Morning all,
Reasonable progress being made, given that we’re doing the trees solely with manual labour, though I know have about a 10 man crew on the job and they are coming down fairly fast. (though not as fast as they would with a 20t excavator and a chainsaw obviously).
As of Thursday, we have 2 guards on site to keep an eye on comings and goings and to generally traipse about aimlessly either saluting me or holding the end of my measuring tape. We have a night shift too though I suspect they just have a nice sleep under what trees are left once people have gone for the day. We have started locking the main gate at night and the other 2 gates are permanently locked. Good to start building up habits so by the time the first container arrives we’ll be in the swing of things.
We’re also going to build a guardhouse and put in a desk/table to enable them to keep a track of who’s who.
No sign of anyone moving out of our buildings yet, so we might have to give them a hurry up. The people in the small house are due to be gone by next Wednesday and the people in our big building asap but the next 2 weeks. The people in the house in the compound will go as soon as the minister has found them somewhere else.
I discussed the following wiht the client;
Security- soldier plus a guard at villa and office from Monday. 2 soldiers to supplement the guards on site from Monday (not really necessary but I think he wants to make sure we feel safe)
I have sent him a letter of introduction which he will sign and fax to the Niger embassy in Paris to enable our security guy to get a visa.
Villa- am going to the gym gear shop on Monday to select whatever I want. I thought a bike, a rower and a multi gym. Any other suggestions?
I will do a list for villa renovations/furniture requirements and give to Moudy who will action.
Insurance- He has given me the application form for their CAR insurance in country. I have scanned this and sent to you for completion- he wants it done by Monday if possible though might be tricky given its in French. I’ll have a crack at translating it tomorrow sometime if you need me to.
UPS- See separate email but he’d like us to price and arrange for a large UPS for the site and 2 smaller ones for villa and AA office.
That’s about it for today. Am on site at sparrows to have the ceiling fans put in to mine and Mark’s office (PG’s already has one!). After that, and a bit of wander around, I’m planning on getting out of Niamey again for a drive in the country to see what’s around.
Bye for now,
ME
