Wednesday 10-1-2006(& Thursday)
We still have builders working on the steels again today, it’s obviously a bigger job than we anticipated. Until the steels are all level and straight I suppose it’s a waste of time calling the architect up to inspect it all. Then until the architect has passed it all as OK then I would imagine they can’t call up and order the concrete.
Allen, Elayne and I played tennis at ten o’clock this morning, we started an hour earlier because it gives better definition to the day, we can be finished by twelve and then have a chill out before the dance lessons (we are getting quite good at the tango) and then another music night at Lentisco’s.
Just listen to this then. On Monday we had our first Almond tree in blossom, now there’s quite a few out. Today the staff at the sports centre were out cleaning the leaves off the surrounding lawns and they had the grass cutter running up and down near us (already and it’s only the 10th of January). It sounded just like being at Whiteley again. I didn’t actually notice the noise until Allen mentioned it. Also you can presentably see the evenings drawing out a little. Last night there was still light in the west sky until ten to seven. I know that one swallow does not make a summer but there seems to be light at the end of this very, so far short, tunnel J J J . Now we have said that it will probably be a ferocious February :-(
We have just talked with the architect and he has passed the foundation steels as being OK and in accordance to the plans. Next step is getting the message back to the builder so that they can get the concrete booked, (manana).
Well would you ‘Adam & Eve’ it. It’s quarter past four and two concrete lorries have just turned up and are tipping enormous amounts of concrete into the foundations.
Later about six: It’s nearly dark now, we are getting ready to go out. The same two concrete lorries have both been back to base, refilled and are back here pouring more concrete. I had sort of a conversation with the builder that indicated that five lorry loads were needed to complete the job and they will complete tipping tonight.
We got down to the hostel at seven, leaving two poor guys sitting in the dark on site waiting for the final lorry load of concrete to return. We found that our dancing is cancelled due to Fernando (see why we’re doing the tango) being too ill to take us. So we return to the caravan for an hour or so until it’s time to go to Lentisco’s at half past eight. On return to site we find three guys working by car headlights. They finish and drive off. I walked up to the site but they must have called off the final lorry because of the dark. Hey, what good progress in just one day.
Picture: One picture shows the very first concrete being poured into our foundations at about half past four.
Thursday 11-1-2006
We have been without Internet access for over twenty four hours now. It’s very frustrating and annoying. We have had to go down to Mojacar today just to complete and sign some forms that were going to be sent to us by email. Had we been on line we could have printed the forms, signed them and then scanned them back to the originator. This is what happens from time to time here, the internet signal weakens and we go on and off line for an indeterminate periods of time.
On the bright side, today is another glorious day and the builders have put down the two final lorry loads of concrete, for the foundations. We now have about forty five cubic meters (45 tones) of concrete foundations, that should hold the blooming house down in the wind. They are promising to return ‘manana’ to put in the upright steels, it’s that stretchy word manana again, we shall see. Progress at a gallop.
More and more almond trees are in bloom. We have a tree with pink blossoms and one with white blossoms. They really look glorious against the lovely blue sky.