Concrete + us = rain (and more to share without much progress)

Weather, even having the present time technics, more and more is unpredictable and powerful. Indeed, we destroy the world... After nearly two weeks of no progress, last Monday the weather (and weather forecast) seemed to be good to continue our process. 

This year however, we learned that when we want to work with concrete, no mater the sunny weather, we get rain to destroy a part of the quality of the work we want to deliver. It is the way it is. 

So because of the good weather forecast, this Tuesday morning we rented the formwork and in the afternoon we started to place the formwork in the way I made the drawings. Yesterday we continued. The water level and laser instruments are of great help. 

Yesterday afternoon around 3.30 PM it started to rain... We and concrete again. It seemed to be side effects of a new depression, this time typhoon Molave, from the Philippines and Vietnam reached our area as well. Yesterday evening the prediction was nearly 7 cm rain over the night and yes this was what happened. And today the whole day it will go on and we got warnings to be prepared against possible flooding. 
Our pond is filling with water and growing in size. The many rice farmers, who want to harvest, are not happy at all anymore. The dirt road, repaired last week by a company, turned again into a deep mud landscape. 

This afternoon, half an hour no rain, I tried to go with dog Kadhow for a short walk on the scooter. Real lock down. The scooter did not make it anymore. The only way we can come to the village is walking on the paths in between the rice paddies. 

Another thing to share is that we got new problems with our truck. Going to pay our government taxes and insurance for the truck the inspection station discovered the break of one of the back wheels was broken and one of the front lights not placed well. So we brought the truck, again, to 'the hospital' for repair and check up. It's back home again and functioning well now. So, who knows, waiting for the next unforeseen repair. 

All negative news? Not at all. We make it 'Sunny'. We are still happy together, happy we do not have a time schedule, no stress, a happy dog, enjoying the ongoing beautiful birds show at our place, and not much disturbance of media and marketing influences. 

It will be dry again and everything will be OK. 

Frans Captijn

e-mail: pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

Ongoing tropical depressions and... another truck repair

Depression after tropical depression are hitting our area. Already nearly one week and still heavy to very heavy rains with strong winds are forecast. So, our rain stop is going on. Nearly no activities possible at this time. It gives me enough time to work on my exam for the course I am doing. Our building plot where we want to create the first guest pyramid room is filled with 35 cm water. 

So, indeed we are in another 'Lock down' because we cannot use the dirt road at the moment. It's like driving through thick layers of wet snow and there are too many deep holes that need to be repaired first ;(. 

Three days ago we wanted to bring our garbage to the dumping ground and discovered the air-conditioning of the truck stopped working. Be sure, even with this weather, driving without the aircon is hard. So we went to the garage again and they fixed it. The old and broken compressor, a valve and a receiver dryer needed to be replaced. It's getting an expensive but more and more nearly new truck...

 

Frans Captijn

e-mail: pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

Rainstop

For days now we have 'Dutch weather'. Ongoing day and night rain. Temperatures (for us) very low/cold with 21 degrees Celsius. 

Yesterday we wanted to pick up the formwork at the rental place. We nearly could not leave our site because of the muddy and slippery dirt road with bigger and deeper getting holes. Reaching the rental company we could not enter their premises. Thick layers of mud and... only one worker. So we temporary canceled the order.

Driving with the truck, especially unloaded, now is dangerous because of slippery roads and, even at the highway, huge holes in the asphalt. At the dirt roads it feels like driving through thick layers of wet snow. You need to continue driving. If you stop

Building is not possible because the construction place is underwater. I just, with the laser level, a couple of days ago could do the measuring. 

So... we have to wait till this depression is over. Trucks to deliver materials cannot reach our place and I think a concrete truck to deliver will sink to the axles into the mud. 

Nothing else then to wait a couple of days after the rain will stop (expected after October 16th) to continue our building efforts. Loy Krathong this year is at October 31 and November 1st. Mostly after Loy Krathong slowly the dry season walks in. In the mean time I can work on the exam of my course. 

We keep you posted. 

Frans Captijn

e-mail: pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

 

Amazing Thailand... many times an excited adventure

Some amazing experiences. 

First of all we tried and asked for nearly two weeks to get wire mesh sheets. We can get wire mesh on rolls but in the thickness of the rebar we want they are hard to handle and it makes it more than difficult to get the rebar straight in the formwork. 

Yesterday we passed a factory we already visited several times but... our order is too small for them to produce sheets for us. We walked into the workshop and talked with the floor manager. They just started to weld new rolls in the size we need and it was no problem for him to cut the wire mesh as sheet before making rolls of it. Amazing... after many kilometers and visit we have the material we wanted.

Amazing as well how they loaded the wire mesh and rebar on our small truck. On the highway it must have been seen as the transport of a kind of big Christmas tree ;). 

At home we both unloaded the truck. Still a lot of weight to carry. 

Another amazing experience is that we found a company who can deliver the hollow core slabs we need. We also found a company who rent formwork and will make use of it soon. 

Yesterday we ordered special (strong quality) Q-Con blocks for the foundation. Because it is a special order delivery will probably take four till six weeks.

Today we ordered the rooftiles and ridges already. That's a bit early but they just had the right amount of tiles in stock and the new series will take about three months to be available. 

A bit sad was our experience when we picked up the crystal rooftiles. Although in the (new) brochure, the company cannot offer them. So we got an alternative (we do not 100% like but we will deal with it). We decided to go back to the original concept of the location of the Velux roof windows we once wanted to install but cannot be delivered. 

Frans Captijn

e-mail: pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

 

Petite Chartres Labyrinth at Pyramid House Thailand in Surin finished

YES, we made it. 

This morning at 5.45 AM I went on with varnishing one tin of varnish the labyrinth floor again. Great (and dry) weather. It took a bit more than one hour. Just on time before the sun started the atmosphere to warm up. 
After church, at 9.45 AM I went to the shop to buy two new lamps. No way. They were out of production. So, I bought four other ones (we also liked before). After brunch I installed them. At 4 PM I could do another run of varnish to finish at 5PM.

We offered the labyrinth to my dear mom who, today 26 years ago, for me only physically passed away. Every day with joy and fun she is still going on in and with me. For sure she will be one of the regular visitors during spiritual and meditative walks. 

Another part of our process finished. Next week we will start with the further preparations for the first Pyramid guest room to build. 

Frans Captijn

e-mail: pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

 

Labyrinth gets more and more form but not finished yet

Yesterday I finished plastering the border of the labyrinth. Both Phatsamon and I had to clean the so called walls (the small dark blue and gold crystal tiles) because at some places the cement layer was to thick for the acid to clean and we did not want to damage the joints between the tiles. 

This afternoon we cleaned with acid and lots of water to make the labyrinth floor ready to varnish. Late afternoon I started with that. 

It's all about checking the weather and working in between showers. Last night heavy thunderstorms again but today cloudy and dry so far. Good to work. 

My intention was to have the labyrinth ready tomorrow October 4th because of a special occasion. A bit sad to discover the glasses of two of the four labyrinth lights, we bought months ago already, were broken in the box. So tomorrow we have to buy two new ones (and, lessons learned, will check them in the store in advance). Varnishing as well takes a bit more time. I stopped around 5.30 PM to be sure the varnish will be dry enough and does not turn 'blind' in the night. 

So... no hurry and no stress. In a couple of days we can show you the end results.

Frans Captijn

e-mail: pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com