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Monday was a public holiday. The King’s birthday. A day off for most, but for me? Just another day to get things done. I was in early, setting up for what would be an absolute whirlwind of a week. Come Tuesday, it was full throttle—meeting the crew, diving into demolition, and moving skip bins like there was no tomorrow.

Bin Wars: The Unexpected Battle

The original plan was simple—two bins: one for clean rubble and one for green waste. That plan went out the window fast. Three rubble bins, three concrete bins, three green waste bins, and we’re now on our fourth 15-meter hook skip bin. At this rate, I might as well start a bin collection service on the side!

The Crew Rolls In

Tuesday also brought in a parade of trades. The plumber showed up, the scanner checked out the retaining wall, and the CSI (yes, really) came in to test the Venetian plaster. Jakey Lennon, the aircon guy, had a squiz and gave me some good news—the ducted aircon is still in top-notch condition. That’s a win! The house itself has great bones, solar panels on the roof, and is structurally solid. That’s why I bought the place in the first place—good foundation, good potential, and a chance to make something brilliant out of it.

Pool Party (Sort Of)

Before I could get too carried away with the reno work, there was one more thing to sort out—the pool. Naturally, I had to squeeze in a quick swim before we emptied it. Priorities, right? But then, down came the fences, out went the water, and boom—one less thing to worry about. The pool will get its facelift later, but for now, it was all about clearing the space.

Swinging Sledgehammers for Stress Relief

The best part of the week? Saturday. No emails. No office work. Just me, a sledgehammer, and a house that needed breaking. The Frenchies (the mates, not the dogs) were in, and so were Edward and Laurie. We took out some emotion on those walls, with Sonny even getting in on the action. Nothing quite like the sound of a sledgehammer connecting with a stubborn wall to clear the mind.

Progress So Far

• Demolition is well underway.

• Retaining wall prep is happening.

• The right-hand side is nearly clear.

• Bathrooms and bedrooms (four to six) are shaping up.

• Media room is in the works.