The RUC – update
Last year we moved an old Queenslander to our property.
I thought I’d put some pictures up here to show how the block has changed in the last 16 months (has it really been that long?)
So – what’s left? you may well ask…
We need to put stairs at the front of the veranda where the gate is. There are internal stairs, but I’d like the ‘butterfly’ stairs put on as well.
We need to finish the bathroom and the lounge room and then last (but certainly not least for the men around here) we need to finish the ‘man-cave’ underneath as well as skirting around the base to cover said ‘man-cave’ π
Here are the changes I’ve made to the Writer’s Nook and Kitchen
Here are the changes I’ve made to The Big Room
What a job!
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Oh Dianne it is a dream house for sure I adore it thanks for sharing the journey.
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It’s been mostly dreams (and a few nightmares) π But it is just beautiful now and there is an entire ‘downstairs’ that is the same size as the house, so plenty of room for storage and the man cave π
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Beautiful work Dianne! What a great transition. And the ‘man cave’ is universal. Mine is the west garage.
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You’ve got to have a man-cave, John π
The transition has definitely been amazing and it’s great to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Only few things left and then I don’t know what I’ll do (I’ll probably have to start writing again) π
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Ah, so nice to take the journey all over again Dianne, It’s amazing what you have accomplished! Looks great!
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Thanks, Jackie! – I thought it was a about time I did RUC update π
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Great work! It looks amazing!
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Thanks so much, Ruth. It’s a load of hard work, but I’m really starting to just sit back and enjoy it now π
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It’s gorgeous – a huge job though!
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It’s been a massive job, Annie. I’ll be glad when it’s completely finished and I can just sit back and relax and write all day! π
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Thanks for the update. Do you ever walk through the whole place and just feel happy? (I remember that feeling when these big projects are done.)
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I certainly do! This mostly happens in the kitchen and writer’s nook and I think, ‘Wow! it’s just amazing!’ π
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Oh Dianne, I love how much you have worked on your new home, and it is so beautiful! You truly are an inspiration for me to carry on with our work on the new Mountain Farmlet. We have been pretty discouraged this winter because it was too cold to work, but now it is warming up and we can get back at it again.
Sixteen months? That seems like such a long time, and to think we were just whining about how it will have been a year for us this April. Thank you again for the inspiration and for sharing!
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We had a few hiccups that has put the work back, Lynda – but we’re getting there. The RUC was only moved here in March last year and it took the builders a while (about three months) to get it up and stable (for no other reason than they decided to take on other work to get more money). To me it seemed to take a lifetime because we couldn’t start working on it until they had done they’re bit. That part of it was all very frustrating π¦
But it’s really wonderful now and I can just sit back and enjoy it! π
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“To me it seemed to take a lifetime…” Yes, exactly!
We are just at the end of deconstruction on the inside back of the house. Now begins the reconstruction and THEN we can move in. Finally being there, and able to work a bit every day, will really speed things up! π
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We didn’t move in until October and once we did that things happened really quickly. It’s hard to work on a place when you’re not living there. We were going there and back (after hubby came home from work) every day and not getting ‘home’ until late, it was such a relief when we actually moved in. I’m really looking forward to seeing the transformation for you as well π
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It’s quite an endeavor–moving a building and re-habbing it. And it has turned out so well! With incredible views, and frogs, too! I’d be jealous, but we just sent off the preliminary plans for the cabin. We can’t break ground until Spring, but there’s plenty to keep us out of trouble until then. I’ll be a tradie, too.
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I can give you tradie tips, Alta! π
Best of luck with the plans for the cabin and I really hope it all goes through very smoothly π
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Really looking brilliant… but it does seem like yesterday that you made the move…
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It really has gone very fast, Rob. But for a while there (when the builders were mucking around for months) it seemed like it was forever! π
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So which room belongs to the ghekos, wasps, frogs, snakes and the like?
Doing an amazing job Di, looking brilliant, how proud you must be to see it take shape as it has π
Oh yes the man cave..perfect place for it too π x
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I think all rooms belong to geckos, wasps, frogs, snakes and the like (actually – no room belongs to snakes at the moment) π
It’s really coming together, Jen – pretty soon I’ll have my chair swing on that veranda, sipping cocktails and finishing novels! π
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can I say I’m so happy for you, with my fingers crossed behind my back? π grrrrrβ¦ I’m happy for you – what a way to while away a day π xx
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LOL! I’ll have to get some pics π
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that you will and then don’t show me lol π
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Can I post it to you? lol π
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if you must lol π x
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I’ll do it anonymously π
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good girlβ¦I’m sure I won’t know that way π
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π
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how do you do the laughing face emoticon?
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Take the spacing out and try this : lol :
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π
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hee hee it worked lol – thanks hun π
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YAY!
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..it’s just small things at timesβ¦isn’t it π x
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I’ve loved seeing this transformation. You must be so proud. It really is looking gorgeous.
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Awww – thank you so much π
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This was quite a mission, Dianne. It’s turned out to be such a beautiful residence. You must be so happy with the results of all your hard work. π I love it!
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It’s a lot of work, Sylvia, but really worth it in the end. Have you taken on the same deal yet with the property you were looking at? π
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Still waiting for an answer on our offer. I’ll be sure to let you know. π
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I love seeing your home transform. You have done an amazing job. And though it’s been exhausting I bet it’s worth it all. Beautiful x
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It’s fantastic, Rebecca. There’s nothing better than sitting back at the end of the day and looking at something you’ve worked so hard on (just wish I could do that with my novels at the moment!) LOL π
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It’s looking so nice Dianne, and I’m sure you will have many happy years here.
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I really hope so π We’re putting a water lift in (just in case those stairs become too much for us one day) π
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Looks great, Dianne! I love seeing the stages. I’ll be sure to e-mail you my address so you can mail my invitation to your big house warming party! π
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No problems at all, Jill! You’re welcome any time π
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Fun to see the transformation. This was quite the project you took on. Wonderful to see it progressing so well!
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Thanks so much, Carrie – it’s been big, but then again I don’t ever take the easy road (LOL) π
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I just love how you’ve laid out these pictures so that we can see the transformation happening step by step! It looks wonderful Dianne π
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Thank you, Amb. I thought I should do it this way because it’s hard to believe (even for me) how much it’s changed. I was surprised when I started putting this post together thinking, ‘wow! Things look SO different now’ π
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Beautiful job!
Glad you’re almost at the end of it.
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I’m starting to see that light at the end of the tunnel, Guap! YAY π
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It’s been finding watching the progress. Thanks for pulling this pics together for us.
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It was good for me to put the pics together as well, Nancy. I couldn’t find half of them (I can never find anything since I switched to windows 8 about three years ago). I find this operating system really confusing. I’m sure I’ve taken more photos and they’re somewhere in this mess of a filing system π One day an archaeologist will find them π
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When I see it like this, it’s a truly amazing project, Dianne. I don’t know how you ever thought it would be possible, what made you start, but kudos!
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It must have been temporary insanity, Jacqui π I don’t know what I was thinking!
But it’s good to see it’s all come together now (phew – it could have easily gone the other way) π―
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This is an amazing transformation! I’m glad it’s finally coming together. I’d have lost my sanity and clumps of hair if I’d have attempted such a project π
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My sanity disappeared for a while (lost somewhere with clumps of hair) but it seems to have returned now, Janna π (I think) LOL
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so interesting Dianne π I’m going to share this with hubby. I love the result even though you say it isn’t complete. Please share pics of man cave π
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The man-cave is just a big open space under the house at the moment but there’s talk of a big TV and sports memorabilia and a bar and all sorts of boyish dreams. I’m sure it’ll happen, but not until I’ve got ‘my part’ finished first (LOL) π
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Wow looks like lots of work! I really love the front yard, very pretty. And you are right the man cave is very important I see that being a fun task though π
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The man-cave will be a fun task because it’s going to be the ‘big boys play area’ LOL π
So glad you like it, I’ve got mango and avocado trees planted in the front yard – they’ll be lovely in a few years time π
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Wow, it looks great! Go you!!
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Thanks, Lily! It’s much more comfortable here now than it was 12 months ago π
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What a spectacular transformation! And the pictures made it look so easy! HA! Oh yes, you better get busy on that man cave, as no home can be complete without one! π
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LOL! That’s exactly what hubby says! π
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It’s been so fun watching your work in progress!
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Thanks, Char. We’ve had some fun on this side as well! π
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It’s amazing that you’ve taken a building that might have been forgotten and unloved then transformed it to have a new lease of life – as a home, a sanctuary, a workplace and a man cave that will be loved for years to come. Good on you Dianne π
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Thanks, Tracy. This place was going to be demolished so I’m glad we saved it. We’ve got a bit of a joke going on now that the ‘powers that be’ will see it in the near future and insist on Heritage Listing it (without realising it was the same place they wanted to demolish two years ago) π
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Trite but true: ‘Time flies when you’re having fun.’ π Great pics.
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LOL – it certainly does, Billy Ray! π
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What a great job you guys have done… down to the potted plants in the front!
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There re some nice trees in those pots (ready to plant), Letizia π Mango, avocado and mandarin – YUM! π
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I am really impressed with the way you took on and tackled the moving and renovation! And the results look fantastic, which must make it all the sweeter. I’m afraid renovation is way beyond my desires or abilities, but I still envy people like you who make it look easy! π
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If you had told me five years ago I’d be doing this I would have laughed (very loudly) – but I guess I just ‘fell into’ this one through necessity because we needed a place to live on the farm to look after hubby’s parents. It’s something I wouldn’t do again in a hurry (LOL) π
I’m so glad you like it – I’m pretty proud of the achievements and it’s great to sit back at the end of a hard day and appreciate it π
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I really love how this has all come together for you. I know that you’ve had your fair share of problems (as is expected with all house renovations), but you are so close to being done! Woo hoo!
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Woo hoo! (I love that because that’s exactly how I feel!) Thank you so much π
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Amazing to see the progress. Even more so to live it! π
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I’m certainly living it! π
It’s been a bit of a wild ride, but the roller-coaster has just about leveled out π
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Yeah! It takes a while! π
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Such fun to see the progress! What’s next in the total overhaul file?
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The bathroom and then the underneath part – and then the ‘sit back and relax and enjoy a cocktail’ part π
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wow! Huge difference. Nice work π
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Thanks, Daphne! π
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This is looking really great, Dianne. So much work that you’ve done. Although I have to laugh at the absence of front steps. I have visions of you abseiling out that gate. π
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LOL! There are other stair cases π It does look a bit goofy though – I need those steps ASAP! π
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That looks AMAZING!!! I still want to come and sit on your porch with you! π
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Any time, Bonnie, any time! π
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Lookin’ amazing Dianne! Funny — 16 months ago we were in our Journey and it looks the same today as it did then. Hmmmm…. But then I’m sure you worked a lot harder than I! π
Cheers,
Peter
A retired photographer looks at life from behind an RV steering wheel.
Life Unscripted
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I hope all is going well for you, Peter π I’m so glad you like the way it looks now – yes, it’s been a lot of work π
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I love the RUC. Not so sure about your menagerie of visitors though. And Peg would definitely NOT love them. Not sure if we’ll ever get a chance to come your way but I have been as far north as The Gold Coast, and always wanted to make it to Darwin. Sigh…. not in the cards at the time.
Cheers,
Peter
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Before and afters make you realise just how far you’ve come, Diane. It really is a super job! π
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Thanks so much, Jo – even I forgot how far we’ve come! π
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Oh, Dianne. Thank you so much for photographic proof that change is possible. What a lovely transformation. I have a feeling that this transformation wasn’t just physical. Congratulations. {{{Hugs}}} kozo
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It certainly wasn’t just physical, Kozo – you are very intuitive indeed π
Big {{{hugs}}} my dear friend π
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Awesomeness, I have super happy for you Dianne Gray. What a beautiful transition. Home is indeed where the heart bursts into sheer joy!!!
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What a beautiful saying – yes, my heart bursts into sheer joy!!! I love it π
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that one line should read, “I am super happy for you…” My fingers are typing faster than my brain is thinking. Take care, my friend!
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LOL! I didn’t notice – I actually read it as “I am super happy for you” and had to look at it twice when you mentioned it. It’s amazing how our eyes see what we ‘want to’ see π
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Amazing transformation, Dianne. I can’t believe it’s been 16 months either.
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It’s flown by! π
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Congrats, doll! What an accomplishment. Love the “man cave”. We have a tiny cave in our tiny apartment for my tall man.
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LOL – your poor ‘tall’ man. Our man cave has plenty of head room if you’re ever down this way! π
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Wow Dianne was it really 16 months since you moved the RUC to your property???? Seems like yesterday. You must be so pleased with how it looks now.
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I think the RUC moved their almost 12 months ago but we started working on demolishing the old place about 16 months ago (that’s probably the reason why you thought the time had gone quickly) π
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Just wonderful, Dianne! π
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Thank you my dear! π
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Definitely a candidate for ‘Grand Designs Australia’
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Aww – thank you! I should have had a film crew here through the whole process. It would have been a mix of Jerry Springer, House Rules, A nightmare on Elm Street, Sons of Anarchy and Murder She Wrote π
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It looks amazing. You’re doing such a wonderful job!
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Thank you, my dear! It’s been a long road, but I’m getting there π
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Looks beautiful – and I remember when you had the RUC delivered. I love seeing all the things you have changed – I think you need to do some photos of the innards now π
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Definitely need photos of the innards (when I’m finished – shhh, don’t tell anyone, I’m a bit slow on the finer details) π
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Well done, Dianne. A beautiful place you have!
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Thanks, Dannie. It’s been a lot of work, but worth it π
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