Tears of the Son

It's a long story, a life story.He who has never denied himself for the sake of giving, has but glanced at the joys of charity. 

That's me as a kid standing next to the big flower pot back when i was a little boy in primary school and that couple there is my late mom & dad. I grew up doing most of the sprucing up around here, a skill that must have turned to muscle memory. Look at the state of the house when i was a kid in the 90's, then look at what it deteriorated to, finally compare how it went back to being what i was years late. Nothing is impossible.

Lets call this Genesis 1 verse 1.

This is round about year 2010. Updated home theme started here because charity begins at home. I lived here since 1988 but had to leave for close to 15 years leaving the property in the care of several different tenants care. Over such a long period, deterioration begins to occur, sometimes on just about very corner. The following story documents how with just D.I.Y skills, some tools and a lot of will power, you can transform a disaster into a miracle for a lot less than you would imagine. It's just a test of patience in the end.

Now that the planning and skills is done, a lesson was to be learnt. So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty. A journey of a thousand miles.

He who has never denied himself for the sake of giving, has but glanced at the joys of charity.

And so this is what the house looked like after the 15 or so years of absence. I know it looks bad but were there's a plan there certainly is a way, it will all make sense in the end. Paint deteriorates over time, weeds overgrow, it's not an overnight job, nor the most enjoyable but someone's got to do it right?.

Step 1 - Start with a clean canvas. Paint the biggest eyesores first.

Colour has the ability to change a lot of things and inspire ideas to do so much more. You shape the rest around the structure like a cake comes before the icing & toppings.

Every corner needs a coat of paint.

It's an inside and outside affair

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. 

The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude.

These plastic tiles have to go. I'm sure they looked great in the 80's but time moves on

out with the old, in with the new. D.I.Y ceramic floor tiling.

Looks a bit better i suppose.

This won't do well either. Time for another update.

Paint not looking good, that'll need some doing too.

A bit better for not much money. Just a few tools and Bob's your uncle.

Whiter walls a day later.. A bit of carpentry at a later date should make it decent.

Wouldn't get many visitors with a door like that. Out it goes

There's a bit of carpentry skills involved but a drill and chisel usually get the job done.

All in place with D.I.Y. Labor cost still at $0, don't you just love handy skills.

Restored

Bathroom not looking conducive for an enjoyable bath. More work.

Same as next room, tiles are outdated

Another dirty job but it'll look good when it's done.

Much better for now. Tiles in place and pipework replaced

The yard looks like a mini forest. More work but almost done.

Fast forward to after the shovel work had been done.

Used to be grey and dirty, the wonders a few coats of paint and some weeding can do.

Safe to nestle at again. Clean and appreciable once more.

It's not about the money you need to do something, it's the willingness to do it no-matter how impossible or hard it looks at first.