Lots of progress to share.

In a relatively short period we could do a lot. 

This time on maintenance we had to cut 8 big trees. Picking up the electricity bill (under our electricity meter every 17th of the month) I discovered eight trees and many climbers surrounded the electricity lines to our site. So we cut these trees last Saturday. It took us around five hours to cut the branches (many of them more than four meters) and take the climbers off. Happy with my Dutch Altrex stepladder but still a tricky business working in trees so high and also in a temperature of 38 degrees C. 

The second thing we had to do was to clean our 'grease trap' of the kitchen sewage water supply. We do two times a year. Not a nice job but really necessary to keep the soak away field as 'clean' (and without to many problems working) as possible. 

The weather forecast is even not stable but in between the rainshowers (and only when we could use the road) we managed to buy several construction materials to finish the second guest pyramid. 

We managed to finish the outside ceiling. We also levelled the inside floor with a sand/cement mortar. The outside door is prepared and will be installed tomorrow. Phatsamon yesterday painted a special anti termite coating and today a first layer of gloss. 

We prepared our third sewage system with septic tank and soak away field. Again the soak away field pipes are surrounded by gravel and covered with a special fabric to diminish sand and soil to fill the perforated drain pipes. 

Today we asked our friend 'digging machine' to help us out and to level the soil around the second guest pyramid and prepare a sand-bed to install the pavement around. We started at nine and were just at five PM finished. Puppy dog Cupid had to stay on the leash during the day. Kadhow was in charge as first 'security officer'. Both did a great job. 

Happy only we had a few drops of rain so far. Time for a beer, some relaxation and a nice dinner. Tomorrow another day. 

Frans Captijn

email:   pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

 

Second bathroom finished and basic design for the main house born

Last period we managed to finish the bathroom of the second guest pyramid room. Tiling and joint filling of the walls and floor are done. Sanitary ware, electric shower, hair dryer/shaver outlet, wall exhaust fan and towel rack installed. The ceiling with another 7,5 cm thick layer of rockwool Stay Cool isolation, mirrors and lights are in place. 

Because of a new law in Thailand soon people are not allowed anymore to take pictures of other people without permission. Security cams running need a warning sign. Because our place is watched by several security cameras we needed to place extra warning signs (CCTV) around our area so we did not to get problems with this new law.  

Still we have to deal with many rain showers and because of that temporary lock downs because we cannot use the dirt road after that for a while because of mud. 

Last week we bought two loads of new construction materials. Unfortunately we had to unload them at Phatsamon's mothers place because of an unexpected tropical rain shower and had to walk through the mud with our two dogs home. The next day the road, still very muddy, we could use again. We had to reload the truck to bring planks, pipes, thirty roles of isolation, a third septic tank and more to our place. This time we succeeded. 

In the mean time we have the basic design of the main house we want to build. It will take a long time to make all (around twenty) drawings ready for the orbortor (local government) to get building permission. If possible we want to start end of the year with building. This will take another two till three years of the process we are in. 

Like everywhere in the world prices are shocking rising. Nothing to do with a war as many people think but just clever thinking of companies to raise prices now after a low economy during a pandemic (my opinion only). We started already to, step by step, buy some things for the new house to build. A 10 group Siemens consumer unit for electricity and a boiler for instance doubled in many shops already in price. Happy to still have them for the 'old' price. 

Our friend Kingfisher uses the rooftop of the second guestroom daily as watchtower. Sometimes he/she leaves a mark 😀.

Frans Captijn

email:   pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com