Source: 9Jumpin
Last night the tenth season of renovation juggernaut The Block launched on Channel Nine. This seasons pits 3 new couples against 3 returning teams, as they transform a rundown apartment block in Melbourne's South Yarra into 6 family-sized homes.
We start the season with 6 new pairs of Blockheads - 3 of whom will be eliminated in the first week:
WA: Luke & Ebony, brother and sister
VIC: Brooke & Aimee, cousins
SA: Tim & Anastasia, husband and wife
QLD: Ayden & Jessica, husband and wife
NSW: Josh & Charlotte, dating for 5 years
NSW: Mark & Jessica (JJ), engaged
The Block is nothing if not educational, so here are some of the teaching moments we witnessed last night:
Running on polished concrete in stiletto heels rarely ends well :: As the contestants made a mad dash out of Scotty's HQ, Anastasia bit the dust. Hard. Take it easy ladies, the Suzuki will still be waiting for you, your apartment's not going anywhere.
Occupational Health & Safety is really boring and you don't need to pay attention :: This is actually something I have a major issue with, having professional experience with commercial & corporate liability: OH&S is a BIG deal. We've seen contestants in the past completely disregard safety on site, and it's not OK. The reality (pun intended) is: People DIE on work sites. Just because this job is televised, doesn't make it any less dangerous. But you wouldn't know this from watching the safety brief at the commencement of the reno. I'd like to think that the contestants do take it seriously & pay attention, but we wouldn't know it from the montage of muffled talking, yawns & daydreams. It's all fun & games until someone is sued for negligence.
If your partner is leaving you somewhere with the car, always check that you have the keys :: Jess was caught up after Ayden drove off with a tradie, taking their Suzuki keys with him. She was then left to catch a taxi back to the Block with her purchases. Which leads us to our next lesson...
Upload your partners details to your new phone immediately :: Only after he left her stranded, did Jess realise that she didn't have Ayden's details in her new phone. People! Uploading your contacts should be Job 1 when you get a new phone!
If you're a carpenter, don't hire a carpenter :: Poor Luke copped a spray from Foreman Keith & Foreboy Dan for hiring a carpenter to help him out with their bedroom, despite the fact that he is a chippie himself. In Dan's words, "they get softer every year." He at least knows whereof he speaks: In his first season, Dan handled the bulk of the construction work himself, in a house far more rundown than these apartments. Come on Luke, get it together man.
If you're going to enter a competition about renovating, maaaaybe brush up on the basics beforehand :: It's a bit embarassing to see contestants who aren't able to properly measure a window, or who aren't aware of what type of paint is used where. This is an issue that I often have with Masterchef: You're entering a cooking competiton and you don't know how to fillet a fish or make pasta from scratch? WHAT ARE YOU DOING.
Renovate like nobody's watching :: A criticism I've seen levelled at recent seasons is that contestants are now all too aware of the cameras presence. They play up to them and censor themselves in equal measure. These "performances" were very clear to see last night, particularly in front of the in-car cams. I also noticed several contestants making references to cameras & cameramen...Look. We get it. You're on a TV show. You don't need to point it out to us. I'm hoping that it's just first episode jitters and that we'll see them calm down soon enough...But if not, it's going to get real old, real quick.
Noise restrictions? No matter, just go for a walk :: Ayden decided to take a little late night stroll with his timber & handsaw. Because, y'know, that worked out SO well for Dan in his season.
Tonight's episode will see the first bedrooms critiqued by resident judges Shaynna Blaze, Darren Palmer and Neale Whitaker, with the least impressive couple eliminated.
Follow me @mamamedia_au on Twitter for condensed reno-related ramblings!
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