Wow!!!
It's gorgeous. Congratulations!!!

CONGRATULATIONS

I soo love Princess cut heheh Beautiful ring and proposal.. Happy times ahead....

Congratulations on the engagement!!! Sounds like you have a closet romantic on your hands there! Designing the ring and beautiful proposal! I've heard of far less romantic proposals than that! Congratulations

Congratulations !!!

He did such a great job, that ring is gorgeous

Thank you everyone for all your warm congrats I have been quite overwhelmed at how excited everyone has been for us, makes us feel pretty awesome as a couple, heheh.

Feet are firmly back on the ground now after a nice relaxing break....we had an extra day at home before coming back to work, so we used that to make sure we finalised what was going on with our air conditioning. We've decided on a unit (got a very good deal - we made sure that we visited suppliers that were close to the new house, so they knew all the nonsense we were talking about with the environmental stuff), have sent through detailed sketches to SPH and City of Cockburn. SPH has got back to us and said they're still having trouble getting in contact with CoC. CoC haven't replied to my email...3 days and counting. We've spoken with our bank, and arranged full payment to go to our suppliers within the next few days (despite not definitely knowing that CoC are going to approve our system). I've been meticulous with checking that our chosen aircon meets all the requirements that were given to us - so I will #$@^!%##!! them if we get knocked back.

I've been promised a phone call from SPH as soon as the council gets it's a&& into gear. Hopefully soon.

I've just sent another email to the environmental officer telling him that I appreciate he is busy, but I would like an indication of when it's likely to all be resolved or at least some acknowledgement that he has received the stuff I've sent through to him. Hate it when people don't reply.

Oooh good luck! I hope you hear from them soon!

Good idea going with suppliers close to the area so they were familiar? Did they say whether this is a common occurrence?

So.... Are we going to lose you to a wedding forum soon?

Fingers crossed they get back to you ASAP!!!

As soon as the sales manager saw our plan and we said noise restrictions, he knew exactly what we were talking about, so it was great...we feel like we're in pretty capable hands Apparently this is something that suppliers are seeing more and more of as all those southern fwy corridor suburbs are developing.

Not losing me to a wedding forum yet - I'm still only doing the stalkery/browsy thing on those forums for now...heheh. Still trying to decide whether we're going to have an engagement party - everything costs precious dollars right now, and it doesn't seem right to splurge on a massive party when we could be putting money towards the house.

Just do a sausage sizzle in your backyard! Or at the block!

Sausage sizzle at the block is a great idea Vans!

Environmental Health officer has signed off and approved our air-conditioning!! Fiiiiinnnnnaaaalllly Our application is now back with the building surveyor for final sign off - have been told that we should have our licence by the end of the week - however, I haven't called them to see if our surveyor guy is on holidays again

Woooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!

Yay!

Congrats!!!!!

Woooo!!!! about flipping' time!!

Yayyyyy that's awesome news

Elusive building licence still no where to be seen...have called CoC twice this week to see if they've received the referral/approval back from the EHO...nothing. Was basically scoffed at and told that it was 'naughty' for the EHO to tell me that we'd have approval by the end of the week. They went to check the internal mail to see if anything had come through - but nothing. I was then made to feel as if though I couldn't read or comprehend what I was told by the EHO, because it was more likely he said to me "that he'll send it through to planning by the end of the week". Ummmmm......what!?

I've had an angry email sitting in my drafts for the last few days, waiting to send to one of the elected members for Aubin Grove. I thought that maybe doing what JoJoMojo did and contacting one of the councillors, may help somewhat. I've just sent it.

I suppose I'm getting even more annoyed by it all, because we've just sent through full payment for our air conditioning to the supplier. Feels ridiculous handing over all that money when we've only got weeds on the block right now. Grrrrr.

What the hell!!!! Why do they want to make this a horrible process for you???? I hope one of the Councillors will help you...

I'm interested to know what you said in the email though because I'm horribly curious... I hope they pay attention! This is absolutely ridiculous for you to have had to put up with all of this!

Email was basically along the lines of: frustrated at ongoing delays, lack of communication and record keeping (the online system has not been updated since they first received and acknowledged our application on 16 March, also, the last memo they have on the system for our file is dated 16 May and there is nothing after that date), frustrated because we've done everything asked of us to expedite the process....

I wish I was a lawyer already so my email signature could look a little more scary and intimidating! (even though I'm not at all! ) I always worry I'm not assertive enough and end up sounding too empathic towards them and how busy they are and that they can't drop everything to deal with my matter. Anyhow, I feel a little better for trying to escalate it somewhat.

On the other hand, I'm very grateful for the way SPH has handled everything. I think I'm going to send a little something to the drafting manager, some wine, or maybe some fancy beer.

It sucks that you had to be brought to that! Haha if you're going to be a lawyer, time to get angry!
Good that SPH has handled everything well so far. I'm thrilled with their response to everything so far, actually. Once you've got past the CoC's crap, it'll be good going from there

I hope the letter sorts them out for you.

For someone who is actually moving to the suburb it does not give a very good impression, nor persuade you to recommend the area to others... and surely the council is like a business and the more people in the area the better for them!