Morning all,
Progress is good today. We’ve started to pour concrete for our strip footings (see before and after pics for our first section) and we’ve poured one isolated pad having used some of our spare steel to tie the cages.
Total concrete for today is around 15m3 but some fiddly sections completed.
We’ve worked through the steel we thought was missing and have found that the bar tags don’t correspond with the amount in the bundles so it seems we actually have sufficient to finish the coldstore possibly supplemented by some locally bought stuff. We still need the abattoir steel though obviously.
For info, The good quality rebar sells for 500,000fcfa per tonne up to 12mm size and increases to 750,000fcfa per tonne for >12mm. If we need to buy anything locally it’ll be 16mm mainly.
These prices are from the local “bunnings” store (actually called Batimart) and we may be able to source cheaper by going to the markets and other smaller yards.
We’ve also tied the cage for the final isolated pad today, but were unable to pour due to missing survey pins. These will be put in tomorrow.
We screen gravel and stockpile sand for the mixers at a rate that is almost where we need it to be so we don’t run out.
Unfortunately no container this morning. We’ve spoken to the transport guy who tells us it is at Gaya on the border so past experience tells us it will be here anytime between tomorrow and November.
We had a toolbox meeting with all the crew this morning and presented our first workers of the week award. See photo. Dave and I did the talk in English, then Almoubareck, the guy on my right in photo 2241, translated into French, Hausa and Djerma so it took a while.
The award went down a treat and will help to encourage everyone on the site. I gave each of them 2000FCFA which is about NZ$6.30.
It’s also a day and a half’s pay so they were pretty chuffed to receive it.
Ralph has made up an A3 poster with their photos and names on it and this has gone up on the front gate where it’ll stay till next Tuesday when we do next week’s award and toolbox meeting. This is attracting a lot of attention and interest with even the guards and the police wanting to be included.
We’ll also give out gifts as we get them but hard cash is always going to be appreciated.
Unfortunately, we had our second accident on site today. One of the contractors guys fell over and banged his knee so he was sat down, given some ice and rested it for a bit before being sent home. We did go to the clinic but discovered they don’t take patients between 12 and 3pm so we’ll investigate other options as well.
I’ve told the guy that if it isn’t better in the morning I will personally be cutting it off so it should be fine tomorrow.
The look of fear on his face told me he thought I was being serious.
Last week one of the guys cut his finger on a 45gallon drum while rushing to get some concrete poured.
During the toolbox meeting we reminded everyone of the need to just take a bit more care over things.
I also managed to get across to see the Chinese bridge site. A good start so far but it’ll take a while- more on that in a separate email.
They have not only a batching plant but also 3 concrete trucks. I’ve spoken with the site manager, a Chinese guy who speaks a strange version of French but no English, and will get in to see the director tomorrow to discuss the possibility of us using their now underutilised plant- they’ve finished the main bridge pours and are mainly doing the last few nibs, kerbs etc. Hopefully we can get them supplying our concrete for the floors. We got as far as discussing mix designs so I’m hopeful but as we’ve found before it could lead to nothing at all.
I’ve also now got a second phone card. There are 2 main networks Zain and Orange. There are often problems with one or the other so most people have 2 phones. I’ve also bought Orange SIM cards for Stan and Lindsay who arrive tonight at 2am. Not sure why Air Maroc think this is a an appropriate time to land a plane but trust me, it is not even remotely convenient for anyone. Word on the street is that they fly into Europe during the day then to Africa at night because the Africans don’t complain.
While Ralph is here, his number is, Dave’s and John who is here on Thursday is using Marks old number.
Finally for today, I happened to go past save the children’s very large and palatial villa over here. I couldn’t help but notice one of their company cars- a Mercedes ML500 parked out front with its ONG (non-governmental not for profit organisation) number plate. See photo 2275.
Not wanting to jump to any conclusions but I personally don’t think this is the best use of donated charity funds. Whatever the story behind it, to my mind it is completely inappropriate.
You can see why there’s sometimes a bit of animosity towards some of the charities working here.
That’s all for now,
Me
