Only two weeks to go until my house will arrive and the driveway is a mess. It can be used as moto cross track but not for the heavy truck. I just sent an email to the earthmover. Hopefully he will come with a solution. I see already the dollars rolling.

This means: "Base constructed and substantial completion of wall and roof frame."
I was allowed to visit the construction site.



The first thing I saw was 'my' house, especially the colours (the same as the shed) were unmistakable.



The steel frame inspires confidence - the Termites and White Ants will lose their last teeth.

Today we inspected the progress of the shed - amazing! I'm really happy with the appearance:



The earthmover has also done what I wanted him to do - a new entrance to the property and preparing the 'bed' were the transportable home will have its place in future.



Clare was pretty naughty - escaping from the property and then didn't know how to come back:

Today Clare saw her future home for the first time.



I think she enjoyed roaming around.

Meanwhile I inspected the development of the shed. The foundation is done:



And the parts for the shed have arrived.



Kitty is sleeping - like always:

Yesterday I lodged the application for the aerobic septic tank system. I also asked the officer whether she would knew something about the application for the new dwelling. She contacted the responsible person: "Fresh from the press - your application has been approved". Returning home I left a message for the manager of the building company and a short time later I got this email:

"We have scheduled your file and are releasing to construction today as we also heard you have council approval now – Yay!
You will get a letter early next week confirming this."

Oh happy day.

Yesterday correspondence with the manager of the building company:

"Hi,
I have spoken to G. C. and unfortunately you will have to go back in and re-select the door cupboards.
I am sorry as the gentleman you saw made a mistake.
Could you please look at doing this appointment ASAP?
Thanks!"

They added $ 1.000,- for the colour selection and this was never discussed before. When I selected the colours of the tiles and the upgrade of the fittings in the bathroom each time I had to sign an additional contract but not for the cupboards. I wrote back that I won't go back and they can take any colour and I'm very disappointed and I want to cancel the additional tiles in the ensuite (they should have matched with the colour of the linen cupboard). The next email was kind of encouraging:

"Hi,
I will take this up with my General Manager and the owner of G. C.!
I am not happy either!
I will try my very best to make this happen at no additional cost to yourself.
Stay tuned!!!"

Let's see what happens next. It's not about the money - it's (like usual) about the principle.

Yesterday - 24th of January - the official day for the purchase of our property.



And here the 'street' where we will spend the rest of our lives.

I'm now member of:

http://www.treesforlife.org.au/home/tflworks/

and eligible to receive seeds and seedlings for my property next year. I also want to attend a workshop and get involved as a volonteer. This will distract me from my wish to keep animals.

Yesterday I signed the contract and now I'm the owner of the second beautyful property in Australia (there is always a place nicer than mine - it all depends on the price).
A new target to reach: building a house. I think I will erect a transportable home (www.asth.com.au). They use a steel frame, what I like. Here they don't put one brick onto another like in Austria/Germany. Here they first build a frame (timber or rarely steel) and then they fix a cladding (they call it weather board) with some insulation in between. Brick veneer is also a possibility but it is dearer. Very weird. When using timber it has to be treated against white ants and termites on a regular basis. This I want to avoid. Tomorrow I will meet the agent of the company.



Our new home?

The vendor accepted my offer and soon I will be the owner of a beautyful 8,5 ha piece of Australia.
As holder of a temporary visa I have to seek permission at the Foreign Investment Review Board (http://www.firb.gov.au/content/default.asp) before purchasing a property. It took only 3 days and the answer came by email:

"...Under section 25(1B) of the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 – there are no objections to the applicant(s) purchasing the abovementioned property subject to the following legally binding conditions imposed under section 25(1A) of the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975:

• the applicant(s) must construct a house on the vacant land; and
• ongoing development must commence within 24 months of the date of this email...."

This shouldn't be a problem.