The thing is that even though there is some progress at the farm it’s slow. You know African time, Zambian time, TTT (things take time or ting tar tid) and all that. And oh, yes, the funding is another, very significant, reason.
So things are happening, after about half a year with no work at all we started on the roof of the one chalet that is there around new years.
It was supposed to take 3 weeks – but it was that time thingy.
And there are always problems to be conquered. Not enough materials, -
Poles not being long enough, poles being too long (for transport), not enough nails, -
doing things wrong, demolish, wasting nails, not enough nails due to the wasted ones etc etc.
After all of this all we can hope for is that at the end the roof/tatch will look good. Not perfect – given up on that one long time ago – but presentable.
The backside of the chalet also needs plastering, so that is being done at the same time.
Other than that we are trying to still make decisions which we were dwelling over last year this time – solar or electricity or both. We still end up on the same – both. The transport is another one which is taking the toll on us – the dream of having our own chanter is growing for every day. A chanter is a small truck from the make of Mitsubishi, but here in Zambia chanter has been adopted to include all trucks of similar size, it be Toyota or Nissan or you name it. Just like Coca Cola is commonly used for all soft drinks. Then there is the question of what building material to use, and should we get our own machine? The first chalet we built with local burnt bricks, made in the village, which is a good way to support local businesses/people, but it turned out to be expensive and a lot of hassle, transport – transport – transport here and there. It also turned out that the bricks aren’t that strong – and quite a few did not handle all the shifting, or storage for that matter. There are still plenty of bricks left. Let’s say we do get our own machine, which one do we get? There is something called a hydraform machine which makes interlocking and it is supposed to be environmental friendly, but that one in EXPENSIVE. Then there is the less expensive option of a concrete block making machine which seems like the best option. They both need electricity though – so we’re back to that. A generator pollutes, is noise, expensive to purchase and to run (when we’re getting electricity anyway), and is not at all environmentally friendly.
Then there is the toilet, we reckon we’ll start building the ablution block next. This will contain the toilets and the showers which eventually will serve the swimming pool and camp site, but as for now, or when it’s ready, will serve the whole farm.
Then last (probably not last but for all the issues that comes to mind right now it is), but not least there is the road, that last little stretch into the farm. Oh, it’s in bad shape, man. After all the rains in January it’s just puddles and not much else. Imagine at new years small cars made it to the farm. Tove’s mum and dad spent 2 weeks of January away from snowy and freezing Norway.
They spent some of this time stacking bricks at the farm and at the same time they decided we needed to do something about the road. So we got a donation. We checked with the local road people in Monze, and let’s just say that these people are not serious, the estimated number they came up with had to be a joke. So we reckon the best thing to do is to mobilise the community, supply them with shovels, gravel and sand as needed, and pay them WELL.
As you can see there are plenty things to sort out. Unfortunately the Jeep is out of action. George the Jeep is very sick. We had him back for a while but the poor thing had to go back for more treatment. Hopefully he’ll be with us shortly, and then we can travel to Monze and the farm without too many issues. So our list of things to buy and things to do is loooong. We will do what we can with what little money we have and just cross our fingers that funding will come our way one of these days.
It is just nice to be at the farm you know. So far from our busy lives, far from stress and traffic and pollution. It is quiet and still and the sky is huge and seems endless. You feel at peace with yourself and nature (that of course is when you don’t look at the chalet too closely and see all the mistakes that have been made).
There have been a few parties at the farm lately. There was new years with friends and family and a lot to drink, and people camping and staying up till sunrise.
There was a dinner party when the parents from Norway were here, with friends in Monze and lots of local food.
The nicest things with these parties are that no one complains that there are no music, everyone just seems to enjoy the quietness. Guess that will change once we got the bar up and running. Being in the middle of nature no one can take away from us though.
And let me tell you, you don’t have to be on a safari to enjoy the African nature!
