Morning all,
And all the best for the birthday of the prophet Muhammad which is today.
This is a big holiday ere so all government departments, ministries, schools etc are closed along with the more prosperous companies and shops.
We talked to all of our guys yesterday and told them if they wanted to take this very important day in the Muslim calendar off, they’d be more than welcome, but we also told them the site would be open as normal so those who wanted to work, could work.
As it turned out probably 90% of the guys are here today.
Yesterday we poured 13m3 of concrete, mainly for pads and footings in the abattoir, and 2m3 the day before.
Today we’ve done about 4m3 and are planning on doing the large pad 6 tomorrow, inch Allah (if God wills it).
This is easily possible as its about 18m3 but only if the contractor brings in enough gravel and gets it screened in time as we won’t let them start unless we’re certain they can finish without stopping.
Our total for the week is nearly 40m3 which is quite good considering the fiddly nature of the walls that we’ve been doing.
Drainage continues to progress very well, with Stan and Lindsay also prepping their guys and giving them work to do while S&L are back in NZ.
(assuming we let them go of course!)
This will involve backfilling what’s been done but also digging out the remaining laterals.
Line 1 is being backfilled as we speak, with just the risers to finish once we’ve done the hardfilling.
Lines 4 and 5 are also almost done, barring laterals and the trenches for lines 2 and 3 are open.
Had our weekly toolbox meeting yesterday (see photo 2527) which covered progress, general site issues plus the usual safety items like clearing up nails and timber, making sure the mushrooms are in place on the rebars, don’t crap in the shower etc.
Photo 2531 is the latest winner of the worker of the week contest.
It seemed rude that I should take wages from the locals but as the committee (being me obviously) awarded it to me, what else could I do?
Actually, we had 4 winners- two for this week, including Hamzi Aldou one of our concrete placers (pictured in 2531- he’s the one with the hard hat setting an example to the slacker handing over the award) , and 2 for last week which was cancelled because of the coup.
The boys are getting through around 6 litres per day of water every day on site now that it has warmed up.
Our hottest day so far has been 48.5 degrees- it is very difficult to describe or imagine how hot this is but trust me, its bloody hot.
We also get swarms of Persistent flies inside from time to time. It’s too bloody hot for them outside so they come into the building to annoy us while we’re having lunch. They seem to be a different brand to the ones back home as these just keep landing on you again and again and are usually quite rapid in their escape from a swatting hand.
Not much to report on the domestic front except that mine and Dave’s French lessons progress, we sleep when we aren’t at work and when were not sleeping or working, we’re eating.....
That’s all for today,
Bon Nuit,
me
