Southerly by David Haywood

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Southerly: Deconstruction and Construction

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  • Hilary Stace,

    Unlikely. They are from Dunedin where that sort of thing doesn't happen. But I know the spa pool business is tough at the moment, so they need good publicity. (Sundance spas by the way)

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    If they can make a lid that doesn't fill up with water and weigh 40 kg after 2 years I'd be a customer. Mind you it acts as another layer of safety because any child that can lift the lid is one I don't want to meet in a dark alley.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    I'm sorry Bart but I don't actually know anything about spa pools. I'm with David on their desirability. I do know it is a family business of very nice people who do very good customer service: Auckland, Tauranga and Alexandra and possibly other places too.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __, in reply to Raymond A Francis,

    David, you tell a ripping yarn! :-) I’m so pleased things are going more smoothly for you. And you’re actually going to live in the Linwood earthquake village, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve biked past it and wondered if it was really real!

    Bob the builder, hasn’t he grown

    I was trying not to say this, but Raymond has said it for me. :-) What a clever (and handsome) young man. I'm speechless with admiration at the t &g dulcimer-case.

    Re: spa pools: aren’t they a nice sensuous relaxing hot bath you can have outside in cold weather? With or without friends? That’s what I thought the point was.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Deborah,

    The (non)desirability is one of the fundamental areas of disagreement in our marriage. My husband loves to soak in them for hours, and I get bored after 10 minutes. Even with other people, and alcohol, involved. When we were house hunting the presence of a spa pool was always a major negative for me. And a positive for him.

    An excellent read, as usual, David. And like everyone else, I am in awe of Bob's building abilities.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell,

    Great update, and heartening news. And bless that Dalziel and his hammer.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __,

    bless that Dalziel and his hammer

    unconfirmed sighting

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Lilith __,

    bless that Dalziel and his hammer

    unconfirmed sighting

    His accompanying Clouds of Glory are usually more discreet & much better rendered.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand, in reply to Emma Hart,

    Blokes with thin moustaches, receding hairlines, gold chains, undersized speedos and visible leers?

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Geoff Lealand,

    bless the 80s and all who sailed in them

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Aidan,

    Did he do the rebates for the hinges? Paint me impressed .. and little worried you let him use a chisel.

    And what the hell was that enormous pole thing the garaport was attached to? Not a hop growing frame? If so I'd be REALLY impressed.

    Mmmmm hops.

    Canberra, Australia • Since Feb 2007 • 154 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe,

    I suggest we put the Christchurch rebuild in Bob's hands. Amazing piece of craftsmanship!

    I'm pleased to hread that you are heading future-wards. I'm still trying to resurrect the laptop with shelterbelt info for you that is imprisoned in its beady little heart.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to Hebe,

    shelterbelt info

    Depends what you want it for- long-term enhancement; a variety of natives.
    Short-term shelter: tagasasate/tree lucerne is hard to beat. It's surprisingly good firewood (and stock feed), very high calorific value wood, but hard; nitrogen fixing, fast growing, wood pigeons love it. For firewood, acacia dealbata is fast, coppices well, and easy splitting when it gets big. Some of the eucalypts grow like grey-green rockets- not so sure how they coppice, but they are popular, and high calorific value firewood too. (I did a polytech course on this once- wish I had the notes:)

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to George Darroch,

    You don’t need water to drink alcohol.

    No, but water and alcohol are better at getting people's clothes off than either one on it's own.

    @David Haywood

    Well done! It seems like only yesterday (but has actually been 7 horrible stress filled months of hard labour) that this idea was suggested to you by Che Tibby, and you said you'd contemplated it but weren't sure if it was possible.

    I thought it probably was, only because I've done it once before, and there's no requirement that the house be in one piece, and it's an amazingly cost effective way of getting a house built. Especially in your case, since you already owned the house. I was definitely extremely nervous on the day that the house might fall off the truck somewhere along the way down from Whangarei to Auckland. But it was quite literally done and dusted in one day, by a very competent team of extremely foul mouthed engineers.

    Fantastic work! May your new ground remain forever firm under your feet, and these years be remembered fondly as your finest days. I was staggered that you took the time to apologize to me over some imagined slight from years ago during all of this catastrophe - your character is an inspiration*.

    *Edit: If it goes swimmingly, it could also be something others in your plight could do? How many others are have done, or are doing it, that you know down there?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • David Haywood, in reply to Aidan,

    I did the rebates and rabbets (for joints) as well as providing guidance in the measuring. But Bob used the cut-off saw (not rip saw) and drill. Makes me realize that 4-year-olds can do more than you'd think.

    The pole is a great mystery. It points due north. Saint Dalziel has speculated that it may have been a time portal.

    Dunsandel • Since Nov 2006 • 1156 posts Report Reply

  • Aidan,

    The time portal might have been for passionfruit? Or are they rare beasties in the land of the frost and snow?

    My (now 10) year old has had his own electric drill for 2 years now. Managed not to make any large holes in himself or his friends/sisters (mutually exclusive).

    One day while fiddling with my 12v Li-ion drill he accidentally pulled the trigger, which promptly spun around and clocked him a nasty blow in the temple. After that lesson the drill we bought him was a nice wee one like this:

    http://www.ozito.com.au/12v-lithium-ion-cordless-drill

    but was only 9V, with a great deal less torque.

    He has built two sets of shelves, a go-cart and numerous contraptions, but nothing with the finish of that box.

    Canberra, Australia • Since Feb 2007 • 154 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    The beauty of Bob's case has made me feel terrible that I wouldn't let my almost seven year old help with the Ikea furniture... in my defense, it was only 'cause I was struggling...

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to David Haywood,

    akes me realize that 4-year-olds can do more than you’d think.

    Those lovely fresh brains and nimble little fingers...bit lacking in the strength department, but I'd trust most 4-yrolds *who have good teachers* (like their mum or dad in this instance) over most beenthere-donethat-knowitall 40 yrolds...

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • David Haywood, in reply to Jolisa,

    Those paving stones look ominously back-ruining to me. In the absence of a full-on PAS working bee (St Ian is a celestial army of one), d’you think Student Job Search might be able to help a little?

    Thank you for kind thoughts and wise medical observations!

    Now that you mention it, the idea of hosting a paving, pizza, and beer party is beginning to appeal. Attendees can eat and drink as much as they'd like -- but they just have to shift 200 paving stones beforehand.

    It might work.

    Dunsandel • Since Nov 2006 • 1156 posts Report Reply

  • David Haywood, in reply to BenWilson,

    If it goes swimmingly, it could also be something others in your plight could do? How many others are have done, or are doing it, that you know down there?

    Thanks for the very kind message, Ben. The land covenants make it almost impossible to relocate a house within an hour’s drive of Christchurch. I know of one other person who is moving her house, but she is going to her daughter’s farm (you are allowed two houses on one rural section if you are a parent/child of the owner). The system set up by CERA also makes it nearly impossible to move a house for most people – since CERA will only sell the house back to you at a price way above market value for a relocatable. I doubt many other people will have my persistence in fighting to get it done.

    EDIT: And, of course, most people can’t get new insurance once their claim is settled (which they’d have to do in order to relocate their existing houses) – and won’t be able to until long after CERA has demolished the house that they want to move.

    Dunsandel • Since Nov 2006 • 1156 posts Report Reply

  • David Haywood, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    Short-term shelter: tagasasate/tree lucerne is hard to beat. It’s surprisingly good firewood (and stock feed), very high calorific value wood, but hard; nitrogen fixing, fast growing, wood pigeons love it. For firewood, acacia dealbata is fast, coppices well, and easy splitting when it gets big. Some of the eucalypts grow like grey-green rockets- not so sure how they coppice, but they are popular, and high calorific value firewood too.

    Thanks for the info, Rob. It seems hard to find a good coppicing tree that is also not considered an invasive tree weed! People seem to be tending towards the coppicing eucalypts in Canterbury these days.

    Dunsandel • Since Nov 2006 • 1156 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to David Haywood,

    The system set up by CERA also makes it nearly impossible to move a house for most people – since CERA will only sell the house back to you at a price way above market value for a relocatable. I doubt many other people will have my persistence in fighting to get it done.

    Glad you ignored them bastards then. Glad your can do attitude has come to the fore.Glad you sound bouncy back rather than bleak. Glad Bob the builder is ready for the construction end and over the destruction end. I am sure a move is as good as a change ;)
    So good to hear of a family moving foreward in the upside down city.
    The elusive Ian should stay that way. Keep them guessing :)
    And Jen, behind every good man is probably an ever so good, strong woman. She must be doing it in spades. From this must come an ever stronger relationship. You are lucky eh ? So look foreward to the pics. Get a good base for the cobblestones. I know quite a bit about the cobblestone business. Good base, good string line for good straight lines and bend at the kness or squat when laying.(and I don't mean that, in that way), Good luck to you all.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming,

    I see Saint Dalziel's reality distortion field is still affecting the photograph in the post...

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to nzlemming,

    The Long Man hill figure...

    Saint Dalziel’s reality distortion field is still affecting the photograph in the post…

    Trying to capture photons when aligned with the portal is problematic at best, but the image from the other side as observed and interpreted by the good folk of ancient Wilmington (in true Report on Probability A style) looks like this...
    The trench becomes an invisible Ley Line...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    So you only helped out in order to get Leyed?

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

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