Back to the Grindstone...

About a month ago, Michael spat the dummy. We had returned from our Goldfields trip, but his enthusiasm for the continuing renovation of our building had deserted him. The last forty-five square metres of the East End Gallery was a Bridge Too Far.Michael declared he had had enough. He was over the building's restoration. He decided that we would screen the dilapidated fireplace at the back of shop 4 and he would work on it sometime in the future. Far in the future.

Needless to say, he has recovered from his ill humour. He has begun the latest repair - create a brick hearth and replace each broken brick one at a time within the fireplace. This is trial and error and the real possibility of disaster. The wall above the fireplace has sizable cracks, the number of degraded bricks is substantial and I worry every time Michael sticks his head into the great unknown.

Today was quite difficult. Michael was swearing, frequently and audibly, from the fireplace's location. This was a double-edged sword. As long as he was shouting, I knew that the wall was holding and he hadn't been crushed. On the other hand, his frustration was obvious and persistent.

Michael has been working, with intermittent assistance, on the building since July 2012. We have been consumed by this project. We are not eligible for any funding - I've checked on a number of occasions. Because we are an independent art gallery, and we choose to maintain control, we cannot access the grants that non-for-profit organisations can.

Hence, we need to sell the House that Rocks here in Heavenly Beverley. Five years ago, the house filled a need for both Michael and me. He needed somewhere he could retreat from the world; I needed somewhere to nurture him so he could heal.

Now we are going to be in the centre of town, on the back block behind the East End Gallery. Hopefully a new house with minimal maintenance and easy care garden and courtyard. Michael had been considering this option for a couple of months, but believing I would hate the idea, had been very hesitant on sharing his thoughts with me. He was completely unprepared for my total embrace of the concept.

The wheels are turning slowly. We have had an initial meeting with Phil, the local architect. Although also working fly in fly out, he hopes to produce initial drawings in three weeks. This is an exciting time. All we have to do is sell the house. And finish restoring the fireplace...without the wall coming down.

Imagine playing Jenga...

for real...

praying every time a brick is removed and replaced!

Michael's current workplace in progress.