Yes I missed a week. My Nana said “I am getting eye strain looking for your latest blog or even a tiny bit of news from the South.”

I thought I wouldn’t bore you with last week as there really isn’t anything to report. Unless you want to know about how many fingernails we chewed off or hair we pulled out in anticipation! Just kidding the waiting wasn’t annoying more than stressful.

Rowan and I did another ACC motorbike training day. Afterwards Rowan went for his restricted license and passed! Wahoo. Mine is booked for later in the month. I have been getting on the motorbike as much as possible to get as much practice as possible.

On Monday we got a call from Dean to say we have the results (looking good) but we must wait for James to advise from here. On Tuesday we get another call to say we can proceed but we are changing how we back fill the blocks. I quickly call the council to ask for an inspection for tomorrow if possible but more likely Monday. Lucky for us they have time to come check it out, wahoo.

Rowan and I meet Tony and he is happy with everything that has been done. He joked and asked if this is the garage and where is the house? I don’t think anyone in the area has ever built so compact before!

Friday we are able to organise builder, pump and concrete. It all goes pretty smoothly. Though we don’t have quite enough for the second site so the footings are at 250mm rather than 300mm. Not an issue at all as we only need to be 200mm.

On Saturday Cory, Rowan and I spend the day taking off the boxing and cleaning it. It took longer than I hoped for but we got it all done.

An early Monday. Rowan and I head off early into Ōamaru to drop Jimmys new Royal Enfield Guerrilla off at the mechanics. He has already put 500 on the clock so it needed to be seen. We two up on the way back. It is my first time riding with Rowan on the back. I did pretty good. Just a bit slower as it feels quite different to normal.

I continue riding to Palmerston, Rowan takes the truck to meet Mark on site. He is our block layer. He makes it look easy. It will take him two days to do both sites. We ended up finishing off early and will pick up again tomorrow.

Also our frame and trusses arrived. Annoyingly we won’t need them until much later. So we will cover them up and keep them as protected as possible. The builder suggested we put them up on the other section of land so they are high and dry. Wouldn’t want another flood and to have them floating down stream!