I was particularly glad, for once some of the plastering had been done, it was the task of Gill and I to throw water at the ceilings and walls, to keep the plaster damp so it dried out more slowly than the heat allowed. Of course, throwing water at the ceiling using the bucket and an old plastic container meant most of it dropped all over us, rather than soaking into the plaster !
But once we had a hose, we could squirt the ceilings and walls ... and each other when the thumb over the end slipped ! However, the low and varying water pressure meant the water that was supposed to go upwards to the ceilings, invariably ran back down our arms and after half an hour of damping down, we were soaked to the skin ! BUT ... in that heat, it was pure pleasure to get soaked twice a day with cold water ! Until we did more sand sifting, when of course the sand stuck to our wet clothes and itched and rubbed ...
(One of Gills pictures)
One afternoon we went to visit the man who was making the windows; these were to be metal opening windows, but with burglar proofing also ... an internal framework of welded square sectioned metal. Metal workers know about things like arc-eye, and that sparks can burn ... so we weren't really surprised to find the welders using sun-glasses to protect their eyes, while they welded wearing flip-flops on their feet !
The man who was making the windows for the workshop
Health and safety is a nightmare in Africa ... the scaffolding used on site being very shakey; it had old nails sticking out of the planks, and the whole lot was supported by gum poles and string ... it collapsed at least once, and I was on hand with a camera on one occasion just as it did ! Luckily, no-one was hurt; after lots of laughter and some swearing, the workmen just put it back together.
One day there was no mains water at all ... so we had to buy some from one of the men who delivered water on a hand-cart around the neighbourhood. I was a little worried about his containers ...
(Gills photo)
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