After waiting 18 months for our new house to be completed, we could finally move in in June 1989. I was so annoyed with our useless builder, who went broke before completing the house. His suppliers refused to sell him timber, bricks and windows because he couldn't pay his bills. Luckily our bank came to the rescue and paid for the supplies and the house got finished. (sort of). Bill had to do a lot of the finishing touches.
Not quite finished but we could move in.
Bill had to build a bridge so we could use the back entrance. He also installed the air-conditioning. (That was his day job)
I felt sorry for our daughter, Carol. She was in her final year of high school and had important exams in November and she had been moved from her home, then a rental and now into a new home. This all should have happened at the beginning of the school year (January in Australia). However, she did very well in the end.
Carol was in year 12 and Sonya in Year 10 at John Paul College, Daisy Hill.
Bill used to volunteer at Radio 4EB (Ethnic radio) for the Swiss Program.
I was teaching Year 5 at Mt Cotton State School.
Carol turned 17 and had a murder mystery birthday party. Most of her friends studied drama at school so they did a great job.
We had visitors from USA. They were Bill's cousins from San Diego. They were riding around the world but flying over the oceans. They brought their bikes with them. They stayed with us and did lots of jobs around the house.
We had friends visit from Switzerland.
Sonya wanted to be a model. She did a few modelling jobs. 1989 was a busy year.
I remember seeing your new house before. I absolutely loved to see your life in that time. Bill doing a radio program, you as a teacher, life of the children and the visitors What a rich life Beautiful
ReplyDeleteGood to read about your early life back then, lovely photos of the girls, and you were ever so lucky the bank paid so you could continue finishing the house, must have been a worry at that time, Diane.
ReplyDeleteWhen the children had all left home, did your large, lovely home look too big for a couple who would eventually retire?
ReplyDeleteI have wanted to move into a one storey home for years now, but my beloved never wants to leave our very long term, family home.
Look at all the hair Mrs B. had when she was teaching.
ReplyDeleteThis wasn't the home you moved from to the village, was it?
What nice memories ! We had the same troubles with the building contractor, and when we were finally able to move in, the steps at the front door were missing. Rick wasn't as organized as Bill he just put a few boxes there, and we had to let everyone who came to visit us either through the garage or heave them into the house using the boxes! Luckily, Dario was in daycare he was two! I really should describe that move sometime; it was quite an adventure!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos of your family and your home! Take care, enjoy your day and happy Easter weekend!
ReplyDeleteI love hearing about your family from the past. everyone is so young but still easy to recognize who is whom... that would be hard, I know from my own experience, mid year of 5th grade we moved to Pinvile KY mid year of 7th grade we moved 100 miles west, mid year of 9th we moved back where we started from, the my parents home in Savannah. it was harder on me than my brother who was 4 years younger.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, what a year that was for all of you.
ReplyDeleteSo unsettling but your home was beautiful.
I love seeing all the photos from the past.
Sonya was a lovely model.
Sue
A tough but rewarding year. Our builder for our home in Loganholme, in 1983, also went bust, but we were much closer to completion. Lovely to see you in your classroom. Mt Cotton is such a lovely looking school.
ReplyDeleteHow awful that must have been with the builder and how wonderful Bill did all that work to it. It certainly looks a beautiful home. Thank you for sharing all these great photos and memories Diane.
ReplyDeleteYour home looks very nice even uncompleted, Diane, and what a shame about that builder not following through. Maybe you can post a photo of the finished house sometime in the future.
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