Pandora in the burbs

It all started with a simple vision.

Now that hubby and I have a backyard we thought it would be great to have a terrace with a nice table so that the family could enjoy al fresco meals in the summer time.

Last year was our first summer and we just didn't get it together. We ended up having family picnics in the backyard. It was quaint, for the first couple of times but it would be nice to also invite some friends over.

So the first thing we needed was a terrace and someone to build that terrace.
I got a referral from a neighbor and made the appointment.
The terrace lady came and started throwing out 20 different ideas. Of course most of them were super expensive but there was one we really liked. Build a terrace right behind the house.

Simple enough, you'd think but behind the house we have beautiful rose bushes, they'd have to be moved. Behind the house we also have the sceptic tank (yeah another thing you learn about and wish you hadn't). But the town is suppose to build a sewer and we can hook up and get rid of the tank.
That was suppose to happen last November.

So next day I go to town hall to find out when the sewer is coming because there is no point in building a terrace over a tank that's going to be removed.

I meet with Brian from the construction office.
He kindly takes out a plan of our property, asks me all these questions about the pipes in the basment and begins to explain that we have a couple of options to hook up to the sewer (ok happy to know that but what I really want to know is when the sewer is coming)
So Brian gives me a tutorial on how my toilets are linked to our sceptic tanks and how those pipes have to be hooked up to the sewer when it comes. We have two options and neither are pretty:  upturn half our back yard  and run a pipe or try and do it via the basement of the house. Ok.
Then we have to either collapse the sceptic tank or fill it up with sand. Ok
So what kind of people do this work I ask, plumbers?
Well you have P1, P2 and P6 plumbers he explains (whatever! when is the sewer coming?). I'll spare you what each one does!
So when is it actually going to happen? Well we have a meeting on March 25th with the crew to decide how the sewer is going to be put it and then they have 240 days to do the work. And by the way these guys are going to completely tear up your street!
Ok then, so I leave knowing that sometime in the next 240 days we may have a sewer to hook up to and that it's going to be expensive and painful.

It was simple enough in the beginning. Doesn't look like we'll have our terrace anytime soon.
Looks like I'm going to Costco's to purchase a fold away table and place it right on the grass. Simple enough!