Having received countless emails from my Ozzie News readers inquiring about my whereabouts over the last six months, I believe it’s only fair to share the details of my journey.
My assignment involved transforming an old garage into a dual-purpose guest room and playroom for my grandchildren. While building, construction, and painting presented no challenges, designing the space proved to be quite the ordeal. Even seemingly simple decisions about bedding required extensive discussions and meetings—akin to a government tribunal or even a Royal commission.
The debates surrounding options such as a sofa bed, day bed, single or double bed, divan or beds with storage drawers, four-poster beds, or bunk beds were endless.
Then came the discussions about window treatments. Should we opt for the privacy of blinds or the elegance of plush curtains?
Determinations regarding whether to install a wet room or a simple shower room—or even just a basic sink and toilet—were equally challenging.
The setup for music, TV, and DVD entertainment turned out to be yet another complex issue. Would we go for relaxed armchairs or a stylish settee alongside games like table tennis and pool? It’s worth noting, I reminded them, that this was originally a garage, not a two-story conversion.
With the limited space, we had to adopt a Japanese-like approach to space management. Above the bed, we secured the entertainment unit to the ceiling.
During the day, the bed neatly folded up against the wall. The comfy chairs were fitted with wheels so they could be easily moved into the toilet area when not in use! Ultimately, the final look resembled a room in a pool hall adjacent to a restroom at a Japanese mini-break hotel.
Once completed, everyone involved jokingly suggested, ‘Let’s just tear it all out and start over.’
Upon my return to work, I told my colleagues extravagant tales of sky diving, racing down rapids, and even swimming with sharks—though I did manage a mini cruise as well.
In truth, all these alternatives seemed far less stressful than designing a garage space.
The news during my absence was a blend of both uplifting and horrifying: incidents like a seven-year-old’s rape in India, multiple assaults on a bus, and school shootings in the USA were appalling.
It appeared that after fifty years, few were aware of what Jimmy Saville had been up to.
Political figures were once again making personal attacks against one another—what else is new?
Moreover, bushfires were once more wreaking havoc on Australian homes—where was the positive news in all of this?
Our tipster nearly predicted the Cup winner, but unfortunately, being drawn at Moonies bar in Perth meant other horses gained a head start.
Yet, there is at least some hope for an Oscar as many of our stars received nominations.
As the Australian dollar now boasts substantial worth against the US dollar, we could visit Las Vegas and return home with pockets full of cash.
Thank goodness the weather has cooled; I’ve saved so much money by skipping sauna visits. The UN attributes this shift to climate issues spiraling out of control. The money I saved on saunas, however, seems to have gone toward rising electric bills… which reminds me, is the carbon tax doing anything yet? There seems to be little revenue coming into the budget.
And why is there an influx of Americans in Darwin? Has Julia sold off parts of Australia to the USA, in addition to our basic amenities to China?
It’s nice to be back, but I must now rest as the kids are clamoring for an indoor pool in the garage/restroom.
In just two weeks, they’ll be back at school… hooray!
by TOG
