'"Make it Meaningful"

Re-Building

So much has gone on in the past few months and it will still take quite some time for us to get everything back to some type of normal but its getting closer....

I have posted some of these photos on my facebook page and some I have not and will not as things are quite tense here in Charlton regarding insurance payments and who is covered and who is not, which makes me quite reluctant to share photos of home coming together and looking beautiful when there are many many people still homeless and fighting with their insurance companies. We are just lucky enough to have been insured with RACV who have paid us a ex-gratia payment which will help to cover the cost off the re building and re furbishing our home. Our business has not been paid anything yet so we still have that to deal with so we are far from getting out of this devastating situation easily.

The builders have been working at our house for over a month now and its finally all coming together. Its been a huge job, almost like starting from scratch.

There has been some positives that have come out of it! I got to replace the carpet that I hated!!! the bench tops I hated and the oven I hated!!! I had planned to replace them sometime in the future just not quite so soon after we moved in!!!

The nice thing is that the house will now really feel like our home as we have changed stuff to suit us. We are all really looking forward to moving home which hopefully will be sometime in the middle of May.

Jobs still to be done... replace all doors (internal and exterior) replace and fit new oven, cooktop and rangehood, repaint and get new carpets. All the furniture that we saved is out in our shed and until we unpack it we are not really sure what we will be able to use and what will need to be replaced as long as we have a bed to sleep on and kitchen and bathroom the rest will get done in time! Both bathrooms will also need work done but at this stage I'm not sure when that will happen???

Then when we move home we will need to start on the outside area and gardens which are looking really sad and neglected.

Quick photo tour...

plaster removed to this height through the whole house...

new plaster

kitchen benches all gone ( all the top cupboards were also replace but no photos of that)

Craig's new ute... (old one drowned)

New kitchen benches and cupboards

Never would I have imagined the devastation the floods would do to my home, family, business and our community, we have had to much help from so many people in so many different ways, we will never be able to thank everyone enough for there help, love and support though this difficult time. If you have helped us in any way please know that we will be forever grateful.

Take care and love to you all

Cherie xoxoxox

Our town and community is still in need so if you are able to help please donate here

Bendigo Bank Charlton Flood Appeal