Hello all,
Don’t know if you all want to know what’s going on over here- let me know if not and this will just clog up your inbox and I’ll take you off the list.
I’ll probably send one of these out every couple of days or so if people think it’s worthwhile.
Just got to the temporary office and was so pleased to find the wireless connection working, I thought I’d better make the most of it by sending this.
I have a little booster thingie from our computer people which plugs into my USB port and amplifies wireless signal which is working well- suggest everyone who comes over with a laptop gets one as well.
I’m now working in the board room at the office. As well as wireless internet etc we also have a couple of fixed line telephones which will make teleconferences with the engineers etc a bit easier than being hunched over the mobile in the hotel lobby.
When calling numbers here from NZ, just be aware that when it seems to be ringing at NZ end it may not be at this end. Mark and I discovered this last time so just keep trying if you don’t get an answer.
Skype works well in the hotel Gaweye but is better either first thing in the morning or last thing at night- depends how many other expats are using the hotel wireless I guess.
We also now have a A3 colour printer and have finally tracked down a USB cable to hook it to my laptop. What we don’t have yet is a power cable though so pretty much useless at the moment. Further bits appear all the time, so no doubt at some time in the future it will turn up. Makes printing off site plans a bit tricky today though.
I went out on site for the morning- started cool-ish but then heated up to about 30.
The wall is looking good and the gates have arrived and will be hung in the next few days. Met with the contractor and walked the length of the wall doing snags, all of which he assures me will be completed within 2 weeks. Some photos attached for info.
The refurbishment of the site office is well underway. 2 offices have been done and look pretty good, and they will finish off toilets and shower next week. The contractor thought that one of the offices should have its own “executive” bathroom and were about to knock a hole in the wall until I stopped them. In addition, they were going to knock out the steel windows and replace them with brand new aluminium ones but after about 30 minutes of discussion I think I’ve convinced them we can make do with shared toilets and the existing windows! Don’t know whose budget all this was coming out of but did not see any point in spending more than we need to. The important thing is that the offices are clean, have aircon and as soon as Moudy buys it, will have desks/chairs.
ENGC are drawing up a plan of what they’ve proposed for my approval today so they can crack into it on the weekend.
Currently looking to have 2 new toilets/showers in addition to the existing one which should be enough to start with.
Tomorrow will be spent on site setting out the edges of all the buildings with a tape. This will get us a base to start from and something to discuss with contractors for site clearance and initial levelling etc.
Even getting pegs isn’t straightforward though so we’re going to make these from the left over boxing from the wall construction.
With me on one end of the tape and Abdulraman, our driver on the other end, what could possibly go wrong.........?
I’ve teed up a further meeting with the contractor for Monday to discuss concrete pad for truck unload and the pricing of tree clearance and site levelling.
Will also arrange to meet next week with the French company and another keen local contractor that Mark and I met last time, to get the concrete priced up.
Depending on how the pricing goes, we will probably use these 3 to do most of our work as they all seem capable though the French would probably be my pick for some of the trickier stuff, and could also do the steel/panel erection etc.
Am also looking to meet with the sparkie next week and have a teleconference with him and the enigineer to finalise the electrical reports and plan of attack.
A final note is that when coming via France, allow heaps of time to get through customs at the airport. I’ll make sure our bookings have plenty of time both ways but on the way over there will be an overnight stop so make sure you get to the airport at least 3 hours before departure as it took me 1hour 45 to get through security/passport control. Don’t know if it is always like that but it was pandefriggingmonium with quite a few people missing flights and losing their tempers. Lots of gesticulating and shouting with nothing being achieved as is the French way! Our plane left 45 minutes late as they had to find baggage for the people who didn’t make it through in time.
That’s all for now,
Let me know if you think of any other info you need from over here.
