Adding to our family home

We had a really productive couple of days since we have been back and have been doing quite a bit around the house.

On Friday I took the bakkie up to collect a delivery of wood and cement that had been delivered for us. It was a two or three kilometer drive in very muddy conditions.

Just as I was about to get started some of the bee keepers called me to please come and help them extract another small batch of honey. We got quite a bit better yield this second time. Partly because our technique has improved, and partly due to these frames having more honey. Took us about an hour, but we got 30 jars out of it, which earned the bee keeper about R660.00. Which is quite good when you think that for many families in the village that represents an entire months income.

Next job was to build and install three bunks. One was a bed for Caleb, and the other two were seats/storage/spare beds in our living area.
We built very simple frames, and used shutterply as front, sides and lids. We put the lids on with hinges to make them easy to open and access storage space inside.
Once we had put on the foam we had cut in East London, and threw on some covers, they were pretty comfortable.

They are really rudimentary, but are a far cry from the plastic storage bins we have had scattered around until now.

Building the frames is a challenge on its own. No power tools allowed and no flat surface to work on. But then our workshop has a pretty good view.
Inside, we have to dig up the mud and dung floor to try and get a semblance of something level. The rest was pretty easy.

We also built ourselves a small kitchen area following the same principle.


We could enjoy the fruits of our labour with a candle lit dinner in our cosy new room. The candle sticks are dried coral we found on the beach that we drilled/chipped holes in for the candles.

Later, when the kids were all in bed and asleep, it was actually quite relaxing to lie back on our very comfortable new seats and enjoy a glass of wine together. There is still lots to do, and I am pretty sure visitors from the city would still be pretty appalled at how basic and grubby things are. Actually visitors from anywhere, would pretty much feel the same way.
But when you have built everything yourself, and started with nothing, and all done everything as a team, then it really does feel like home.

And listening to the rain falling on the roof (gently in the beginning), candles glowing, the sound of the waves coming up the hill, - it really did feel warm and good and cosy.

Just like a family home should.

Now.

Lets get a loo dug.

Should have fixed the roof while we had the chance

Have just woken up after three hours sleep to the rain really bucketing down. We had a half hour storm at about 5pm. As we were in the middle of a massive spring clean and building session it meant dashing around in the storm getting everything weather proof. And we had just lit our outside fire to cook supper.
Cover all the wood with plastic sheeting and baton down. Check
Close up and cover the trailer. Check
Collect all tools and get stored away. Check
Make sure the rainwater tank and storage drums are all set up. Check
Keep the fire going. Check

30 minutes later you are soaked to the skin in your T-shirt and shorts, so you stay outside anyway as it is nice and cool after two very hot days.

As soon as there was a break in the rain I popped onto the roof, Sonja passed me up to pieces of chewing gum, and I managed to plug two of our worst roof leaks.

Then the weather cleared and we had a beautiful evening. We cooked outside and the views after the rain were lovely.



Later, after dinner, the rain started again in earnest.
It was now dark, so we all dashed outside and showered in the rain.
It was enough to get lathered up and rinsed off afterwards.
Great family shower. Except the kids didn't like the cold wind between lathering and rinsing off.

All except Caleb who had collapsed onto his new bed and was fast asleep.

Now midnight and have been fixing some holes with window putty and duct tape from inside.

Really need to get onto the roof tomorrow if the weather clears up.

Maths with shells

Using Skye's growing shell collection to work on her maths skills.

Another casualty

Sadly, we lost another of our household "pets" this past week. Another ghecko found its way onto what it must have thought was heaven - a piece of sticky fly paper brimming with juicy morsels. So close....

Here's the latest addition to our resident donkey family. Very cute!

Home, sweet home

It was so great to get home again after a week in East London. Our little cottage on the hill was a welcome sight, with its lopsided roof, unfinished walls and the front door that doesn't close, held in place by a piece of string to keep the donkeys out. We spent the first morning spring cleaning the house - to get rid of dust and mould (from the rain that seeps through the cracks in our lopsided roof). Today Charles has been slaving away, building our "kitchen" and "lounge" furniture. Will be ready just in time to welcome our first outside visitors next week.