Site preparation is in full swing.

It's already December and soon half of my time here in India will be over. Suddenly, the weeks are passing by quickly, almost too quickly, because there is still a lot to do. While you are slowly getting into the Christmas spirit, we have daily temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius. The forecast only covers the ongoing work on site.

Preparation work

We spent two weeks doing preparation work, which included dismantling, demolition, and cutting work. The entire area has been cleared and now resembles a baroque garden. Hedges and shrubs have been precisely pruned to achieve their desired shape. The uneven lawn, measuring 1800 square meters and inhabited by snakes in the tall grass, will be filled with an additional 20cm of soil and later used as a play area. Therefore, the lawn has been cut back to make room for the soil. A fence covered with plants, which previously divided the lawn, has been dismantled and the entire concrete foundation has been demolished. The steel roof structure, previously used for growing vegetables but completely neglected, has been dismantled. The steel roof structure will now be used for the future pergola in one of the outdoor rooms.

Budget

Having a plan and ideas is nice, but you also need the necessary funds. They call it 'Bred' here 💵! The estimated costs for the entire project have been calculated based on price estimates from various suppliers. From there, our budget was established. We also considered two options - one with all the necessary elements and another with additional 'nice to have' features. The cost breakdown was then submitted to AVC. In the end, we agreed to focus on the most essential elements that will be implemented. And by the way, AVC also suggested that I don't just work non-stop, but also take some time to experience the local culture. The design plan still exists and may be implemented in the coming years, who knows.

Groundbreaking

For any excavation and clearing work, we received machine support, which saved us a lot of time and effort. I thought we would do everything by hand, but I was pleasantly surprised. The topsoil layer of approximately 30 cm was mechanically removed from the drop point, parking space, and designated outdoor rooms. The excavated material, which will be used to fill the necessary terrain for the green areas, was transported to the designated construction site with a tractor and oversized trailer. It will be distributed mechanically later on. Due to prolonged and heavy rainfall in the summer, the excavated areas (drop point, parking space, outdoor rooms) will be properly compacted with a gravel mixture to ensure drivability and accessibility in all weather conditions. We have completed the excavation work and are ready to start building the foundation layers.

Instructions on the measuring instrument

'It takes a little bit more time but it is much more accurate,' said one worker while using the measuring instrument for surveying work in the construction of a retaining wall. It was exciting to see people work with this instrument and learn how to use it, including some simple tips to improve the precision of their work for future projects.

Organization

Honestly, I didn't expect it, but in terms of organization, everything is going really well. I can give people a task and they immediately take care of it and it works! Of course, everything is happening at different paces and there are lots of phone calls and group meetings on the construction site, which makes me wonder what these people are doing because I just want a truckload of gravel. But we managed to get a grip on time management. On the first day, the workers somehow managed to arrive at 10 o'clock in the morning and then disappeared after lunch. But with a little help from irresistible Toblerone chocolate and ballpoint pens, we now start at eight o'clock sharp. Lunchtime is from one to two, and we usually finish work around five o'clock.

And now, the one who is writing all of this is currently laid up in bed due to an unexpected herniated disc, according to the doctor. I hope to recover quickly and be back in action soon. There's still a lot to do!

I hope I could give you a little overview of what's going on with me. I am really looking forward to the remaining five weeks here in the East, followed by ten days in the South. Ocean, I can smell you.

See you soon and have a blessed Advent season.

Regards from India. Dome