adrian_john

MBR BATHROOM (SETTLING-IN) Before I start messing up the MBR Bathroom or have my wife pepper it with her truckload of 'beauty essentials', I thought I'd take some simple pics of it. Due to lighting limitations, the view's better at location rather than through pics. Somehow, I still regret not putting in a tub... Haiz! SHOWER AREA MIRROR CABINET & VANITY TOP

Ahahaha .. I prefer if I can get free invisible grilles for my bedroom windows! No lah, forum is for sharing so we just help where we can.

Hope you guys are getting closer to unpacking than we are! Yeah, its quite a task to not only unpack but organise the stuff. After taking out the stuff, I realised our originally planned wardrobe layout got to adjust or else we can't effectively use the space and fit in all our stuff... ironically, our previous wardrobe's only 6ft while the new one is 9ft and yet we're short of space somehow... Thanks Reiki! I'm really greatful for all your concealment and wiring tips! You bro! Thanks man! Its done up but still a couple of things outstanding lah. I guess for you, you're luckier cos' moving in would be easier since you're starting anew at the place. I remember it wasn't so bad previously for us when we shifted into our previous place for the first time since only my wife and me, and we can take our time bringing stuff over from our parents' place. But now with 2 kids, 2 parents and 1 maid in tow .. and alot more accumulated stuff and clothing over 5 years, its quite a task! Thanks Sleepy. I'll PM you the contact.

Hi Angel! Thanks! Yup, will do once we're all settled in. Still unpacking and re-organising. Mr Yeak's brother's also popping by today to make some additions to our wardrobes. Heya Beany, no worries. We're still popping by our old place at Blk 197 every evening till Thursday to clear some small loose items. You're welcome to pop by once everything's sorted. Wah the stuff like never ending siah .... even found alot of long-forgotten stuff. Yeah, the wind and sunlight quite good at balcony compared to the kitchen airwell, so hang there in the meantime lor. I bought a dryer liao, but it wasn't delivered yet, so bo pian lor, use 'natural' drying.

Welcome Lise and Evergreen! Don't worry about darker shades! I think a darker scheme gives the house a more sophisticated character and feel. Hope everything's going on OK with your renovation and hope to see more pics of the completed work. Your layout looks pretty familiar to New's.

Weclome to RT! Hope all goes smoothly for your reno and that you enjoy the process! Do share with us the pictures soon and feel free to ask for help.

Thanks man. Hope we'll settle in soon after all the unpacking! Chip: What you said above is correct.

Heya Gantan, Well, most of the stuff's been unpacked, but nope, can't say we're totally settled in as we're actually still unpacking slowly and at the same time, trying to organise the things that've been unpacked. Also, due to the rush, we kinda missed out labelling or taking note of where we put some stuff or which boxes we mixed some smaller stuff with other items, so now we've got a couple of things we're searching for. Ahahahahahaa! I agree throwing out or giving away stuff can be of real help and I've already passed on quite a number of stuff to the needy. Yet, somehow, I think our clothes expand faster thant the wardrobe; and to top things off, during packing, we even discovered stuff which we had got some time back, as well as gifts which we'd forgotten about! Wah, not being on lift level can be a real pain. I know how that feels man, but mine's nowhere as bad as compared to yours, which is 3 or 2 stories either way. Mine was only 1 storey up before the upgrade came.

Heya Doremon, Been reading your T-blog too. Welcome to RT. Glad you find it useful in helping you out with your upcoming reno. Good thing too is that your early planning gives you a good head start and time to research for the stuff you need and want in terms of design and things to purchase. With regards to your queries on moving: - Yes, we did pack most of the stuff from the exisiting cabinets and labelled them accordingly. This was so once we brought it over to the new place, we'd know where to put what. One problem we've encountered though, is that due to the total change in layout for our kitchen cabinets and wardrobes, it resulted in us having let's say, alot of item A, but not having the adequate type of space or storage height as previous cabinet layout - So some adjustments have to be made: Such as alternative location or mix-mashing. - To minimise packing, what I tried to do was basically, to pack all our clothing items, into suitcases once the wardrobes were up, and make up-and-down trips to shift the stuff over. Its alot of stuff and legwork, but it sure helps. Also, you get to lay it out in the wardrobe, almost instantly, so saves you unpacking, sorting and also even ironing later. - Charges-wise, it depends alot on the mover. Mine charged me by lorry load. But it also only applies per trip. So that means, they'll load up to as many trucks as you need, shift the stuff, unload them and also help you move it around abit at the new place. They also supplied me with boxes and even helped to pack and wrap some of the loose items which we had previously thought we'd hand-carry or move ourselves. I'll PM you the mover's contact. Whole piece would be a solid surface top. You won't see joint lines for those. But with granite top, there definitely will be a few, albeit if the tiler is skilful, the joint is very minimal. There are pros and cons with each type of material so best to research and try it out to see for yourself. I chose granite over solid surface eventually for durability, stain-resistance and also aesthetics.

ON THE MOVE ... The big Move-in day finally arrived. I seriously envy people who can start out with an empty house and slowly live and grow with it. I realised that moving from the comfort of living in a place for over 5 years coupled with an expanded family is somewhat of a daunting task. So many things to pack and shift, and not to mention needing to cater to logistics like minding the children while adults pack, move and unpack. Before the movers came in, we've already been shifting stuff bit by bit in our suitcases and big boxes almost every night for the past week - Still somehow, the amount of stuff seemed endless. The movers came early on Saturday morning at about 830am and starting loading up some of the fixed items like furniture and all cartons of packed items - clothes, kitchen-ware, children's toys, toiletries etc. They worked very fast and efficiently, and took great care of all the items, particularly the fragile stuff. Some stuff were also packed on the spot very quickly for us to bring along. As they were loading up and moving, the weather unfortunately took a turn for the worse, and there was quite a heavy downpour, which got us worried. Nevertheless, the movers really took the effort to make sure that contact with water was minimised; even though it meant they had to carry stuff a little further from the shelter. All the stuff was unloaded at our new place by about 1045am and turned the entire living room into a mess. We spent literally the whole day trying to unpack as much as we could, opening boxes, carrying it to the relevant rooms/storage etc. We settled on placing in the respective locations first, and that we'd sort further and re-organise again once everything's unpacked... Looks like that's gonna be the task for the next week. The Living Area loaded with stuff ... and this is after we've already cleared about 10 boxes' worth of kitchenware... The Living Area, at around 10-ish at night after much clearning. Floor scrubbing in process to clean up the home before bring the kids home.

Heya Chip, yes, the kitchen top is granite and the front profile is 4cm. Heya Rasp, thanks! Its been really tiring. Been burning midnight oil like nobody's business packing, self-moving up and down and also prepping the bigger and bulkier stuff for the movers to ship over. More details of the move to follow in upcoming posts. Thanks Gantan! I'm not really superstitious, but I did share about my wife (and in turn, she with my more traditional in-laws) about throwing pineapples. But in the end, everything so rush, didn't have time cos' our moving day is also the live-in day, so end up we didn't have time and in-laws said no need since live in already ... Ahahaha, I bit lost when it comes to customs lah - I very ang mor one. Haiz! Thanks SilverBullet. Very tiring but nice to be 'home'. Time to finish unpacking and also pop by old house to tie up some loose ends and bring back some last bits of stuff, which include most importantly, my computer and notebook.

As Natgw said, first thing is to check with Citygas if there's piped gas running for your block. Some blocks in certain estates do not have piped gas, even though others may have. The Citigas prices are roughly $60 for setting up gas pipe and running the tube to the cooking area. Another $120 is chargeable if you need to change the piping.

The Calm Before the Storm Since tomorrow's shifting-in day, I thought I'd take the opportunity to take some simple pics of what's more or less the completed home before the huge stacks of carton boxes fill my Living Room like a storeroom. Here's the Living Room area, with tea-glass mirror and small altar shelf installed. Some carton boxes already in place along with the TV console. View from behind the Balcony's glass door of the storage cabinet flushed with the Living Room wall and the new Storeroom entrance on the right. Completed Kitchen. The carpenter also cute, decided to get creative by leaving some of the protective green strips on the roller shutter for the oven cabinet. Sink, hood and hob all installed. Will try to take more pics today, hopefully not much of a mess.

Yah man. Nowadays, all these corporations and monopolies are really going all out to bleed people dry in these 'underhanded' means. It just takes advantage of folks who are simple, non-confrontational and easy-going. I think its really important to be an informed consumer these days and speak up (and if necessry, tell them to F#$% off) if you feel anything's unfair or unjustified. There is just no consumer rights in S'pore.

Kopi, Chip&Dale, Red_Devil and Reiki: Yup, I went to see the company Doc on Wednesday afternoon and he gave me MC for yesterday only. Wah Chip&Dale and Reiki, where's this doctor man? I must go visit him - I so could use a 5-day MC now! Back at work today, still coughing like mad, but at least no wheezing for now, touch wood. Taking half-day to go back and help with packing, moving and unpacking. I really hope that after Sunday, I can rest a little easy... but I think not lah, with all the unpacking to do, then somemore still haven't bought anything for the Living room... Haiz! Yes the haze is still bad. so much for enjoying nice breeze at the new house when the air's polluted ..ahahahahaha!

The Land Line Phone Transfer Saga - My Rant Since we're moving in this week, arranging for the phone line to be transferred to the new address is one of the routine tasks to do. So I had my mum call up the provider and inform them of the transfer, and the Customer Service person informed her that there would be a transfer fee imposed; which is normal and fine with us. But what really got me annoyed was that she added we would have to pay an additional $24 w/GST every quarter since we wanted to retain our current number. The officer was saying that my new address in Bishan comes under Ang Mo Kio zone in their system so hence, they need to impose this retention charge. I was a little puzzled and I spoke to the officer and told her that we've had this line and number for like almost 40 years now and even though we have shifted previously many years ago from TPY to Bishan, and then from Bishan to within Bishan. So now that we're once again doing another Bishan to Bishan shift, I don't see why we need to pay this additional retention charge. I asked her how can my new place also at Bishan, which is not even 2km away, come under Ang Mo Kio, and all she could reply was that their system puts the zone this way. And I also reiterated that its not as though I'm moving from Bishan to Tuas or Pasir Ris. I told her off that I think the system's flawed and I think the perpetual charges of approximately $100 per annum is totally unfair and ridiculous and I would definitely not want to pay it. I did cite and stress to her however, that I have no problems with the one-time transfer fee as that's fine and expected. So I told her to bring this matter up to the supervisor/manager and let me know quickly. In the meantime, I explored the option of switching to the services of an alternative provider; and found that they only charged a 1-time porting fee. Should the current provider insist on charging me for number rentention, I'd just cancel my subscription. Finally they got back and said that after speaking to the manager, they would waive the transfer fee and perpetual number retention. So for those who will be transferring or retaining your numbers in future, do take note of this.

Kopi, you trying to hint that I'm a 'buaya' issit??? You know, I wish I could have some sleep like that leh. I think one of the things I'm lacking for the last 2 weeks is good sleep. Work, packing, shifting and now being sick is taking a toll on me man!

Wah you ar, always got these kinky ideas one hor? Ehehehehe .. some much for being pure and innocent Cold Storage got sell crocodile meat meh? Where? I think the Chinese sinseh forumla quite good lah, the meat and herb combo. It tastes like crap and pooh but the results are good. After consuming crocodile meat, I dunno true or not, but they say have to be careful when swimming in rivers ... ehehehhe!

Heya Guys, I've PMed you as requested. Cheers.

Rondy: Wah lau, what expert? Just sharing some thoughts and ideas lah. My parents' place also almost similar layout, and I helped them with their reno about 2 years ago, so quite familiar also lah. Gantan: As long as your kitchen is not built on a stiffener or reinforcement beam, I think its not a problem I guess. If you need more storage in kitchen, you call also leave a portion of the wall at the corner to flush with a storage/tall cabinet behind. Really looking forward to see your revamp and brightening of the place... maybe then you can star in the next Mocca.com advertisement! Gantan: Since you haven't started your reno, it'd be good if you get the SCV guy to come down to help with the SCV points, particularly if you plan to put more points inside the house. I gathered this cos' I just spoke with a Starhub cable person today and this is what they recommend. They did also say however, that if the contractor/electrician's good and knows how to do it, it should be OK. Essentially, the main concern is the splitting and looping from 1 point to many points - If not done properly, the signal for the extended points may be weak. Starhub tech guys said that they should draw from the central riser. You can probably call them at 1633 if you need some advice on setting up - They're quite helpful.

Thanks New and Kopi, Ya, I did take note, just that due to trip and reno, don't have the time to pop by this sinseh shop in Chinatown where I've been getting the crocodile meat from since young. The downside of eating crocodile meat is that it will really heat you up your body quite abit. So after eating, u'll find yrself feeling hotter and perspiring buckets! Will probably take some time next week to go down to Chinatown Thanks Nottimonster. Yup, now abit messy and some furniture has occupied the positions where I got get good angles of shots. Packing and unpacking's priority. So far, we've cleared out and transferred 2.5 wardrobes worth of stuff over. Yup, I got the blinds from Jean. She's coming over again this sunday to install the blinds for the balcony.

Droopy eyes ar.. now droopy and puffy la. Last night never sleep, whole night coughing! Ahahahaha! I didn't get the blinds from Jimmy, but through another contact. Quite nice and reliable people lah. You want I text you la. Ya, this fella look like me while the younger one looks like me in certain angles, but mostly looks more like Christine.

The Hustle and Bustle of Jetsetting Moving ... Really busy shuttling up and down the current and new place the last few days ... most work has been completed today, except for some minor installations and touch-ups left. We've been filling suitcases with clothes from our existing wardrobes and straightaway putting it up into the new wardrobes. Do a few up-and-down trips to and fro and the new wardrobes fill pretty fast as the old ones empty. The house has quite abit of loose boxes of stuff here and there so I haven't been able to take any pics. As we shift, somehow I feel a tinge of sadness that we're vacating this cosy home of ours for the past 5 years... In the midst of the moving, some light-hearted moments too... here my son takes time to do his emulation of a contractor. Here he is mimicking how I took measurements of the wall for a mural.

Maybe its also the air lah... today so hazy like siao. But I've been having a bad bout of dry cough for some weeks now. 2 days ago got a bad attack, and today cough until cannot breathe. So went to see the Doc. The trip was hectic but good; mostly work but had time to explore at night and also on-and-off, take break and eat chendol and nonya food. The house is a very nice place to be. But tiring to move around lah, climb here, climb there... dusty too. My job ah? Er, let's say I'm a glorified office boy and modern day slave? Ahahahahaha! Melaka still not so interesting lah.. my previous job had more travelling. Been trying to take care lah, now my whole body is full of medicine and steroids. I think I look as seh as the time I bumped into you at IMM. That was the last time I was really sick. For the blinds, I did 4 bedrooms at $550. But I quite like the black-out effect .. very dark dark at night or during the day if u close. I like ! I like!

New: The basin, tap and water really kim kim goot goot !