Counter Top Measurements and "New" Car

Today Tim from Australian Counter Tops visited to discuss the design of the counter top and back splash.  Paul was on hand to contribute to the discussion from his building perspective.  Brenda was also on hand for the occasion and to have a look at the progress of the renovation.

Kitchen with cook top roughly in place

I did not have the new sink on hand but was able to provide its brand and model as well as detailed measurements.  Bunnings expects to have the sink on Thursday and on that day I will drop it off at ACT so that they can proceed with the cutting of the counter top.

Tomorrow I will visit Bunnings for ACT's quotation and delivery time.

On Sunday night I was snooping around the internet for used cars and found 2003 X-trail Ti.  I was attracted by its equipment as the top-of-the-line model and its relatively low mileage of 132,000 kilometers (82,000 miles). Brenda, Stephen and I visited yesterday to inspect the car and we all agreed that it was OK and almost as important, the vendors Tim and his wife Janet were OK too.  Stephen's inspection included the engine, body, looking at the underside of the car with a strong torch, and getting an electronic readout of error codes (there were none).  And of course the price was a factor, a reasonable $9,500.

This afternoon Brenda drove me to Tim's house and we executed the sale, with me handing over a bank cheque for $9,000.  While I was there I initiated a comprehensive policy on the car with RAC Insurance.

I am happy with the car, which is almost as loaded up with extras as the top-of-the-line 2006 X-Trail Ti that I sold shortly before departing on the circumnavigation in 2008.  It's got the central locking, climate control, cruise control, electric sunroof, leather seats, electric mirrors, 6-stacker CD player with excellent sound system,  roof bars and tow bar.  The only things missing are a cargo blind in the back and a nudge bar in the front.  I'll definitely get a cargo blind for it and will also look into installing a nudge bar.

By the way, the car has a manual transmission, which is exactly what I was looking for after brother Arnold warned me about purchasing an older car with an automatic transmission.

I will now be able to give the little Barina a well earned rest.  It was working hard to keep up with the 100 kph (60 mph) traffic on the long runs on Roe highway and did not have much cargo space, nor could it pull my trailer, which I will need for carting much building material to the tip.