Episode 40 recap: Tayla loses it at Chantel over pool tile debacle as foreman makes dire prediction

We’ve had tile problems, decking problems and acrobat problems so far this week – why not throw in some car troubles as well?

The only team with a car this morning is Adam and Jolene, who are loathing having to carpool with Rick and Tayla.

“It was a very annoying 17 minutes to work,” Jolene says.

I presume everyone else has a slightly more peaceful taxi ride to site. Or at least I hope they did, because as soon as they arrive Foreman Dan is in a panic.

“We are in great danger right now of five houses not finishing,” he says.

After a rough day yesterday, Courtney’s woken up with a fresh, more positive outlook. And it lasts approximately four seconds.

Dan says they need to modify their decking boards around the pool.

They’ve had the plans for weeks and are only just mentioning it now, but because they’re usually so on top of it Courtney calls it a stitch-up.

Uh oh. Everyone at The Block hates that word!

Next door, Tayla campaigns for the hardest-worker award, while simultaneously planning to book a facial.

It’s a bold campaign that … does not work. At all. But Rick is awarded instead, so she still gets the money (and facial).

Soon after, McCafé becomes the site of something a little less wholesome.

Yesterday, House 5’s pool tiles were incorrectly delivered to House 2.

The Cursios had begun installing them before Chantel realised they were wrong, but she didn’t care enough to rip them out and start again.

“I just thought they were a bad batch,” Chantel says. “Turns out, Tayla picked those tiles.”

Tayla, meanwhile, is furious.

“I’m so f---ing mad right now. I can’t believe this, how did this happen?” she rages.

She interrupts Chantel’s coffee break to demand she rips them off her completed pool, but Chantel says no because hello, who has the time?

After that massive outburst, it turns out, there are enough tiles remaining to do House 5’s pool anyway.

Awkward.

Scott Cam is having a lot of fun playing Santa this week.

After announcing everyone’s extra $50,000 on Monday, he’s now handing over gifts for each house’s backyard as requested by their landscapers.

Merry Blockmas!

During walkarounds, Scotty is so concerned by everyone’s lack of progress that he reckons whoever finishes will probably win the week by default.

He also encourages Tayla to get on the tools.

Brave or stupid?

That evening, he hosts a barbecue at the share house for a meal and my personal favourite drama-maker of every season … the moment the teams watch themselves on TV for the first time.

It starts with everyone’s episode one introduction packages, which are rather illuminating.

First about Wyatt’s many … interesting … nicknames, and then a big Block secret: Courtney’s real job.

So much for admin, indeed.

In the next episode, Sunday Room Reveals are back.

There are alfresco dining spaces, big decks and most importantly, matching pool tiles to judge. Catch you then!