Destruction in my own home—surrounded by rubble and a broken pink bathtub
After five posts on the devastation in Syria, I figured it was time for a slightly cheerier item. I thought I could do this because negotiations today in relation to Syria indicate that the civil war might calm down. Fingers crossed for the days ahead.
What better relief than toilet humour, well at least toilet news?
Over the years of this blog, I’ve written a few pieces on far-flung toilets. You can’t travel the places we do without encountering some rather unsavoury and ramshackle toilets. One of my favourite (or maybe least favourite) recollections were on the boat from Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan and toilets that would make your hair curl!
That said, I never expected to call my own amenities ramshackle, but they’ve earned the title after being in service for almost 60 years.
The offending amenities involve the laundry and the kids’ bathroom and toilet. Aussie homes often have the toilet separate from the room housing the vanity, bathtub and shower. So that makes three rooms for us to address.
The shower has been leaking for several years and has made a mess of two walls—one in the corridor and one in a daughter’s bedroom. That didn’t matter so much after the kids moved out because the shower was rarely used.
![laundry tiles fell off](https://leggypeggy.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/thumb_img_3216_1024.jpg?w=595&h=397)
The laundry tiles were very cooperative. They just fell off—long before we thought about renovating
But then, while we were on an extended overseas trip, someone staying in the house accidently left a bathroom tap running for part of an evening. The tap got turned off and the floor got mopped up, but no one thought to look inside the vanity. Several weeks later, when we returned home, all I could smell was mould.
The inside of the vanity still had pools of water and both shelves and all three drawers were home to a mould farm.
I scrubbed and scrubbed, but could never get rid of the discolouration or the smell. It’s too late to suggest ways to tackle the problem—the vanity is long gone. But go ahead and offer advice if you think it might help someone else.
And then there were the tiles. It was quite startling when, in the middle of the night, the tiles on the laundry walls started falling off.
Of course these are first world problems, and if I was in wilds of Africa or Central Asia I’d probably start peeing under the lemon tree in the backyard and showering with the hose.
But the kids still come home for visits and guests come to stay, and I desperately wanted to get all the crap on the laundry floor up and out of the way.
![Cory jackhammers the toilet wall](https://leggypeggy.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/thumb_img_3298_1024.jpg?w=595&h=893)
Cory jackhammers the toilet wall
![Graham tackles the pink bath](https://leggypeggy.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/thumb_img_3292_1024.jpg?w=595&h=893)
Graham tackles the pink bath
Time to renovate
So I informed Poor John that the time for renovations had come and he knew better than to argue. It’s summer in Australia and we were going to be home long enough for the work to get done.
Of course the first challenge was to find someone to do the work. I hopped on Google and searched for +Canberra +bathroom +renovations +reviews. Plenty of results came up, with almost equal shares of whingeing (complaining) and praise.
Most of the praise was for one-off operations—namely someone did a single successful job (or maybe more that weren’t commented on). But I couldn’t find any trace of these people online or in the whitepages. But ‘Ziggy and the boys” came up many times in positive reviews between 2011 and 2015.
Good grief, we know Ziggy! Why didn’t I think of Ziggy? We’d done business with Ziggy in 2000, when we did renovations for Aunt Esther’s flat and an extension at the beach house.
So we headed out to his place AND he remembered us.
With a no-nonsense approach, Ziggy showed me which tiles I ought to have. I started to resist but couldn’t find anything I liked more, so had to admit his choice was perfect.
Then this was where ‘the boys’ came in. Ziggy only does tiling, but his network includes ‘the boys’ who do the structural stuff.
So now the boys—Graham and Cory—are busy destroying my laundry, toilet and bathroom.
The backyard and a kid’s bedroom is full of the stuff dragged out of the three rooms. The garage is full of several thousand dollars worth of new cupboards, tiles, and vanity and sink, as well as the laundry fridge and washing machine.
And with all that precious stuff in there and ‘exposed’ to the outside world, the garage door stopped working today. Luckily it’s stuck open. Even better, the repairman comes Monday.
The saga continues, so stay tuned.
More coming on Syria too.
![Pink bathtub in old bathroom](https://leggypeggy.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/bathtub.jpg?w=595)
Fish on holiday in our ancient pink bathtub
P.S. The new bathroom won’t have a bathtub. The current pink one is never used and the interior designer said the lack of a tub is not a deal breaker for a house sale. Whew! Gives us great new space in the renovated bathroom.
That said, the pink tub was a very popular item with our daughters and their friends who stayed overnight. When I told them the bathroom was being renovated they all said, ‘Oh no, what’s happening to the pink tub?’ They loved the memories of it, but nobody wanted it. I offered. Besides Graham and Cory reckoned it weighed about 90 kilograms and had to break it into small pieces to get it out.
By the way, the tub was last used in 2008 when the backyard pond sprung a leak, and the fish and plants had to live inside for 10 days while Poor John resealed the pond and waited for the work to dry.
![Pink bathtub with happy fish and plants](https://leggypeggy.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/bath-and-fish.jpg?w=595)
The fish and plants loved the bath
Good Luck, Peggy!!!!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks. Other than the general mess, things are going well so far.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love how you put the fish in there. Very decorative
LikeLiked by 1 person
We had foreign houseguests arrive not long after the fish went in the tub. They were rather perplexed even after we explained why. 🙂
LikeLike
Sorry Peg, I can’t read this post. I have been busy renovating an old bluestone house for about twenty five years and nothing ever gets completely done to an acceptable level. And this poor John is the handy man who has done it all and I am up to kitty’s bow. So “Good Luck and may the force be with you.” I won’t even pray for you.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s okay. Shall I come help? I have a soft spot for anyone who uses the expression ‘up to kitty’s bow’. 🙂
LikeLike
Any time you like.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I tried to find out what ‘up to kitty’s bow’ means, and just got led back here!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s slang for saying you’ve had enough, so at the end of a meal someone might say I’m full ‘up to kitty’s bow’. Sometimes the expression is ‘up to pussy’s bow’.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know why you fretted about getting a “man” in, you know me, okay I might be on the other side of the world, but you know my email address, every thing you have ‘your man’ into do,
I can do and have done plenty of ‘remodelling and in some far flung places
(you are only as good as your last job they say, my last job was great)
New bath, walk in shower, overhead monsoon spray, body jets, new close couple pan, new tiles, walls and floors
They bought all the bits, I supplied the pipes and fittings and of course the ‘know how’ and labour
It took a week (but we are talking Miami here)
Well it broke up my month long stay quite nicely, and I didn’t have to book a hotel, kind of sleeping on the job
I had to do it right first time, no leaks, its a heck of a long way to go for a call out, but glad to say, it all went well and they are quite proud of the results
A bit late now, but next time, drop me a line, but now its all done (or nearly so) I cant see any remodelling happening in the future
Don’t forget, post some pictures of the finish
(Get white, its easy to clean, never goes out of fashion, the same with nice shiny chrome fixtures)
Last more than several life times 😉
LikeLiked by 3 people
Oh cripes, Derrick! I’m sorry and embarrassed now. I didn’t think of you in the same way that I didn’t think of Ziggy and the boys. Next time, I promise.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, no harm done, I would have still been trying to find my way to your house, at least they have made a good start on it, be finished before you know it
LikeLiked by 1 person
They reckon it will be done in two weeks. Fingers crossed.
LikeLike
It will be hard to top the pink tub and blue tiles. Happy renovations.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was decor straight out of the 1960s. The toilet was pink too, but the cistern and pink sink started leaking years ago and had to be replaced.
LikeLiked by 1 person
i love to see an indoor pond…! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Now we don’t even have a fish bowl! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 but you can’t eat domesticated fish…lol…!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comisserations! Renovations are only great about 18 months after they’re done and you’ve recovered your sense of humour…that said, seems you’ve not lost yours! Our renovations and sorting out of four years ago, just after we arrived in the village still seem very fresh…. Have a good weekend! Oh and the children will always have the pink bath – what lovely memories.
LikeLiked by 2 people
To be honest, we are just getting started. The interior is due for a paint job and the carpets are old and a wreck.
LikeLike
I feel for you. We haven’t attacked the interior paint work yet. Want to finish the outside bits first. Works in progress… Look forward to watching yours as you share more!
LikeLike
We did the outside paint job a few years back. I look forward to sharing how this renovation progresses.
LikeLike
Love the pink tub! Even as a fish pond 😉
You’re project is so much more extensive than mine was. Luckily, my tub was white.
I like the idea of a separate room for the toilet. Keeps bad things in one place. .. ha ha!
Good luck! Hopefully, you’re under budget and happy with your results.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Would be nice to be under budget, but we won’t be much over.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good luck with the renovations, but one of the biggest faults with my new architect designed ultra-modern studio apartment (with a European laundry which just means laundry taps in the bathroom) IS NO BATH…..for the first time in my life of 62 years.
I hate it. My back pain and stiffness was eased every morning by a soak in a bath in the old flat. Lying in a bath is probably the only time I have no lower back pain.
And, being a modern shower fitting in this new modern apartment, it is one of those poor weak flows (to save water). It is $#%& useless at getting the shampoo and conditioner out of my fine hair.
(I’ve always lived in older rental apartments that had lovely baths and showers with good strong forceful water flow coming out of the shower rose).
Even when there was a 6 week gas strike in Melbourne about 20 years ago, I filled electric kettles etc and filled the bath with 6″ of water to bathe before I went to work (with an extra jug of hot water to rinse my hair). The apartment back then was electric hot water & oven.
I’m not the only person I know (even youngsters) who moan about lack of bath for that luxurious Sunday soak.
Love the plants and fish in the bathtub – very ingenious.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sorry you don’t have your own bath, But I won’t miss having one myself. That said, I was tempted to leave the pink tub in the backyard as a planter, but it had to be removed by sledgehammer. It’s lots of little pieces now.
LikeLike
Ahh, renovations. Probably the reason we have to pack up and travel so often, just to get away from reno fatigue! (I bet it will be wonderful when it’s done)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure it will be wonderful when it’s done. And you can be sure I’ll be showing it off here.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Renovation can be such a task; hope your one gets over smooth and soon Peggy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s going well so far.
LikeLike
The fish pond bathtub is the BEST. Sorry you won’t be able to host the fish in the future. I wonder if an interior fish pond would be a selling point for a house.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t know what we’ll do if the pond has another leak! Might have to create a new indoor fish pond.
LikeLike
Great story!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I thought I had to share it.
LikeLike
Ugh! Just breathe deeply, Peggy, and visualize the beautiful rooms to come.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Luckily I’m not at all concerned. And I won’t breathe too deeply. The air in here is full of brick dust.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good point ~ don’t inhale that stuff!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good advice. It’s Dust Central here. Bedroom doors are closed during the process and I’ve decided to tack up sheets over the entries to the living and dining rooms.
LikeLike
Blimey! I thought the photos were chronological and you had done all that work only to end up putting fish in the tub!!!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Hahahahaha! I’ll try to keep you guessing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good to know the lemon tree is there as backup, but hope the luxury indoor plumbing works out well for you, and soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A few years back we had 10 people living in the house. Pretty sure the lemon tree got a bit of a workout then.
LikeLike
Good luck, Peggy – renovations are such a drag. I adore the pond-life in the bathtub – very innovative!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We were rather proud of that solution.
LikeLike
Oh, Peggy, I’m sorry to say that this post made me laugh! I feel sincerely sorry for your plight, and can imagine the horror you felt on finding this terrible mess. But your ‘toilet humour’ got to me. I truly you’ve now sorted things out – and i can imagine the expense! The pink bath-tub-cum-fish-pond is amazing!
Sorry I’ve been a while getting back to your blog, Peggy. I had a 3 week break from blogging, and have been trying to play catch up this past week. I’ve missed your great posts!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Other than the whole house being a shambles, everything is under control. At least they’re done with the jack and sledgehammering!
Oh and don’t mention the expense!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I won’t mention the expense again. Promise!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks and I won’t mention what it costs.
LikeLike
Deep breaths, accept that it usually takes longer than they say it will, and enjoy it so much more when finished.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Eileen, so far they’re going along at a fairly good pace so I’m hoping for no delays. Fingers crossed.
LikeLike
Usually when my house needs remodeling, I think its time to move on. 🙂 –Curt
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m happy to travel all over the world and live out of a backpack and tent. But once my furniture is in place, it stays where it is.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Laughing… I get that. –Curt
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awe. That pink tub was great. I love it 😭😭😭😭😭😭
LikeLiked by 1 person
It did its job and now it can rest in ‘pieces’.
LikeLike
I had a pink tub in an old house – I think it would have been much improved by the addition of some fish and pond plants!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another pink tub! If you still had it, I’d try to send you plants and fish. Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I sold the house – someone else took that pink tub off of my hands. Now, I just have a boring, brownish one. I suspect the fish and plants wouldn’t look too festive in it. They’d probably just make it look like I’m even worse at cleaning than I am!
LikeLike
A brown tub shouldn’t need cleaning. 🙂
LikeLike
Wow Peggy what a huge job!! I am having fun looking through these photos and thinking of the whole process! The fish sure seem to like the pink tub!! Fun post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much. I suppose it was a bit of a shock for the fish to move back to the pond. It was winter when it happened, which is why most of the plants were cut back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the fish in the tub idea! I’m sure you will be glad when it is all done. Things like that seem to take forever but it’s worth it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They do seem to take forever, but I’m being optimistic. I even looked at new towels todays. I didn’t buy them, but I looked.
LikeLike
Sorry your remodel isn’t under better circumstances as in your timetable.
Please let Ziggy, Graham and Cory know that you have another bath/toilet/laundry remodel in Denver they are welcome to tackle next! Provided of course their work continues to be satisfactory.
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It would have been nice to have had it done while we are away, but I don’t suppose the house-sitters would have been thrilled to live through the mess.
LikeLike
Do you have a second loo to use while this is happening? And, how are you “abluting”?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh we’re fine. Our bedroom has an ensuite with shower.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Renovation makes our houses really look like a war zone, it takes a lot of courage to go for it, something like that has to happen soon in my bathroom, I’m waiting for summer… 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, renovations are a recipe for a huge mess. Good luck dealing with your bathroom.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh the joys of home renovation. My ex-husband was an independent contractor who was gifted in all areas of home remodeling. Even so, living with the destruction for weeks on end was a painful process but well worth the effort because the end results were gorgeous. I had to chuckle that no one jumped at your offer of the pink tub. I can’t wait to see the final product.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, the pink bathtub has had a good share of fair weather friends who loved it at my house but didn’t want it at theirs! I hope the final product will be rather elegant without being flashy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My bathroom switch plate is “Hot Pink” and part of the room (without tiles) is a medium blue/green color… same color theme as your old bathroom. I can’t imagine not having a “Royal Throw” and a bathtub with a shower head in one room. The NYC water is excellent for drinking and for bathing/showers. And since I live in an apartment no extra fee for water usage, already within the monthly rental (and no low streaming water flow to save water).
LeggyPeggy you and Poor John should have tried to save your pink bathtub with the Koi fish. And place it outside in your front yard… so when the Hollywood tour bus drives by they can point to your old style interesting art deco 1950’s style and the home of the somewhat rich and famous world travelers. LOL.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It took me a while to get used to the ‘royal throw’ and bathroom being separate but it was extremely useful when we had a couple of children getting ready for school at the same time.
And the bath couldn’t stay because I’m never expecting the Hollywood bus to go by our house.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh dear, I think it was time for some remodeling… Please tell me you aren’t going for pink again. 🙂 We once had a curious orange bathroom suite – I quite liked it but chose white since then!
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, no more pink, but I’ll wait to reveal the new colour with pics of the final result.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can’t wait!
LikeLike
Me too!
LikeLike
Ah, the joys of home ownership!
LikeLiked by 1 person
And the expense!
LikeLike
It’s a classic LeggyPeggy Post: Destruction, renewal, wild life, humor, great photography, Poor John marching ahead, local color. The only thing missing is bare-breasted natives . . . or were you taking the photos in the buff .. . .?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh dear, bare-breasted photography! I couldn’t frighten the builders like that. I do want them to finish the job.
LikeLike
There are simply not enough posts about toilets. This goes some way to addressing this shortfall. I think a series on the subject is called for…..
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll work on it! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ugh renovating…can’t stand the mess…love the results!! Good luck, hope it all turns out to your liking and that garage door gets fixed too!! When it rains it pours, huh?! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for your comment. It’s perfect for the circumstances. The cupboards are going in today and the garage door got fixed about an hour go. Woo-hoo!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh hooray!! 😊 it’s always so great when it’s over!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yikes! Hate this sort of thing. I agree with Deb!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’re getting there. Hope to post some new pics tomorrow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Renovations are always such an adventure. I hope that your project goes smoothly and is completed soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’re getting there, we’re getting there. The tiler comes tomorrow. 🙂
LikeLike
Has the situation improved, Peggy? I thought I’d ask after an update, although I know you must be up to kitty’s bow with the renovation. It must be impossible to relax while all of that is going on. Sending you lots of fix it energy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’re getting there. Overall we’ve been impressed with the builder and his offsider—they turn up on time, do good work, have great personalities and clean up after themselves. What more could I ask for? Plus, the tiler starts on the floors tomorrow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is wonderful news, Peggy. I will be seeing the updates when you post them. Have a good rest, if you can. I hope that the weekend will greet you free of worry. xo
LikeLike
My big challenge is to get the house back in order before we start our next travels on 4 March. Friends are moving in to care for the house and dog, and I want it tidy for them.
LikeLike
These are the kind of things I WISH I were good at, but never have been. GOOD LUCK!!! Love the brick!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah I wish I was good at these things too, but I’m not. I like the brick too, but it’s going to be covered up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are very brave! But the work will be well worth it. Good luck!
LikeLike
Thanks so much. The work should be done in a week or so and I will be glad to get rid of the dust. 🙂
LikeLike
Good luck with the renovations – I can only imagine how much planning and work it will take. My parents were renovating their house when I last visited and it was hard work. I was not exempt (as a ‘visitor’) from the work and came back to Vienna more tired but with a feeling of accomplishment.
LikeLike
Thanks for stopping by. I bet your parents were delighted to have your help for their renovations. Ours should be done soon—within 10 days I hope.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cool indoor pond, Peggy. Renos are a pain but worth it in the end
LikeLike
Thank goodness, we’re getting closer to the end.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t been following your blog for long – just a few weeks – but thus far you’ve never once failed to stir my interest or induce a wry smile. Wonderfully written as ever. Keep it up. No pressure though ok? 😉
LikeLike
Okay, okay, I’ll try to bear up under the pressure. Geez, now what to write about next? And you said no pressure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great story! Please post pics when you finish the renovation !!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You bet I will. Sometime next week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can’t wait to see!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my. What an undertaking!
LikeLike
Thanks! We’re getting there. It should be completed by Monday or Tuesday.
LikeLike
Hmmm! Peggy that seems to be a big project. It worth to enjoy your fruit of labour by changing things at home, no matter how much it cost. Wishing you a happy weekend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. The work is almost done and it’s all looking very nice. Have a great weekend yourself.
LikeLike
Wow… I would love to see pictures of the renovations.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I promise to post some when I return home. In Alaska now. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
How do you like it there?
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’re having a fantastic time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
*Good to hear.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love your pink bathtub, especially with the fish taking refuge in it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, that was a funny time.
LikeLike