A palette load of problems

 You may remember waaay back in January when I was happy dancing about purchasing some french pattern travertine for our four deck areas?

For some unbeknown reason, this very expensive purchase had become a nightmare.

After paying for the in-stock product and arranging for its collection, we were told that our large order couldn't be filled as they had double sold the stock at hand. Oops!

Accidents happen, so we patiently waited two months for a new shipment.

We paid a further $700 for transportation of the six tonne of stone last week and were disappointed when the scheduled delivery was a no -show. A few phone calls later, I was told that the palettes had 'shifted' on the truck and could no longer be safely unloaded. They were returned to the transport company for re-stacking and we received the stone a few days later.

There were meant to be six palettes; we received five. We were told this was due to the way they were re-loaded. There are quite a few damaged / broken pieces but we are told that is to be expected.

But upon counting the 'sets' we are 10 square metres short. W T F ! ! !

The delivery company will not take responsibility (they claim the palettes were inferior and delivered all the stone), nor will the stone supplier as the product was re-packaged. 

So we're left with a major headache and shortfall!

We also wont know how much of the stone is unusable due to breakage until it is unpacked....God knows when! I am so upset by this and keep wondering how it could have been avoided.

I guess it's just going to have to be our 'bad luck' story....

x KL

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Smokin' ...

TOP: Pics from S & M's apartment in Newtown, Thursday. BOTTOM: LHS Pic by Davey from Mona Vale tip and
RHS from our deck at Copacabana, also on Thursday.

Are you watching the news non-stop too?

Whilst we do not live in close proximity to the current fires burning in New South Wales, we are most certainly experiencing their effects; smoke and road closures. 

I am praying for those communities and families directed affected by, what are being reported as, the most catastrophic fires in over a decade.

With more hot weather and wild winds predicted for the next few days, my thoughts are also with our brave fire fighters who are the first line of defence.

22. 10. 13 UPDATE: 

Photo: David Rawsthorne/lithgowlights.com

 Frantic weekend back burning seen above from the foot of The Blue Mountains... tomorrow is deemed to be extreme and a convoy of fire services are gathered ready....

Praying for all.

x KL

Thank you for stopping by my blog. 

You are very welcome and encouraged to comment, I love receiving feedback! 

If you enjoy my ramblings, perhaps consider following by Email, Bloglovin' or Google+. 

 Join this site via Google Friend's Connect so I can follow you too!

Mwwwwaaaaahhh....

 These photographs are testament to an ABSOLUTE building rule that should never be broken. NEVER, NEVER, EVER, EVER have box gutters! Ours overflowed (for a second time) and for four hours, absolute pandemonium broke loose whist I was concurrently trying to calm a scared child in a major storm! Below is what I've be doing for the last week... washing every towel and absorbent piece of fabric I could muster to mop up the deluge.

So, what is a box gutter? It's where two roofing planes slope down and inward, forming a 'box' between. In theory they work - but where ice or allot of leaf debris are present they're a recipe for disaster! Once blocked. the water has no escape but inside the structure.

 The first flood occurred because a hail storm filled the gutter to capacity and the subsequent rain had no-where to go but inside. The second and recent cause was a small amount of hail but mostly leaf debris. Eeeek! No-one to blame but ourselves.

When Davey shouted "Oh Dear! Oh My golly goodness!" or something quite possibly, a bit stronger (being a burly builder an' all), it was said with such gusto that I knew something was seriously wrong. Four down lights and a fan in J's bedroom were gushing water. Two down lights in the entry, two in the Guest bed en suite and two cavity sliding door openings were spectacular waterfalls! And this was downstairs. Upstairs was a flowing river!

Anyhooo, I've managed to find a few rainbows after the rain. 

1. I do not need to buy any more towels. The number I have is ridiculous.

2. I now have the neatest temporary linen space ever. Waaay over due!

3. J's bedroom and the entry got a major tidy up.

4. Having a 'spare room' from a nest flier comes in handy for emergencies such as these.
5. The brightest rainbow shone for J though. We relocated an itty-bitty T.V (formerly the nest flier big sis') to his bedroom. He was beyond excited!

Which within 24 hours had morphed into this:

Bought for the playroom (two years ago!) which is in the unfinished upstairs area, it was time to take it out of it's packaging!  We may as well enjoy it!

6. My crazy saving of empty ice-cream containers finally had a practical purpose! LOL!
And I used every one and was madly emptying and replacing at the height of the deluge. Wish I'd caught it all for funniest home videos...winning that would have created a double rainbow!

x KL

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Bits & bobs...

 Do you choose what you wear from habit? I have to confess that I do. My current favourite 'uniform' can be seen above; super comfy leggings, over sized knitted tunic, skull scarf and studded slippers. 

Easy- peasy!

I'm leaving the glam stuff to my Glamourzon nieces.  Below is a snap of Meggie at a recent photo shoot. Wow.

Poor old Davey's still not quite himself...

Where once he was all about Aussie surf and water sports he's now fashioning my skull scarf into a bandanna whilst fantasising about a Harley road trip on Route 66... Sacrilege!
He likes to 'work his look' back with Billabong fleece rather than leather jackets though. LOL!

We've been horrified by a local fire tragedy too. Eight attending Central Coast fire brigades were unable to save three business' from total obliteration, one which belonged to close friends. Many other premises in close proximity were affected too; the ramifications still being realised.

It is quite surreal looking at the devastation. There is nothing to salvage. Zip...

David and I took a trip to Sydney and collected our long awaited bedhead. (It was going to cost 50% of the purchase price for delivery!) We love it...and it looks great with this Sheridan bedlinen I picked up heavily discounted in Myer.

 The nest escapees, S and M, are back this weekend to clean up their old bedroom, box  and sort it's remaining contents. Hopefully they are also going to find S' misplaced 21st present. A baguette diamond and white gold bracelet. She didn't take it with her in 'the move', so hopefully it will be unearthed tomorrow. Fingers & toes firmly crossed.

x KL

Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment. I love receiving feedback! I also love watching a new pretty picture box added to my followers - would love you to join me so I can get to know you too!

Eeeek! Major Lounge Disaster!

 Am trying to stay true to my mantra....

 Am trying to stay true to my mantra....

  Am trying to stay true to my mantra....

I hate rats. I hate flooding rain. I hate mould.

Unfortunately a few months back we were rudely invaded by all three. The rats were discovered and dispensed with quick Military precision, the internal flood from a blocked gutter remedied as fast as I could prod poor old hubby up the ladder but the mould was a stealth trespasser.

Our upstairs ' work in progress /'storage' zone' was the area under attack and to my horror, my beautiful white fabric lounge fared poorly. 

Whilst cleaning up rat pooh (I used the vacuum!), I unwrapped the protective (ha ha) cover on the lounge and found, hiding under the removable cover... this mould! Eeek!

Always positive, I quickly said S%^t and BY$%^y HI#l and F*(#!. Then rang my friendly carpet / rug / lounge steam cleaner Malcolm who told me it was F^&#@d but didn't charge me for his visit and empathetic diagnosis.

I further rallied my positive outlook and suggested to the Hubby that a new white leather modular would look better in the room anyway...

...and he most generously surprised me with this:

His own Internet researched, mould exterminator formula. (It involved spraying two cans of Glen 20 to kill spores and then drenching the lounge with Exit mould.)

So, the glass is half full / empty again but this time I'm in quite a quandary with which way....

x KL

Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment; I love receiving feedback! It helps me get to know you too!