A funny thing happened the other day.....

Just thought I'd share one of those moments of embarressment to make others feel better about themselves.

Been looking into the whole cubby house thing - build or buy etc. I wanted to build, SHMBO quite rightly pointed out that by the time I got finished, it would be better than a bought one, but probably cost almost as much and our 4yo would be 7 :D

Found a goodun on ebay, got my dad to help me pick it up on the back of the trailer. Get it home to discover that the distance between our garage and studio (self contained behind the garage) is a distance of 2100.
Cubby is 2400 X 2400. :o :o

Let me tell you after all the planning of will it fit, levelling the yard to accomodate etc, this really was a kick in the guts. I don't know why I didn't consider it, I guess in my head I felt sure the gap was bigger than this so wasn't a problem.

The guy who sold it must have bought himself a nail gun at the same time as the cubby so every joint has about 1/2 a dozen tacks in it, so dismantling was out. Thought about just sticking it back on ebay, but then 4yo's don't really understand "heres your new cubby - oh but now someone else is going to take it away before you can play with it" :D

Out with the circular saw goes I - I am half way through, the rest will happen tomorrow - we decided it was an OK cubby and cutting it in half to get through to the backyard was a bit of a pain, but not that much drama, I will just run an extra set of studs and rafters to reconnect, and then waterproof the sucker and all will be sweet.
Hopefully our daughter will be playing in it by Sunday arvo.

Hope you got a chuckle - I am laughing now, but I tell you on saterday I was nearly ready to chop a 10 M gum down just to create some side access!!! Amazingly, we have 4 neighbours (one on a battleaxe block) and none of us have side access of 2400 - we don't live in an estate either, its a 35 year old suburb, it just happens that with trees, garages, brick fences etc, we have closed ourselves in more than we thought.

Yes I am afraid that I did get a chuckle out of that probably because that its something that I would do! I hope your daughter didn't have to watch you dismember her new cubby!

Wonder what crane hire would have cost?

:)

10 yrs ago it was $400 an hour (from the time the crane leaves and returns to the yard... even if the job only takes 5 minutes...)

What was the height of the cubby?
Could it fit if laid on its side?

I thought about the crane thing for about a minute, then shunned it for the cost - and the fact that in 10 years when we sell the thing, I would have the same problem. At least this way I get to remove it reasonably easily.

David, the height is 1900, but it is 2400 square, so tipping it on the side would still give me grief - garage is 2300 high.

You know I am sitting here typing and thinking though - tipping it on its side might give me the room I need to send it down the side if I dismantle the garden shed...... bloody hell why didn't I talk to you guys BEFORE I ran the circular saw through the roof the other day!!!!

It won't fit and I have to cut it in half......
It won't fit and I have to cut it in half......
It won't fit and I have to cut it in half......
It won't fit and I have to cut it in half......
It won't fit and I have to cut it in half......
It won't fit and I have to cut it in half......
It won't fit and I have to cut it in half......

If I just keep telling myself this I might be able to stop the stanley imbedding itself in my wrist :D

Talk to you after the big event.

:D :D :D :D ;) :rolleyes:

hope your daughter spends every waking minute in it after all that effort :D

Shannon might move into it.:)

A good story anyway, Shannon. We've all done these things. :D :D :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shannon

If I just keep telling myself this I might be able to stop the stanley imbedding itself in my wrist :D

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That brought back some memories.
Ouch....... :eek:

I did that some years ago and still feel the pain in my wrist, 26 years after the event.

Al :o

Well it is in the backyard now.

I ended up having to cut it up to get it there, I did the measurements of turing it on its side and taking it around the side but it still didn't fit - I tell you loving trees all around the yard sometimes has its disadvantages - wouldn't make it between the roof line and a couple of 30yo gums.

So I cut it up and got some mates over to lift it through the garage. Even that took some coaxing, but it is there now. I am yet to reattach it as sydney weather has not really been condusive to outdoors work since Saturday. On the weekend it will go together - Trinity is still playing in it though which is great.

At least I will now have an upmarket doghouse for those "special" times in every relationship :D

When it is up and painted I will post some piccies of the process.

Shannon mate

your a woos!!

I mean okay so it didnt fir side on down past the side of the garage

and so it didnt fit any other way around the house

And a crane was always gonna be expensive

So you think aarrgh aargh aarggh me man me gots sharp blood letting cutting thingy me cut in harf argh argh argh

Mate lissen up!!

What woulda been wrong with gettin them couple of mates wrappin a few lengths of rope around it tossin the ropes over the roof or even up over a branch of that 10 mtre tree (whats a 10 mtre tree doin standing anyways? shouldnt it be slabs by now?) and hoistin it OVER the house and into the backyard?

I mean easy as mate! :cool:

Might have to rest it on the gable for a few tics while you and the mates have a few coldies to quesnch the thirst but mate the photo ops would be bloody brilliant!! :D

AND BONUS!!! You coulda made up a wee seat on the porch of it with a seatbelt put a crash helmet on little Trinity and given her a ride she wouldnt forget in a hurry (forget Luna Park or the Sydney show rides!!) hey you coulda tossed mum up there with her "just be brave dear wont take long and just for you we will stop for a few tics when your on the top so you and little bub can have a gander around the neighborhood be cool eh? oh and dont look down alright" :D

woos!! :p

Time for your medication Dingo mate!

Great idea, probably harder than it seems!

ROFL!

Just one question for ya Dingo... have you ever tried doing this yourself? :D

I used to install Swampy's (evaporative air-conditioners to the uninitiated :rolleyes: ) and they were a right bastard to get on the roof. Not heavy, just awkward because of their size. Basically, one bloke on the roof with a rope, another on the ladder lifting/pushing/steering. Any more blokes just got in the way. :( Mongrel job, wouldn't want to do it with something bigger and a LOT heavier!

Just trying to hoist it onto the roof by ropes has this nasty tendency to remove guttering. DAMHIKT. :o

Well... I must say! :rolleyes: ;)

I was under the impression that Shannon bein the stunningly brilliant house fixerupper that he is that the idea would have a certain appeal :p

My thinking wasnt I must admit restricted to getting the cubby house actually into the backyard... that would I assumed have been a bonus for him and the wee Trinity :p No mates my thoughts went more along the lines of

hoist the thing up in the air move it over the centre of the house and let it down... HARD!!... this would then enable young Trinity the priceless princess she is to have a mansion ontop of the neighbourhood with views to die for... just the thing for wee little princesses :cool: ...I was joking about putting both the fair princess and her queen up there for the ride just not done eh? Workcover would chuck a hell of a hissy fit over that one! the whole state would go out on strike :eek:

No the intent was to get it up there bang it down through the roof a foot or so and then stabalize it shore it up throw a bit of weather proofing over the whole shamozzle and bung a ladder down into the living room... a castle fit of young Princess Trinity :cool: if I do say so meownself ;)

Oh and I was also considering the resale value which would of course soar through the stratasphere

For Sale
House with small attached castle overlooking the neighbourhood
This wonderful abode offers the discerning buyer the opportunity to own a much loved house in a quiet neighbourhood with a touch of class above the rest. Built with the true princess in mind this house offers a wonderful castle with views forever a small terraced house above the main house with verandahs all round so her highness can puruse her subjects with comfort
Hand built by King Shannon himself for his own Princess Trinity nothing can quite compare to this property
Just $6,000,000 or near offer
Be quick as considerable interest is being shown in this exclusive mansion

So given all that my intent was to rather show young Shannon the options he failed to see... another option Ive just visualized would be to keep lifting the thing up INTO the 10mtr tree itself... and thus Princess Trinity would be the queen of her own castle in the air! What more could a wee princess need? :cool: a nice ladder from the living room through the roof and up the tree would serve King Shannon well with his carpentry skills for some time to come... Mind you Im not sure if he has a swimming pool but I can see some wonderous design options if he does have one... submerged castle anyone? :D

ahem... no meds were used or needed in envisioning the above its all the work of my own sanity... albeit a sanity which abides on a somewhat different plane than most but none the less a whole lot of clear sane thought went into the above

No Shannon ol mate no need to thank me its what we do... help each other you know... and you havin the wee Princess Trinity we serfs can do no more than show her that we consider her ownself in her dad King Shannons plain thinking ways and offer the challenges that he needs... so kind of you to offer no thanks are needed ol son ;)

:D :D :D :D

All the non thought of possibilites - WD your talents are being wasted in the west, come to Sydney, you'd make a fortune!!

You know plonking the sucker on the roof - not a bad idea, when selling we could add to your other pearls of wisdom " Added bonus of a batlement in case of neighbourhood dispute"

And the thought of sticking it up in the now defuct tree - brilliant, we don't have a pool, but our neighbours do. It would be a pinch, but if you took a running jump I reckon belly busters from 10M would be pretty cool :D

And last but not least, I am now thinking of all the kudos I would have received by being able to have said I winched a cubby house OVER our house, and to top it off only 4 broken windows, 60 cracked tiles, 1/2 a dozen buggered backs, and a flattened cubby house in the back yard because whilst we worked out how to get it up and over the house, we forgot about the rule of gravity and only braced it from one side, hence it slid down the other side and nobody put their hand up to catch the damn thing!!

Will keep you guys updated of the amazing feats of the castle that was wrent in twine ( or should that be cut in half:confused: ) Theres a book in this I'm sure.

:D :D :D :D

All the non thought of possibilites - WD your talents are being wasted in the west, come to Sydney, you'd make a fortune!! HOW SO??? IF thats possible IM ON ME WAY!!! :D

You know plonking the sucker on the roof - not a bad idea, when selling we could add to your other pearls of wisdom " Added bonus of a batlement in case of neighbourhood dispute" INDEED! Now your considering the viablilty of this wonderous option there is no reason to stop there... I mean I know this bloke in the states that makes wee canons for boats and reinactments and the such but hey a castle bastillion without a cannon? NEVER!!! Think of the princess Trinity!! One really must have cannon dontcha know? I mean if those pesky serfs of the neighborhood do get into dispute she in her mighty perch can ladle them with custard tarts whilst you her faithfull manservant woulds arm an fire the spud cannon! AVAST YER BLIGHTERS!!! Princess Trinity says stand down yer dogs :p !

And the thought of sticking it up in the now defuct tree - brilliant, we don't have a pool, but our neighbours do. It would be a pinch, but if you took a running jump I reckon belly busters from 10M would be pretty cool :D aaahh yes indeed the loverly Princess Trinity woulds have visions splendid of becoming Aussies most famous high diving champion... "10mtr high board? oooh get a grip I mean I did that as a tiddler double pike with triple twist into the neighbors paddle pool" she would do ye well young Shannon do you well indeed... man Im glad you have a good vision of me ming ol son its terrible lonely out here sometimes ;)

And last but not least, I am now thinking of all the kudos I would have received by being able to have said I winched a cubby house OVER our house, and to top it off only 4 broken windows, 60 cracked tiles, 1/2 a dozen buggered backs, and a flattened cubby house in the back yard because whilst we worked out how to get it up and over the house, we forgot about the rule of gravity and only braced it from one side, hence it slid down the other side and nobody put their hand up to catch the damn thing!! You do indeed know some woosy blokes dont you Shannon... really you must get out more ol son... get to know a couple of Kiwis the big burley Maori fellas... now THOSE blokes will pick the thing up and carry the soddin thing over the roof for you... just MAKE SURE the beers cold!!... elsewise how come you only did in 4 windows? And didnt you realise that windows are simply soooo out dated? I mean 4 windows out means FRENCH DOORS!! sooo complimentary to rooftop castles my man :rolleyes: I mean comon!! you can think this through you can mate easy as... now if you did in the 4 windows you can do the french door thing if you did in 60 tiles GOODOH!! battlements ol son battlements... put up those guard houses you know like any good castle has?... and maybe a nice astronomy room? something for yourself perhaps? I know!! A up stairs bar with a view!! "nah lov Im just havin a few coldies as the sun goes down yeah yeah I wont be long no no worries I'll be there in a tic lov" and there yer are up in yer bar with a veiw with yer eyeballs stuck fast to the new ubeaut telescope aimed over the fence at the next doors paddlin pool cause it is summer right an summer means neighbors missus out in the pool in the bikini or less aahh see now Im even thinkin of yerownself I am it dont get bedda than that!! ;)... as to the broken backs well mate as they said when they built the great wall of china mate "elyblody godda blake sometlime" (apologies to me brother from another mother me forum twin the legenadary Wongo for the total ballsup of the chingalese lingo :o :D )

Will keep you guys updated of the amazing feats of the castle that was wrent in twine ( or should that be cut in half:confused: ) Theres a book in this I'm sure.

OF COURSE theres a ruddy book in this mate... strewth if there isnt well... for the loverly little Princess Trinity we will MAKE A FLAMIN BOOK outta it!! :cool:

dont forget to bug bomb it every 3 months just to keep other residents out