Site Plan & Floor Plan

So here are the vendor's site and floor plans for those interested. Really? Honestly? Who would put a full size kitchen and dining area in a house this small? And is there really any point of the expense of a small 2m wide veranda? Not sure. Yes, well, needless to say I will not be proceeding with everything on this suggested floor plan. My idea is to spend only what is required to produce a comfortable result. It is important that everything is 'in keeping'.

The idea I have is to create rooms with furniture, not walls. And lets face it, unless it is raining or we are sleeping we are unlikely to spend too much time inside. Well, that is unless I put in a little fire place or pot belly stove... maybe.

I am so lucky to have the most amazing ex husband (long story) who has an open builder's licence so I am set on that count.

This marks out on either side of the house the suggested irrigation area for the sewerage plant

Due Diligence Update #3 ~ Council Man Crush

I officially have a crush on the guy from the council. I have dealt with him before with Bellamore and he was great then, but now he has stepped up to a level of awesomeness!

I’m just going to phone him right now to say thank you. Again.

Most of the time I get so frustrated with humans. Well, not in the bloggy world of course. People out ‘there’ often seem so mean. It’s sad. But the last two days, abet stressful, have restored my faith in humankind and community. Again.

It’s the insight you get when you spend time in a rural setting.

A little story of Bellamore

We would go to Bellamore most weekends, build a fire, sing songs, drink wine, watch the sun go down, laugh, talk and sometimes even cry. It was that kind of place people dream of. Over the years we celebrated homecomings, friend's engagements, New Years, Easter Egg Hunts and even a B & S Ball! But probably the most magical of all was the conception of a little much longed for baby. It was New Years eve and this couple had been trying for years... little did we know at the time that the magic of Bellamore was to bring them big bouncing baby boy 40 weeks later!

Bellamore’s local township has a co-op which you pay $50 to join. For that small investment you receive between 5 – 10% off your purchases in the town. But the best thing about this $50 is that it gives you a ‘buy-in’ to the community. “You are now one of us.” they say.

How cool is that?!

Every Saturday night was Family Movie Night. For $20 regardless of the size of your family, you could go and watch the movie in the old theatre (circa 1930), have hot dogs and popcorn and afterwards chat with all the neighbours. And lets just say you had a couple of beers down at the pub. No worries! The local policeman would take you home and bring your car to you the next morning.

It was a life changing experience and I have so many people to miss, especially all the oldies who have lived in the area all their lives.


Back to my council man crush.

I will have you know he is at least 60, married and probably has grandchildren. Its not ‘that’ kind of crush. It’s the crush on someone you just want to squeeze because of how helpful, learned and accommodating they have been. He gave me contacts for all the right people, in all the right places and even phoned them ahead of me to ensure they had all the details and his support of my plight.

Finally THAT ONE PHONE CALL I HAD TO MAKE?

And it was a big fat

Y E S!

So now time to research the Taylex Domestic Membrane System or DMS as it is affectionately known. I never thought I would think a sewerage treatment system would get me so excited!

It uses membrane filtration plus UV light to produce the cleanest water from a domestic treatment system in Australia today. It's ok, I will leave that there for now for fear I may send you to sleep.

Photo of DMS installed near a little baby dam... so cute!

So there you have it. It's a win today.

More praying and believing over the weekend for the next mountain to climb next week.

Now, what pretty image can I leave you with....mmmmmm.... thinking.... thinking......

Ok, this is a residence which was recently for sale up in Dayboro. I just LOVE this idea.

Love to all

DC

Four Feelings in One Day - Due Diligence Update #2

If I read one more contradictory set of development guidelines today I think I may scream!

That said, I think I am getting somewhere. I have one more phone call to make. And I am hoping she will give me good news. She being ‘THE’ actual lady who would give my sewerage system a big tick or a very sad cross.

I could have phoned her today. I didn’t. My heart could not deal with one more emotion today.

I have to pick up all the little children, watch hockey training and watch the littlest one perform in the Music night at her school. There will be proud tears from me I know. So I just couldn’t possibly use any more of that emotional energy up today. I am sure those who have been there and done this will understand.

This one phone call is the make or break!

I am trying not to look at elevations, think of bathroom looks or paint colours! When I am driving along I find my mind wandering off to dimensions of artwork I have and where they may hang in this place. Then I have to SNAP myself back to reality. Get this 'poo' situation sorted out missy, then worry about hanging pictures!
I will leave you with this image. From the wonderful blogger and current Home Beautiful celebrity A-M from The house that A-M Built. I will be getting another one of these made by Oliveaux for this place to sit and and read magazines, or just to look at ;)  I can have one of these ANYWHERE

Due Diligence Update #1

The Current Situation

I am in the due diligence phase written into the contract (30 days) and have been using this time to check boundary lines, possible planning approval issues, water, electricity etc.

Electricity

Retail based (ie Origin) is going to cost quite a lot to run in. Estimated cost $18K + run in from road at 200m. Big dollar before you even switch on a light. So the thought of paying $25K to then buy electricity seems stupid to me. Approx cost of solar panels to make enough power for my little place plus air-conditioning (a girls gotta live!) would be around $25K total. Spending approx $10k every 10 or so years for new battery systems. That’s still going to be heaps cheaper than the currently rising costs of electricity. So that is a go-er.

Gas

Gas hot water / or solar if I have any area left to put more panels! And gas cooking. Done!

Sewerage

Big issues here. The highest flood level of the dam is the front boundary of the property. And the regulations state that an onsite sewerage facility has to be a minimum of 400m from that boundary. Now, even with my limited maths skills I can add up that the greatest length of the block is 410 meters and that’s in the very far right hand corner. What to do? What to do? Do I pull out of the contract? Then I look at the photos again and pray.

Then I realised they have toilets on the lake camp grounds. How do they do that? What systems do they use? Then another thought – how can they class this as a Large Residential Block (its 20 acres) if you cant put a sewerage system on it!?! CRAZY!

NO I CAN DO THIS! I CAN MAKE IT WORK!

Another day of phone calls ahead.
Trying to keep a full time job without getting sacked. Keep a couple of houses in good working order and my little hobby business. Something’s Gotta Give!
Hang on!

SOMETHINGS GOTTA GIVE!
That’s got to be a sign. From the moment I first saw this land, I thought of the lounge from Something’s Gotta Give.

This is the block