Thursday 10 July 2008

July get stuck in (the loo)


Friday 4th July 2008

After an early 6.00am rise, the team arrived on site with a full compliment raring to go after the refreshing swim and relaxing evening the night before. They were greeted by Fernando with brekkie on the table!!! Fried egg with complimentary roll and coleslaw side were on the menu. As the team finished off, the team leader completed a full brief on the plan of work for the day and programmed the work with Chris accordingly. This assisted with keeping efficiency levels to a maximum barring any late deliveries of course!!

The primary objective was to have each of the end trusses installed by the end of the day. It was also hoped that the rear wall would be painted with two teams to be employed.

Firstly, the preservative treatment was to be completed on the 13 trusses. Two teams were formed, the ‘truss’ team completing the preserving and the ‘window’ team completing the pain-staking job of chipping out the board above the window heads. This efficiency was enhanced – is this the correct word??? – by Martyn removing his shirt!!! Safe to say the school children quickly dived for cover!!! A fine production line was established for the preservation treatment and the trusses were completed quickly.

Other jobs were tended to such as sweeping out the building, sweeping the veranda in preparation for the painters, steel column reinforcement construction which Dick & Marty handled expertly and the moving of block work into rooms ready for installation. A break was necessary & this coincided with the children’s playtime. Stuart, aka ‘Inspector Clueso’, came into his own having happy screaming children chasing bubbles which he was blowing and soon most of the team were swamped by the kids which allowed for fantastic interaction. Lunch came early with chicken and rice (including chicken feet at the bottom of the pot!!!!) and was scoffed by the hard working team including the plinth ledge chipping team who worked on into their lunch hour to finish it.

The afternoon brought the first great visual success for the team. Two teams were employed, one to sand the window frames and the other to paint the first primer coat on the rear wall. This also involved sanding the whole wall first!!! Suddenly the roof trusses were to be placed up in position. The team worked with great precision and by the end of the afternoon had five trusses installed and braced temporarily. Teamwork and translation were the keys to the successful operation, which also included ‘monkeyman’ Chris from Quest balancing on the ring beam to nail the bracing in.

This was a great boost for the team as it was the first physical evidence of the building’s shape changing and progressing since arrival. The previous hard days preparation work were well rewarded. The team worked incredibly well, completing tasks over and above what was set out at the start of the day and now sit chilling beside the beach with a few drinks waiting dinner!!!!

Clothes of the day: Sally in her pyjamas on site!

Jamie


Saturday 5th July

Only let the Geordie lead for half a day (It’s safer that way)

The first time many of us have worked a weekend possibly since Dick had a paper round. We arrived on site with breakfast ready and waiting for us. Saturdays bring a treat of a half day break and breakfast of donuts and fruit.

The group began the day energised and up for the challenge of getting the remaining 8 trusses up and finishing the sanding and undercoat painting of the front of the building. The work today had to be coordinated to allow sanding work to be carried out whilst the trusses were being put up. As the trusses were completed in a surprising amount of time the day was a great success and this allowed Martyn to take the members from the lifting team to begin an important task of breaking up any damaged blockwork so that it could be used in the floor screed. It’s amazing that even now we are able to show commitment to sustainability.

The first Saturday night was a slight blur including cocktails and celebration, Martyns Birthday was finally celebrated in style and Iain passing his degree making it a double celebration. We had our first team meal out where the chicken kebab was labelled as “not the rubbish you get in England” and to be fair the food here is so good its true.

Everyone is raring to go for another week at site after we go whale watching tomorrow.

Iain

Sunday 6th July

‘ A Whale Of A Time’

For the first time since arriving we were able to have a lie in. Of course everyone just woke up at the usual time and just stayed in bed trying to ignore the hangover, get back to sleep and avoid wrestling their way out of the mosquito net to go the toilet - bladder strength has increased significantly in all of us over the last week.

We all got together about 10am for breakfast which consisted of chocolate and jam doughnuts – we needed the energy. We then had a quick ride into town on the back of a truck to go whale watching. We paid, signed our lives away and then got kitted up with snorkels, flippers and swimming costumes and headed to the beach to meet the boat. The classic comment of the day was from Wendy (with flippers and snorkel in one hand) “are we going to get wet?” – what can you say to that…

In the boat and out to sea (at a fair pace) to try and find some whales. It wasn’t long before some humpback dolphins were spotted which we followed for a while. Several shouts of “whale” through the day from Chris sent us tearing across water to the area of the sighting before easing off to get a bit closer. It was amazing to see the spout of water, the whales breaching (humpback whales) and then the classic tail fin shots. One group (is that a pod?) of whales were six in number – fantastic. Three sail fish following the boat on the way back ended an amazing day out on the water.

A few hours in Tofo at the market was good bargaining practice and many a bargain was had. Back to Mango Beach for some cracking food and an early night.

Chris H

Monday 7th July

‘Snot Knocking’

The morning was started with a lack of water – all the taps in Mango Beach were drier than a camels toe… we just hoped it would be fixed so we could have our cold showers when we got back.

The second week at the school started and unfortunately a geologist was let loose on the group for the day leader (what do they know????). The morning tasks were allocated and everyone set off with lots of enthusiasm (well a lot for a Monday morning) and completed all the day’s tasks in a record time. This led to a shortage of work until more paint turned up. Chris (Hitch), the slave driver that he is, forced several of the group to start the task of “snot knocking”. Snot Knocking is removing the “splats” of render from the floor prior to screeding. It’s the most thankless task you can ask anyone to do and much respect goes out to all those who got down and cracked on with it.

More paint was delivered by Gary and work recommenced at a scorching pace to make up for lost time. A late finish on site was rewarded with the bad news that the water was still off at Mango Beach. Looks like we’ll all have to smell bad just a bit longer.

At the bar Marty asked Nikki “Can I bum a fag”. “Maybe you’d have to buy him dinner first” Nikki replied.

Enough said.

Chris H

Tuesday 8th July 2008

Another good day on site, we divided into teams with progress on the concrete columns and completion of the block work on all but one of the apex walls. There was much mixing of mortar and plaster to keep everyone supplied, and an eight strong team got to work on the painting, firstly base coats to the perimeter walls and then sanding and painting of the window frames in the first classroom. We’re all getting to be a dab hand with the paint brush!

Still no water when we got back tonight, problems with the pump meant that water has been slow to fill the tank. Hopefully after dinner we should be back to normal – it’s a good thing, we’re all starting to pong! In case of further problems, a few of us headed to the sea for a quick swim and wash down, followed by drinks in the bar at sunset – what could be better?!

We’re being treated to gourmet food at the moment, guinea pigs for the new Chef catering for a wedding later this week. Apparently he runs a catering college in South Africa and has cooked for Nelson Mandela! Tonight we were treated to a delicious fish and cabbage starter, followed by a gorgeous chicken curry, and a chocolate cake dessert! The pudding went down especially well, those of us with a sweet tooth have been craving cake!

We’ve been a team member down today as the dreaded ‘Mozambique Tummy’ continues to wind it’s evil way through the camp. I believe there may be a new record for the most visits to the site loo in one day! Hopefully back to full strength tomorrow.

Sarah

Wednesday 9th July

There are no Bears in Mozambique!!!


Another day in paradise and the team are smelling sweet after two days without water!!

The day started with jammy custard and two men down who were “weeing out of their bottoms” (Mark Eisen Man and Martyn)!

Three people were required to start on desk building and purlin cutting so Stuart, Nicky and Nick put their carpentry skills to the test – slow progress and lots of curly wood shavings!!

4 to 1, yes more slop makers and those lucky people where Wendy, Christina, Marti ‘McFly’ and the lovely Jamie…

Dick and Co (who will be staring in a calendar later in the year apparently!!) continued on the blockwork and column filling…

The rest of us were sanding, painting, sanding, painting, sanding, painting – and the final job of the day was undercoating the 7 doors – hurray!!!

Another splendid fish dinner with live Mozambiquian music and dancing in prep for tomorrows wedding – don’t worry it’s not one of the team… that’s it from me I’m off for some more of Marti’s snoring, after another cheeky glass of wine – SWEET!!!!!

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