FARMLAND TO HOME IN 1000 MOVES
The House Site 1995
Rod and I purchased the land, 52 hectares, at Christmas 1994, but it took us until August 1995 to be able to start to build. In the interim we bought and lived in a thirteen and a half foot long caravan, which was placed in various, generous family members' gardens, long over staying our welcome! We did plan, very seriously, not to have any animals until we had a home and were earning a living. That first Winter we had three horses, a puppy and two kittens, so we nearly got it right.
In London we had planned, dreamed and hoped to be able to return to NZ, and we used to stroll over the South Downs wondering what best we could do to earn our living once home again. We knew that we wanted a hill, a river and some flat land, so when the estate agent drove us up the Taylor Pass and pointed out a hill, a river and some flat land - we were hooked!
This page will tell about the struggle against the elements - non stop nor west gales, wettest winter in history, the infamous " Long Drop"!!
In London we had planned, dreamed and hoped to be able to return to NZ, and we used to stroll over the South Downs wondering what best we could do to earn our living once home again. We knew that we wanted a hill, a river and some flat land, so when the estate agent drove us up the Taylor Pass and pointed out a hill, a river and some flat land - we were hooked!
This page will tell about the struggle against the elements - non stop nor west gales, wettest winter in history, the infamous " Long Drop"!!
The First Step - Building The Garage
Words cannot really describe how exciting it was to have a real building on our land at last. We had owned the land since December 1994 but it took until August 1995 for us to be able to start building. For the first time we had a wee place to shelter from the endless nor west gales and the rain, for winter 1995 was very, very wet.
So, we had shelter, but no electricity, no running drinkable water and no telephone so we continued to camp out in the caravan at the cousins' farm in the next valley while negotiations went on with the power company and the builders.
The last photo in this group shows the view East from the garage and you can see very clearly how little there was in the way of shelter, bushes, trees - in fact anything at all except neglected farmland.
So, we had shelter, but no electricity, no running drinkable water and no telephone so we continued to camp out in the caravan at the cousins' farm in the next valley while negotiations went on with the power company and the builders.
The last photo in this group shows the view East from the garage and you can see very clearly how little there was in the way of shelter, bushes, trees - in fact anything at all except neglected farmland.
In the left hand photo my daughter and I are enjoying tea in The Parlour on a very cold afternoon. In the other photo I am starting to dig the first border, trying to turn paddock grass into something plants might survive in.
This shows the foundations being put in. To the left of the picture is the start of my Builders Tip border, where all the spoil from the house site was heaped. The right hand photo is of the shingle being laid for the new driveway.
The caravan was sited to the west of the new garage where we hoped to gain some small respite from the wind. Although we unhitched the caravan on to pristine virgin grass it quickly became a muddy quagmire liberally scattered with the detritus of camping. I yearned to have hot water gushing from a tap, even cold water from a tap in the caravan would have been nice instead of having to run a hose pipe once the well was dug. To start with we had to take empty containers to town each night and fill up at a relative's, hurl our filthy washing through a machine and have a quick shower. I thought longingly of London's central heating, fountains of hot and cold water and room to get away from other people.
The House Arrives!
That was a memorable day. Our entire house was delivered on a huge truck, plus a very large crane to off load it all. Most of the timber had to be kept dry so having the garage to store it in was a vital part of the operation.
The Go-For On The Job
The builders arrived at about 7.30 each day and we were up long before that exercising young horses. Rod then spent the day, as unskilled labour, fetching and carrying - "Hold this, Hold that" his building skills advanced hugely by the end of the build.
Vital Services Going In
The left hand picture shows the hole being dug for the septic tank, and the other photo shows the drains going in
This is the wee pump shed that Rod built all by himself! The builder wasn't totally ecstatic when he saw it the next time he came, but it is still standing, and weatherproof, 17 years later so it must be okay. The other picture is of old Rusty and his girlfriend Sparky who were keen to assist with the tea break. Jock the sheepdog did not approve of sharing Rod.
Building The Top Yard Starting The Stable And Feed Shed
The New Tack Shed The Stable Built And First Resident Within
