Fuming
2012-10-25 15:39
SMS: "Please call AGL on 131 245 & quote your account as we were unable to access your electricity meter."
6 weeks ago I terminated the contract with the electricity provider AGL with 19.10.2010. "No problem, all done". On Monday 22.10. I have been at the house and checked whether the light was still working - it was. So I called what's going on, why the power is still connected when I terminated it 3 days ago. "No problem. Your account has been closed. You won't be charged..." And now I got this message. I called immediately and asked why they want to do the reading now when allegedly this has been done before. "We are not doing meter readings on Friday!" "Your account can't be closed until the meter reading has been made" "We don't accept readings by the client"....
6 weeks ago I terminated the contract with the electricity provider AGL with 19.10.2010. "No problem, all done". On Monday 22.10. I have been at the house and checked whether the light was still working - it was. So I called what's going on, why the power is still connected when I terminated it 3 days ago. "No problem. Your account has been closed. You won't be charged..." And now I got this message. I called immediately and asked why they want to do the reading now when allegedly this has been done before. "We are not doing meter readings on Friday!" "Your account can't be closed until the meter reading has been made" "We don't accept readings by the client"....
Permalink (4 comments) comment
It's over!
2012-10-24 19:25
Sigh. Today the very last day of my rental relationship. I went to the property to clean the chicken run and pick up some few stuff I didn't want to leave there. Next week on Tuesday the real estate agent will do the final inspection and then the moment of truth will become reality: DO THEY RETURN MY BOND? The house is falling apart and I always was afraid that they will make me responsible for all the damage the ravages of time have done to the dwelling. We'll see. I'm ready to fight.
Good news: I bought a 250 l trough for the wildlife - hopefully the wallabies and kangaroos will accept my offer of fresh water.
Clare is now official member of the Goyder Council:
Me too - happy new garbage wheelie bins:
Sad news: I gave away my peacocks and guinea fowls - although I found an excellent place for them 2 hours drive away (the lady who took the pig "Miss Piggy" [or "Snotty", the official name]) and one of my hens - "Jade" died.
Good news: I bought a 250 l trough for the wildlife - hopefully the wallabies and kangaroos will accept my offer of fresh water.
Clare is now official member of the Goyder Council:
Me too - happy new garbage wheelie bins:
Sad news: I gave away my peacocks and guinea fowls - although I found an excellent place for them 2 hours drive away (the lady who took the pig "Miss Piggy" [or "Snotty", the official name]) and one of my hens - "Jade" died.
Nearly finished
2012-10-14 12:36
I managed to move most of my stuff to the new home. Next week I will return and clean the rented place and mow the lawn for the last time. If anybody is looking for Clare or me: you may find us at the end of the world. Literally!
Permalink (9 comments) comment
Final spurt
2012-10-11 15:06
It's getting serious. Today the last payment for the rent has been transferred and in 14 days I have to be out. Somehow I'm feeling as if I'm glued to this place. I hate it but on the other hand I got used to it. Yesterday I brought the poultry to their new enclosure - unfortunately one guinea fowl escaped when I tried to catch it and put into a box. The other birds are doing well I'm sure they like their new pen.
A couple of weeks ago I bought 10 sqm of instant lawn for the chicken run as well. I couldn't imagine how difficult this would be: 1 sqm (it comes in rolls) is weighing 36 kg. 
Sweating and swearing - as usual.
Meanwhile I also managed to conquer my worst enemy: the washing machine. I only dropped it once - but luckily it's still working. A little bit more of biceps would help a lot when moving stuff.
A couple of weeks ago I bought 10 sqm of instant lawn for the chicken run as well. I couldn't imagine how difficult this would be: 1 sqm (it comes in rolls) is weighing 36 kg. Sweating and swearing - as usual. Meanwhile I also managed to conquer my worst enemy: the washing machine. I only dropped it once - but luckily it's still working. A little bit more of biceps would help a lot when moving stuff.
Happy, happy, happy!
2012-09-22 18:28
Normally I'm seeking harmony, but this time I got kind of angry. I received an invoice to pay $ 263.- for "extra cost incurred due to turning the house"! Okay, this is not so much money, but it wasn't my fault that the house came the wrong way. I wrote this to the manager and I received the following respond:
"Good Morning, Just spoke with D. about this. Received a phone call about this site from earthmover on the morning of the move concerned about access etc due to recent rain. Was too late to cancel the job at that time and would incur Police costs of $ 600 to cancel. Asked him to be onsite with machine to assist if possible. Loaded the building as built. On arrival at site it was evident that best option to prevent bogging was to turn the building. Site would have been OK if dry conditions and was not prepared for the wet. What we did was the cheapest and most effective under those conditions. Regards..."
I was so angry and wrote:
"Thank you for your email and explanation of P.. But the stuff about the weather is pure bullshit. You may/should watch again my photos: http://youtu.be/kmwB-zPVTbw
There you can see that they first came in with the house the wrong way! I screamed they should stop and then they started to think how to solve the problem!! That has nothing to do with the pad or weather or whatever. Solely with their misinterpretation of the plans. Even if they did not know how to place the house: the solar hot water connection on the roof - facing north!! - should give enough clue. Please look at the photos. They give evidence about the fault of Peter and his co-workers!! AND: I still didn't receive an answer about the shelves in the pantry/ cloakroom and the loose/broken sheets underneath the house. Regards, ..."
And what shall I say? It worked:
"Hi, My boss has decided to waive the extra transport costs due to the inconvenience you have had with the shelving. I will email you through shortly with a new statement."
And the best thing: Yesterday I got my shelves in the pantry and cloakroom!! They're looking great.
"Good Morning, Just spoke with D. about this. Received a phone call about this site from earthmover on the morning of the move concerned about access etc due to recent rain. Was too late to cancel the job at that time and would incur Police costs of $ 600 to cancel. Asked him to be onsite with machine to assist if possible. Loaded the building as built. On arrival at site it was evident that best option to prevent bogging was to turn the building. Site would have been OK if dry conditions and was not prepared for the wet. What we did was the cheapest and most effective under those conditions. Regards..."
I was so angry and wrote:
"Thank you for your email and explanation of P.. But the stuff about the weather is pure bullshit. You may/should watch again my photos: http://youtu.be/kmwB-zPVTbw
There you can see that they first came in with the house the wrong way! I screamed they should stop and then they started to think how to solve the problem!! That has nothing to do with the pad or weather or whatever. Solely with their misinterpretation of the plans. Even if they did not know how to place the house: the solar hot water connection on the roof - facing north!! - should give enough clue. Please look at the photos. They give evidence about the fault of Peter and his co-workers!! AND: I still didn't receive an answer about the shelves in the pantry/ cloakroom and the loose/broken sheets underneath the house. Regards, ..."
And what shall I say? It worked:
"Hi, My boss has decided to waive the extra transport costs due to the inconvenience you have had with the shelving. I will email you through shortly with a new statement."
And the best thing: Yesterday I got my shelves in the pantry and cloakroom!! They're looking great.
Permalink (5 comments) comment
My letter to the Company
2012-08-13 14:39
Dear Sir or Madam,
Re: General Maintenance
1. I would appreciate if you would send a person to fix the 'Termifloor' sheet floor. There are several sheets hanging loose and one sheet (near the pipes on the south-east corner of the house) is broken and parts are missing.
2. According to the house plan there should be "450 mm deep shelves to pantry". There are no shelves. I remember a conversation with the person of G. Custom Joinery. He asked me about the shelves in the pantry and the cloakroom as well. I passed the query to D. K. and he had a consultation with someone of the Company. The answer D. transferred to me was: "The Company will take care of the shelves!"
3. I'm not happy with the work of Mr E. S.. He left a lot of dirt and was not honest in his statement. He wrote: "Hairline crack in ceiling (living room), patched and sanded, not painted. No ceiling paint left on job." The crack was in the wall (not ceiling) of the kitchen (not living room) and there was plenty of paint left. (I now asked the tiler to improve the weird repair.)
He overlooked a missing light bulb (outside the house - south face) and a cover of the power point in the 'office' (not to mention that he didn't look underneath the house - then he would have seen the loose 'Termifloor' sheets!
4. You attached a 'Statement of Compliance' for the Council but you didn't sign it. I therefore send it back to you so that you may place your signature (who ever is eligible to do so).
With kind regards
Re: General Maintenance
1. I would appreciate if you would send a person to fix the 'Termifloor' sheet floor. There are several sheets hanging loose and one sheet (near the pipes on the south-east corner of the house) is broken and parts are missing.
2. According to the house plan there should be "450 mm deep shelves to pantry". There are no shelves. I remember a conversation with the person of G. Custom Joinery. He asked me about the shelves in the pantry and the cloakroom as well. I passed the query to D. K. and he had a consultation with someone of the Company. The answer D. transferred to me was: "The Company will take care of the shelves!"
3. I'm not happy with the work of Mr E. S.. He left a lot of dirt and was not honest in his statement. He wrote: "Hairline crack in ceiling (living room), patched and sanded, not painted. No ceiling paint left on job." The crack was in the wall (not ceiling) of the kitchen (not living room) and there was plenty of paint left. (I now asked the tiler to improve the weird repair.)
He overlooked a missing light bulb (outside the house - south face) and a cover of the power point in the 'office' (not to mention that he didn't look underneath the house - then he would have seen the loose 'Termifloor' sheets!
4. You attached a 'Statement of Compliance' for the Council but you didn't sign it. I therefore send it back to you so that you may place your signature (who ever is eligible to do so).
With kind regards
Permalink (2 comments) comment
Work goes on
2012-08-10 15:41
The 'umbilican cord' = power cable to the house has been laid yesterday and today Telstra (telephone company) will come and use the same trench. This does not mean I do have power. AGL will instal the meter on 23rd of August and then I'm really (!) connected.
The same day the septic tank (like a big 'shit pot') has been delivered.
The plumber was busy and worked well.
(Although he managed to damage an electric wire at the house).
The same day the septic tank (like a big 'shit pot') has been delivered.
The plumber was busy and worked well.
(Although he managed to damage an electric wire at the house).
Permalink (4 comments) comment
Arrival of the house
2012-08-01 23:23
Attention - long story!
Permalink (5 comments) comment
End result:
2012-07-31 19:18
It was nerve-wracking, but only the end result counts - or not?
I will put together some of the 137 photographs taken yesterday. They first wanted to place the house the wrong way! They had to unload the house in the driveway, turn the truck and loader around and start again. Two times bogged in the pad! The house was swinging from one side to the other on the back of the loader! And so on. The whole time the team seemed relaxed - I was freaking out.
Permalink (3 comments) comment
Delivered to my mailbox:
2012-07-27 16:09
I'm so happy and excited I can't describe it. Besides those nightmares that the truck will get bogged in the driveway. The earthmover promised to be on call with heavy machinery. 3 days to go.
... older stories
