The selection of the site was easy . The first major contour on the land was about forty metres down the slope, parallel with Piper's Creek Road which had for a very long time been an aboriginal ridge road Our gate leading from it was flanked by two gums , one a grey gum of about three hundred years old.

Our first visit after the prefabricated material had been delivered saw a long and fairly broad patch of earth levelled . On its eastern side it was partly gouged out of the slope and filled towards the west, with an area at each of the northern and southern ends that provided a neat flat section for a car park to the north and a barbecue area , should we decide on building one , to the south . Ray had left us a patch made from the left over concrete on which to set a barbecue or the area could be used for a later extension .

The western side fill gave us a flat area onto which later we could take chairs , sit in the breeze, and in the evening watch the sun go down over the western mountains , with of course the usual pre- or post- meals drinks . A glass of good red or white , or a can of beer always seemed to take on added flavours there . We were later able to pitch small tents for the grandchildren there as well .

The eastern side had a high bank , with a swale cut just above it nearer to the road , for drainage . The bank provided a chance to plant shrubs like Wonga Vine , and Purple Mantle and Bronze Creeper grevilleas , together with small trees to provide privacy from the passing traffic and protection from its dust, since the road was unsealed .

Once the concrete slab on which the metal house frame rested had been poured and cured , progress was very swift , and in no time we had a covered area in which we could camp if we wanted to spend a couple of days in the rough . We were not present for the installation of the plumbing or the tiling of the bathroom / toilet , the kitchen and the laundry , nor for the lining of the inside walls , but we were more than happy with the job when it was done .

And then it was my turn to toil.

The outside was painted white , to offset any heat waves.

It did not take long , but then I put my best efforts into painting the interior . My wife , of course , selected the colours , and I am pleased to say that her choice was magnificent , giving us a clean , clear , selection of happy colours , neatly highlighted by the directional spotlight style lamps installed . The outside big lamps gave us the chance to spend late evenings outside , too.

I was surprised to be complimented by Ray the builder on the paint job I had done . It should have been reasonably good , though , as I had had lots of practice painting our own previous houses as well as flats , units and houses for our children over quite a long time .

The raw concrete floor had to be covered . Considering that we were not going to be living there continuously , and that we needed a surface that was easily cleaned , at least while the exteriors remained either dusty or muddy, we decided on cork tiles . This was an entirely new area of work for me , so I read up what I could about it , consulted experts , ( Ray was again a great help ), and , for once , did all the right crafstmanlike things . I hardly had to do any cutting, and by sheer fluke I managed to get a pretty gradation of colours from the big living room flowing into our single bedroom , as some of the tile colours were lighter or darker

I am glad that I don't mind the smell of polyurethane , as I gave the tiles about thee strong coats. I can understand how some unfortunates get hooked on glue or ether sniffing !

One last big task remained before the basics were completed, and here the tiling experience was a help .

Both the areas under the verandah roofs had to be paved , which took a fair amount of sand base spreading and levelling , and a whole lot of thumping down with a specially bought rubber hammer (or two ) to firm each paver . Ray to the rescue again , with his cutting of some of the pavers that filled awkward spots .

Boring as the paver - thumping might be it had some fascinating moments , such as when I was able to watch two skinks in battle royal -- jaws agape and hissing , rolling over and over like battling crocodiles. The loser disappeared down a hole in the ground , hotly followed by his opponent , but I never saw the final outcome.

Over time , other improvements were to be added , but that may better be left for now .