We sailed a cutter straight from the Picton ferry terminal - still a bunch of strangers, thrown together in an incredible adventure. We arrived as the winter darkness was falling - luckily this was one of the dry days so the cold was easier to handle.
The cutter had to be anchored in just the right place so it wasn't out too deep but couldn't be stranded by the tide. We managed to do this after three attempts - I think the record is around 30. At this stage you only have oar power, so coming back round to try again is back breaking work.
The working bee weekend was spent on fix-up work to the watch house (the bunkhouse where the students sleep). Craig and his merry band of helpers stripped, insulated and reclad a wall, while another gang built a new front on the watch house and put in some pretty impressive windows.
I have absolutely no building skills, without even the ability to drive a nail, so painting and tidy-up work filled my hours.
It was a hard-working weekend, but there's lots of fun to be had as well. One couple comes as the cooks and we are incredibly well fed - cooked breakfasts, roast dinners, desserts and all sorts of other treats.
Outward Bound means a lot to us, and we love being able to 'give back' in the form of volunteer work. Hopefully we can continue to fit this in with our new lifestyle.
Glorious sunrise
Who thought it was a good idea to let Craig loose with a nail gun?
It's always best to give me tasks that don't require the use of tools. Here I am being a 'batt' girl.
The real builders hard at work putting the massive windows in the front.
Loading the Kurt Hahn at the end of the weekend.
Departing shot of the bay. Magic.Update to end October 2010
Lots of work that has been going on in the workshop is now turning into 'real' stuff as it is installed in the bus.
The kitchen cabinets are taking shape and the base work for the overhead cupboards can be seen too. There are also bedside cabinets.
The photo of the bathroom shows more of the shape and size now. You can see the toilet peeking round the corner. The window cut in the angled wall will have frosted acrylic in it - no need to have everything on full show!
And we even have an oven now.
Collection date is looking like late November or even the first week in December. This is later than we would have liked but about what we expected given various changes and delays. We'd far rather pick it up a bit later than have anything rushed. The BBC are doing a beautiful job of our build and we wouldn't want that compromised.
It does mean we won't have time to get the exterior painted before Christmas (and before we go to our summer job). We'll just have to cope with it still looking like a grotty school bus on the outside (with a big grey patch where the new door is) for a while longer.
The kitchen cabinets are taking shape and the base work for the overhead cupboards can be seen too. There are also bedside cabinets.
The photo of the bathroom shows more of the shape and size now. You can see the toilet peeking round the corner. The window cut in the angled wall will have frosted acrylic in it - no need to have everything on full show!
And we even have an oven now.
Collection date is looking like late November or even the first week in December. This is later than we would have liked but about what we expected given various changes and delays. We'd far rather pick it up a bit later than have anything rushed. The BBC are doing a beautiful job of our build and we wouldn't want that compromised.
It does mean we won't have time to get the exterior painted before Christmas (and before we go to our summer job). We'll just have to cope with it still looking like a grotty school bus on the outside (with a big grey patch where the new door is) for a while longer.
We have work!
3 November 2010
From Boxing Day till Waitangi Day we will be part of the summer staff at Treasure Island Holiday Park in Pataua South (on the east coast, north of Whangarei).
I will be doing cleaning work and Craig will be the night watchman. There is also some building work he can do.
We're really glad to have this work. We'll be employed during the busy season, which means we shouldn't need to work in February and March, when the weather is more settled and most other people are back at work and school.
Also, it settles some of the nerves about finding work. The work is out there, we just have to chase it a bit and be happy to turn our hand to anything.
The summer staff also includes a baker, a takeaway cook and people to work in the office, so we should have quite a community going - we even have our own camping area.
From Boxing Day till Waitangi Day we will be part of the summer staff at Treasure Island Holiday Park in Pataua South (on the east coast, north of Whangarei).
I will be doing cleaning work and Craig will be the night watchman. There is also some building work he can do.
We're really glad to have this work. We'll be employed during the busy season, which means we shouldn't need to work in February and March, when the weather is more settled and most other people are back at work and school.
Also, it settles some of the nerves about finding work. The work is out there, we just have to chase it a bit and be happy to turn our hand to anything.
The summer staff also includes a baker, a takeaway cook and people to work in the office, so we should have quite a community going - we even have our own camping area.
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