We have finally begun the process of pouring the second floor slab, so now it's only a matter of time before we have a place to receive guests.
🐈⬛ Cat Chess Anyone? ♟️
Whenever my daughters get out their magnetic chessboard ChairWoman Meow is always curious to watch and occasionally steal some pawns to bite and paw at. I don't know why she has such great interest in the chess pieces, I assume because we all touch them with our hands so much, probably it appears to Meow as though we're playing with these fun little wooden things.
When I got out the camera and began to take pics, Ms. Meow became even more protective of her chess pieces. She seemed to be challenging me to steal one of her pieces, almost as if she was setting me up to get bit and scratched. Sorry Meow, better luck next time.
🛻 Hunting For Slab Help 🏢
Okay, back to the matter at hand, the Chinese sand/rock/cement depot decided not to honor their commitment to pour our slab for the roughly $900 USD we had previously agreed upon. After my in-law construction bros put up the forms, we called the company to come and pour concrete, but the Khmer workers said the Chinese bossmen were away on a gambling trip.
We asked the Khmer workers how often the bossmen disappear and usually for how long. I wasn't shocked to hear that multiple weeks and months are possible, and the workers are too afraid to do any business with the bigshots away, not even brave enough to call and potentially interrupt a gambling bender. After a few weeks we began to lose hope and worry about how much longer the forms can remain viable.
🪖 A Deal Is Made 🤝
Eventually we gave up and decided to go old school, so we went to the nearby town in search of active construction sites. We found one at the roundabout, and the picture just below Meow is my brother-in-law running back to the tuk-tuk after making a deal with the construction company. For $80 USD we were able to rent the scaffolding, tumbler, and the engine, pulley, and cart used to haul the concrete to the top.
In the end it will probably cost us around $1,100 or more, $200 more than the Chinese company, but we found a gang of soldiers from the village willing to help on the big slab day. I was surprised the truck made a 55 km roundtrip twice and loaned us the equipment for a small price. Technically we'll have the stuff for two or three days because we have to set everything up for a day to get ready for the soldier concrete mixers.
All in all it will probably take at least 8 people to to mix the concrete, pour it, and smooth it out. Things will have to be done quickly so that all the concrete can have the same texture and cure evenly. It's a very nervous time for us, but I am also glad to see the process working out, even if it has taken a few years to slowly build a small house. Hats off to Hive for providing the majority of the funds that have made this all possible.
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OMG, last we heard, construction had been paused by a government official and you were fighting the bureaucracy. Did something change in that regard, or are you moving forward, regardless...? 🤔 Anyway, it's good to see something happening again with the project! 😎
We are still kind of forbidden from our second floor idea, but all the locals have said we should just wait 6 months and build the second floor. We've already signed paperwork stating we are responsible to tear down the house at our own cost if the highway expands.
It looks really promising. I can only imagine what an undertaking it must be to build a house where you are. I hope everything will turn out the way you planned and hoped 🦋
It has been quite a stressful situation, and at times I have missed the simple life of a $30 monthly rental room. I will rejoice when the lodge/reception/cafe area is finished.
Am glad you have resumed the construction of your house. 😀
Me too, we aim to make it a lodge of sorts, three bathroom and shower stalls, reception, cafe, hangout area, etc. Ultimately the end product will be something like a Cambodian version of a KOA Campground. We'll have tent sites, cabins, bungalows, dorm rooms, and some day trips and outdoor adventures to offer.
I like the cat I want to give some foods to the cat.
She likes fresh geckos and crickets the most, haha.
Nice job here
Take care 💞 work well