The trench in the wet

OMG what is the weather doing?  Crazy stuff in Sydney at the moment!  And with the report about the hottest January to March quarter on record (world wide) it's hard to imagine people disbelieving climate change!

Today was a day of high winds and lots of driving rain.  Almost cyclonic conditions.  But at least things should be easing a bit tomorrow.  It was so bad today we had our Premier tell us to go home early!  I can hear the howling wind outside.  And am just glad I'm inside.  Warm and toasty!  Something I hope to be soon in our new home!

But to get there we need a trench.  A trench for services.  A trench that would have cost us $18500 with Sekisui House.  Yes!  Crazy amount to be a variation so late in the game.  You can read more here.  We pushed back and we were 'allowed' to get our own quotes and contractors to do the work.  And so we have.  After a lot of ringing and online form filling in we found the Dig It Civil guys.  They are based in the Eastern Suburbs and seem to specialise in difficult sites.  So ours is straight forward.  

The trench is costing us $2800 + GST.  We'll also get the driveway bit fixed where there is a lump of rock which will make the actual driveway easier.  That's costing $900 + GST.  

So our Site Supervisor changed the combination on the lock and the site is effectively handed over to us.  I'm hoping we can hand it back soon so they can finish the house!  

The work started this morning despite the dreadful weather.  We had a guy rock up in a ute with a rock saw, an Irishman rock up in a Holden Barina (I think!) and another guy with a truck rock up with the digging machine (ha! I have no idea what it is called).  But only one stayed to do the work.  The guy in the Barina.

Big rock saw

 I watched from the car as they grabbed the rock saw from the back of a ute with the digging machine.

Hiding in the car watching...

 The 'digging' machine :)  With tank track wheel things.  Amazing watching it go down our driveway.

So what's this thing called?  Excavator I'm told!

Another photo of the Rock Saw

 Trench before sawing and work.

Pre trench

 We rocked up and soon after this guy turned up.  This was after a night of listening to the howling winds and not wanting to get out of beds ourselves to brave the weather in the morning.

Rock saw on Ute

Up close this saw is scary

The trench needs to be created in the soil / garden bed on the right hand side of the battleaxe driveway

The guys discussing the work to be done

Also some update photos.

Photo taken through the window at the front of the house

Front of house update

 And maybe a new friend!?  If you can think of a name for this female dog let me know.  (I'm not a fan of human names for pets - just because I don't want people thinking I'm being so mean to my kids by leaving them at home by themselves or in crates or just feeding them sardines with rice!)

Help me name this cutie!

You can read more about this girl here on my other blog.