The building process is starting 17/03/2010

So here we are in Monze, though the internet here is too slow to even try to enter BlogSpot, let alone upload pictures, so the drafts are made here, and will be blogged once we’re back in Lusaka, and we are making appointments and talking to people all over town. Brick layers, thatchers, electricians, drivers, ZESCO (for electricity), prices and negotiations.

Inspection of bricks.

Hunting electricity. We are on a rural, farm drive, getting to know our neighbours and looking for electricity around the farm. And look at this, there is a transformer (behind the house), which is not in use, only 800 meters from the farm. That should bring down the cost heaps.

Crispin with the electrician by the tree at the farm.

Getting building materials.

The boys at the farm have been leaning down in the well to get water, the water level is quite high, but it is not safe. We don’t want people to fall in, so we provided them with a chain, a bucket and 2 padlocks.

Tove is testing, and it works pretty well.

We also give them brushes and cleaning supply, so that they can clean the house for us. The neighbours on the other side have let their cows into the house, and it smells...

The builder/brick layer has come to the site, and we are showing him the plans.

So this is where we will set up the first chalet.

The cows are following our work.

The view/distance from the lodge area to the farm house.

Tove is trying to open the gate to the farm.

And look; she managed!!!

We are bringing materials to the farm, slowing moving with what we can manage in the Jeep. This is brick force; we are learning bits and pieces about construction.
We also bought river sand, which they are supposed to come and dump at the site today, Wednesday, and some other things which we have to pick out at a later stage as they did not fit in the Jeep.
The bricks that we went to see on Sunday are being moved to a space which will be reachable for the truck to come and pick up. Apparently they are using cows to move them, some of us were picturing the whole village, even the younger ones, carry as many bricks as they could manage, until they have moved the entire 5000 bricks.

That day we had to leave the Jeep here, and walk the rest.

And even cross RIVERS to get there.

So now we are just waiting for the builder to start mapping out the foundation. We have not been able to get in contact with him for 2 days now; his phone seems to be out of reach. That is one of the many issues which make it hard to do business on Zambia.