She may not yet be fighting fit, but Han was fit enough for a fight over VJ panelling.
While still convalescing in the caravan, Han has been micromanaging Can’s efforts on the worksite via phone.
After seeing red over the black appliances the day before, Han this time turned her fury towards Can’s plan to replace their floor to ceiling tiles with half a wall of wooden panelling which she labelled “farmhouse s**t!”
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It’s hard to know what Han is angrier about, a severe stomach inflammation or VJ panelling.
Can made the pivot to panelling at the suggestion of Block veteran and plumber Tom, who was helping her while Han was off sick.
Abandoning the floor-to-ceiling tiles (which, you’ll recall prevented them from finishing the room in week one) was one of the time-saving, cost-savvy suggestions Tom made for the latest bathroom.
Initially on board with the VJ pivot, Can grew increasingly tense as the reality of having to break the news to Han dawned on her.
And as soon as she did, it was clear she was right to be trepidatious.
“Why did you agree to it?” Han prosecuted. “I hate it. I am not happy with the VJ panelling.”
A teary Can, admitted she found it “super hard” to make decisions without Han as a Beaumont tiles salesman presented her with a box of tissues to help her dry her eyes (if this continues perhaps Kleenex should come in as a sponsor in 2026).
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Worrying about Han’s reaction is taking a toll on Can.
“I’m here worrying about Han and if she’s going to get better and she keeps messaging me things she wants. But I have got many other people in my ear telling me what they want,” she said.
“There’s a lot to balance but finishing the bathroom this week is really important. I can’t keep her happy and them happy.”
After considering it all, Han did an about face and went from vetoing the VJ to embracing it like her long-lost child, insisting they now clad the walls from floor to ceiling in the stuff believing it looked more contemporary than what Tom had proposed.
It’s not just Can and Han who have a Block legend on their team.
Sonny and Alicia have three of them, having recruited series regulars, the Cursio brothers.
“They don’t eat. They drink coffee after coffee after coffee,” Sonny marvelled of the hardworking trio (which handily offered another opportunity to spruik McCafe).
The Cursio cavalry arrive on site.
To make the most of every minute on site – and avoid travel fatigue – the trio agreed to stay in Scott Cam’s caravan (note: the host was not present for this sleepover party). On one condition. They would need clean undies for the next day.
Happy to be of assistance, Alicia added a five-pack of jocks to her shopping list for the week.
Eager to alleviate some of the time pressures of bathroom week, Alicia opted for ginormous tiles, figuring that meant fewer to lay. But less is more (work) when it comes to tiles, with one Cursio explaining “It’s like parking a jumbo jet in a mini garage”.
So much for best laid plans.
As always, with teams all flat out trying to meet the various bathroom week milestones (Truecore Tuesday, Waterproof Wednesday, tiling Thursday and Fit off Friday) the production upped the ante with not one, but two challenges.
The first would be long time strain for long term gain.
Over the coming weeks, the teams would each have to renovate a derelict room at the Hepburn Springs day spa, to secure Scotty’s luxurious caravan (Cursio brothers not included).
The van, worth $260,000 could be auctioned as a feature of the winning team’s house.
“I reckon the caravan is going to be better than your house because at least it’s got finished bathrooms,” Tom joked to Can.
Each team would be given $23,000 from sponsors to make-over their spaces however they liked.
Taking in the magnitude of the project, Mat likened the new construction site to the Blair Witch Project.
“We are not renovating a spa room we are renovating a pit of hell,” he said.
Han on a haybale podium showing remarkable powers of bounce back.
Sonny spotted a rat running around, while Alicia moaned: “It stinks!”
A far simpler challenge was the game of croquet hosted by the site’s former landlord and neighbour at his historic home.
Also, in attendance at the champagne fuelled match were host Shelley Craft (stepping in for an AWOL Scott who was busy celebrating the birth of his granddaughter) and 2013 Block winners Alisa and Lysandra.
The Adelaide twins rocked up to promote their new skincare line and announce a $5000 prize for the winner of the croquet match.
All novices, it seemed to be a fairly even playing field for the game until one-by-one teams began forfeiting when they accidentally smashed their vintage balls in two with their mallets.
“We Steven Bradbury-ed it,” Mat smirked of pocketing the win because everyone else stuffed up.
Smashing it became the theme of the day when everyone kicked on after the dinner with beers by the bonfire.
Now fully recovered and over her VJ tanty, Han was ready to strut her stuff for her co-stars transforming haybales into makeshift nightclub podiums.
“Han’s dance moves were next level,” Alicia marvelled of the Lazarus-worthy recovery.
While Mat added: “I don’t know if I would call it dancing. It was more praying mantis robot moving to music.”
MISSED AN EPISODE? HERE’S ALL OUR RECAPS SO FAR
Episode 1: Why no NSW applicants were good enough for The Block
Episode 2: The worst day on The Block
Episode 3/4: ‘Tear them off’: teams forced to rip tiles from walls
Episode 5: Judges feedback leaves one contestant vomiting
Episode 6: Dan and Dani’s heartbreak
