Updates @ 29 Feb 08

For a change, no front pics this time round. Can assure you there is no change outside, so much so that my colleagues thought that I've moved in! Exterior is almost done, save for another coat of paint and doors to be installed.

Sorry, there is no pics from Singapore trip, but I do get lots of stuffs: my speaker set, more lights, bar stools and some ikea stuffs (kitchen installation, rugs, kids duvet).... It was a worthwhile but very tiring shopping trip.... lucky we didn't bring the kids as it was hectic, and I don't know how they could keep up with our pace had they come along. However, at the end of the day, we missed the kids though - especially Aaeeshah (youngest), who had just learned to talk. It was like returning to an empty home.

Things left to be done:
1) Install doors
2) Intall sinks, toilet bowls & the sink mixer/taps.
3) Install lights
4) Install aircons
5) Install water tank, pump and heater
6) Install granite tops
7) Install Astro dish and TV aerial
8) construct driveway
9) levelling of our mini "Old Trafford"
10) finishing touches to the benches at the entrance and patio
11) Connecting the utilities - electric & phone cables, and gas and water connections
12) final coat of paints both inside and out
13) wall tiles for dry kitchen (came as a shock, I thought we already chose this! - meaning another long drive to Bandar)
14) installation of built in cabinets (all bedrooms + kitchens + laundry + pantry + garage)

I guess that's it. and we'll be ready to move in!

Anyway, enjoy the pics here

Iman & Aaeeshah's room, painted in pink

Pantry, painted in cream colour

family lounge, painted

another angle of family lounge

master bedroom

garage fully tiled by Friday 29/2

Muhammad wanted me to take this shot of his CROCS footprint... here's for you, son!

fence near the entrace - option 1 painting scheme

fence near the entrace - option 2 painting scheme

The rear fencing, more painting needed

heaps of sand ready to be levelled to the groud, once the staff house is brought down

more heaps of sand

Singapore Trip

I just got back at 1am last night from a Singapore "Home Shopping" trip with my wife. We got LIGHTS, lots of IKEA stuffs and I got myself a Kef KHT3005. To Mr Boombastic, I got it dude :)

I have appointment at 8 am today with contractor, and then another trip to Miri. So, will try to update later.

Ciao!

Updates @ 22 Feb 08

I mentioned in my previous blog (14 Feb) that we're bracing ourselves for another 6 weeks. I got assurance from the contractor on Wednesday that it should be ready by 31 March.

Well, since we are not currently staying at BSP housing, there is no rush for us to move in although I am already so excited to do so. Both my wife and I have decided to move in sometimes in April (mid/late), and I have indicated to my wife that I'd like to have my birthday at the new house :-) . . . . so it should be before May starts heheh

Anyway, I've got friends all over who are eager to see the updates. Been too swamped in work that I can only do this in the weekend... Regarding the weekend chores of choosing tiles etc, well in 8 hours time I'll be on a plane to SINGAPORE - for a long weekend break and find some stuffs for our house. One thing for certain, a set of KHT3005 for our family room... InsyaAllah.

Will post pics of our Singapore shopping (should be a big change compared to the previous drive to Bandar or Miri). Till then, Selamat Hari Kebangsaan Brunei ke 24 to my fellow Bruneians, and have a great long weekend! And Spurs will win the Carling Cup.

As usual, I start with the front of the house

The fence on the far end has got its first coat of weathershield paint. Another coat is due.

Another angle

And another angle

The living room has been painted, well partially.

The paint is actually a sample (this was our second sample, apparently the first one was a bit too yellowish!)

The dining room ceiling has been done.

Feature wall? Sandstone paint for us!

Our master bedroom, painted! I was so excited when I came to the room, no longer seeing the white undercoat.

Another angle

And yet another angle

This is Muhammad's room. He chose the blue paint himself. And look at that cornice - I love it.

The door frame - idea my wife got from watching AFC, where the chef cooks at his beautiful home. I had to really wait for the show to actually see the door frames.

Some area of the compound has been levelled

And lastly but of course not the least, our Muhammad. A very understanding boy. We told him no vacation again this year. He said OK. I offered to buy him Nintendo Wii to soften the blow of not travelling but he said he'll be happy to have a Gameboy. We love you Muhammad.

Updates @ 15 Feb 08

Updates as of 15 Feb 08. Came back from work a bit late, hence pics are lit by camera flash. Had I arrived 1/2 hour earlier the pics could have been better, but I promised some friends with latest updates and never want to disappoint them, so here there are! enjoy.

BTW, as usual, today will be another busy trip to Bandar: curtains, aircons, furniture.... sigh, but it should be worth the while, for its for our new HOME!

View from from right front corner of the land

and view from the rear right corner

dome already installed

and the wooden deck in the living room, too

as well as the simple cornice at the powder room

Master Walk in Closet (on the right in the next picture)

Walk in closet from another angle

some areas of our lawn has been levelled

whilst some others are yet to be levelled

our 'guard dog' hahahah

putting the fears into intruders

smelling every threat...

and scarring the intruders with the serious look!

Updates?

Post Chinese New Year, only the Filipino & Indonesian carpenters were around - so work so far since Monday was restricted to installing the dome at entrance + wooden ceiling inserts at our living room & dining room. Will post pictures over the weekend, insyaAllah.

We're bracing ourselves for the final 6 weeks!

Gong Xi Fa Chai

To our contractor, Henry Ling & Architect, Freddy Chew, as well as to my chinese friends, fellow bloggers and blog visitors and your respective families, Happy Chinese New Year.

Gembo @ Pg Hj Azmi Razak & Family

PS: We went to Henry's Open House - pics are available here.

Finally - Updates!

My blog has reached beyond the shores, Aisehmen hehe! Well, on Tuesday (29 Jan), I had visitors from KL and Singapore for a meeting. One of them, Azlan who with his wife are both my blog regulars, asked to see my home after our working lunch - after months of just looking at the blogs, he really wanted to take the chance to see the house in person.... the attraction of pictures, huh. I hope you enjoyed your visit Azlan, and next time round I hope I'll be able to serve you tea :-)

Anyway, updates!
- Floor tiles: All ground floor tiled except Dry Kitchen & Guestroom.
- Fencing: Main concrete structures all done. Plastering almost done, but they still need to do some design on the fence.
- Wooden floor: they have polished the floor during the week and also puttied (for lack of words) the gaps between the woods.
- Window: they have already installed the handles (today i think, cos I didn't see it yesterday)
- Ceilings: all covered, except for the entrance foyer where they'll install the dome.
- Doors: The PVC door frames for Family Room and Dining Room have been installed. Wooden doors? the design for the doors was only passed to Henry last Sunday, and he'll have his carpenters make a sample for our review before he make the others.
- Cornice: Only the master bedroom done so far.
- Cabinets: They've installed the cabinets in Master Suite & the girls' room walk-in-closet, and at Muhammad's room
- Mains: cable has been installed from main supply to the gate and to the house.

Phew! That's a lot of updates.... and now for the pics. To my friends who frequent my blog (including my HSE adviser - you know who you are), apologies for delay in updating. For GoKuQal, ada udah tu gambar kitchen. Enjoy the pics and enjoy your weekend!

Pics above and below proves that not much changes can be expected outside. Pic above taken on Monday, 28 Jan.

This pic was taken today (01 Feb).... see, not much change, right?

The rear fencing, which had just been painted with undercoat today

View from a corner.

View from the entrance steps. You can see the bar /island in the horizon as well as the gap in the ceiling waiting for the dome

Wet kitchen - shown is the sink. the space next to it is for the fridge

Wet kitchen - opposite to the sink. the gap is for the cooker

Another shot of the wet kitchen

This is the bar/island in the dry kitchen (shot taken from the pantry)

And this is a shot of the pantry (partly hidden by the stone covered wall)

Family room with the UPVC door frame

The living room - notice the tile has been fully laid

The view of the family room, from outside. Muhammad wanted me to take the shot with him in it.

The master suite ceiling finally done. Even the cornice was already installed.

Muhammad's closet installed, including himself!

And this is the girls walk in closet cabinets

The window handles already installed.

My ride seriously needs TLC. Notice the brakedust at the front wheels. Gotta to clean it soon - otherwise will take a long time to clean it off.