Work in Progress (part 1)

It isn't the easiest job in the world to find out what progress is being made on the construction of the house. Suffice to say everyone is very pleased and very happy. The main problem is that 'everyday' building words like 'reinforced concrete' and 'gable end' cannot be found in your average 'Learn To Speak Like a Thai in a Fortnight' handbook. Most of the time I have had to make do with lots of guessing and a vivid imagination. I have learnt the odd word like 'Wat-sa-doo' which means building materials and sounds very similar to that English favourite 'bill-i-doo' which is the old fashioned name for a docket, but that's of little value when you are trying to find out whether or not the house will float away in the first flood of the rainy season!

The first job was to 'make tall', and this means to raise the level of the building ground to such a height that it will not be affected by the flood water. Something that house builders in the south of England should think about. In our case the level was raised about four feet as you can see in the picture above. The foundation posts were then sunk into the ground and the space was then filled in with soil with the ground floor level then set to the height of the wall. I think!

Whilst this was going on the house was blessed by the local monks. This is a traditional and essential part of the construction and ensures that there will be happiness in the new home.

I have become very interested in Buddhism since going to the village in January and find its traditions and beliefs much more tangible than western Christianity.

So after lots of humping and dumping the make tall was completed and work started on building the walls of the house.

This picture was taken on 18 April and I understand that since then the roof has been put on and the upstairs floor is being fitted. But there again what do I know?