We were totally shocked recently when we realised that it was a year ago that Cassy bought the appliances for our kitchen. Although the destruction/construction didn't begin until November 1st, it was still startling to think that things have been going on for so long. As it stands, the renovations have been going on for 7 months and although significant progress has been made, the end is not within sight just yet. We've just had the painting start, neither bathroom is finished (although mercifully, one is 80% operational bar having to use the sink in the laundry!) and the blinds have yet to be installed. Surely, there's a little glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel?
We've come to realise that we were very naïve to think everything would go quickly and smoothly. Despite the best efforts of our very professional builder, John, the timetable has been thrown into disarray by multiple combinations of tradespeople unavailable due to Covid outbreaks, delays on other jobs, supply issues with materials and a myriad of other issues. Let's sum it up this way, there is absolutely no way in the world that we'll ever do this again: we're moving if this place doesn't meet our needs in the future!
We've managed to escape our "tradesman babysitting duties" a few times to get to some Knights games, meals out and family get-togethers for Mother's Day and a lunch to see Michael and his girlfriend on a fleeting visit from Canada. We've continued to sneak away for our walk most days and I've even tentatively tested out my "frozen shoulders" with a few surfs.
My old school friend, Mark, loaned me a modern big volume board to ease me back in, which was very kind and generous of him. My paddling fitness is shot to bits, my balance as wonky as a drunk on a skateboard and things aren't terribly enjoyable at the moment as I fall off immediately on 90% of any waves that I manage to catch, but as it's often said, I need to persevere to "get the stoke back". Living opposite a surfing reserve, there's no way I shouldn't make this work. I even committed further to the cause today by investing in a new wetsuit down at the Ripcurl shop: there's no turning back now!
Cause for great celebration is coming up in a couple of weeks, where we fly to Melbourne for a couple of nights to see Hamilton and the art gallery but more importantly then spend a week or so in Geelong and Torquay catching up with Marcus, Annie and the boys. We haven't seen each other since we left Taipei two years ago, so we'll have plenty to catch up on!
Books....Cassy and I have read hundreds of books since my last updates, so we'll let them disappear into the ether as I can't possibly list them all here. I've been interspersing books from various series for a while with Richard Stark's "Parker" series providing some old school nihilism, amongst Benjamin Black's "Quirke" series and M.W. Craven's "Washington Poe" books with some light relief from Michael Connelly and Lee Child here and there. Cass is on a book planet that has far more rarefied air than mine, but I do know she recently read and enjoyed Ann Patchett's collection of short biographical essays!