The trip up the Calder was slower for our most recent visit, courtesy of a large trailer full of furniture. Yes… we finally have some rooms of the house which are livable so this weekend was all about decking out The Charlton Hilton with furniture – table, chairs, lounge suite, bed, fridge, freezer etc.
The other task on the agenda for the weekend was to finish the fencing so Psychopup (aka Skylar) can start visiting the Charlton House with us.
After leaving home at around 6am (with the mandatory coffee stop at Calder Park Service Centre and toilet/petrol stop at Ravenswood on the way) we arrived at the Charlton House shortly after 10am.
The post holes for the fence had been dug earlier in the morning by local contractor Randall, so we were set to go with the fence as soon as the furniture was unloaded and in the house, which we got done by lunchtime.
After a quick sandwich with my brother Phil and his wife Janet, Phil and I started on the fence whilst Shirleen and Janet set up all the furniture.
By late afternoon Phil and I had most of the wire fence mesh strained and attached to the posts and Shirleen and Janet had the inside of the house looking more and more like the Hilton, so we decided to call it a day and get cleaned up before adjourning for BBQ and drinks at Phil’s where, along with Mum, we were joined by neighbours Ken and Hazel.
After a lovely evening we returned “home” for our first sleepover at the house, but not before hanging some temporary curtains in the bedroom. Our heads had barely hit the pillow when we realised that we had not brought any breakfast with us… something we decided to sort out in the morning – perhaps buy some cereal at the local supermarket.
After a sound sleep I headed off to the main street of Charlton to rustle up some breakfast, only to find the supermarkets open late on Sundays… I forgot we were in sleepy hollow! As luck would have it though, the local cafe, “The Boyz” was open to service a special Lions club function, so we were able to nosh on a yummy breakfast of toast, egg, bacon and grilled tomato… just the thing to kick off another hard days work at the Hilton.
Whilst Phil and I finished off the fencing, Shirleen and Janet removed two of the three remaining cupboards in the kitchen. Now only the sink remains.
The rest of the day was spent repairing and dog proofing the existing fences, splashing some more sample pot paint around and generally pottering and preparing for the trip home.
We arrived home around 7pm satisfied with another productive weekend’s work and the Charlton House feeling more and more like a home away from home.
Front Fence
Cupboards Gone
Bedroom