Photos from week starting 31st January

It was the builder's first week back after the summer holiday so we were expecting an acceleration in progress.  They did pretty well considering that the temperature during the day for most of the week was about 40 degrees and with no rain during January the ground has turned to dust.

The drainage membrane and pipes are being installed

Drainage pipes (I am not sure why there are two and why the connection is through the concrete.)

The gravel has been poured into the gap and there is a layer of soil dust coating everything

The house is now fully integrated into the ground.  This is a pretty significant milestone and it has taken seven months to achieve!

Permanent formwork for the slab over the equipment room

These are the laminated timber beams for the roof structure

The frames for the hallway walls are all in position and you can see what the view will be like when you walk through the front door 

We bought these steel raised garden beds to create the vegetable garden on the west side of the house

This is the west side of the house yesterday.  Like a dust bowl

The pencil cedars that have grown where we have cleared the lantana are really suffering due to the heat and the lack of rain.

Update note on Sunday:  at last the hot weather has broken and this afternoon the skies darkened and we have rain.  Lets hope that the plants get a good drink.