The deck and the pohutukawa

Wind. Rain. Cold. Dark. A morning run in Auckland today experienced all four of these enjoyable aspects of early winter. I quite like the picture I took of a young couple who had to run to catch the train at Morningside Station.

However, today was also a day for heading north to the Beach House to meet up with the builder and go over one or two things. We are very lucky with our builder. He is very organised, and plans the process carefully. The only reason we are a bit behind schedule is weather, AND changing the cladding as we don't want to paint it and finger jointed pine has to be painted.

Even better, he is keen on the plan and is almost as excited about what is being built as are we. He wants to do a good job, and at the same time accepts cost reduction decisions, where quality is not compromised. As the de facto project manager (with architect help), S is maintaining a build of which we will enjoy the fruits.

I chose this picture to blip because of what it shows. Behind the blue tarpaulin is an opening (for glass doors) of the same size as the uncovered opening. At this end of the back (cliff side) of the house is the kitchen with wide windows. The deck, which features here, still goes around the pohutukawa, which is the second biggest on our piece of land, and is being allowed lots of space to continue to grow. Pohutukawa stabilise cliff tops (generally speaking).

P the builder tells us that the deck will be finished this week, and in two to three weeks the cladding will be on (including all glazing) and excitement will be mounting. All going well, we will be able to use the finished product by the time of the hard working project manager's birthday.

Although the front hasn't changed much in the last month, the back is significantly different.