Buadhai Builds A Pond

[buad hai]

I'd forgotten what a backbreaking job it was to mix concrete. Luckily, I'd told Ms. B many times that in Thailand it is woman's work to mix concrete and fetch it to the craftsman who actually applies it. As you can see, she listens and learns well.


I figure she'll be up out of bed and back at work by Saturday, Sunday at the latest.

In the next photo you can see how the "stream" will flow from under the Plumeria tree and over into the main pond:




Where the bricks are will be some sort of platform for the origin of the stream; a terra cotta statue of an elephant named "bai fern".


I didn't do a very good job with this pour. But, I'm not very good with cement which is one reason why this will be a lined pond rather than a concrete one.

KM will be happy to hear that we were able to filch quite a bit of sand and gravel from the piles in front of the house, saving the material we bought for another day.

[The_Dude]

BH,
You cheeky monkey! Very clever idea useing chop sticks. I tought ot was an Acupuncture Starter Set for novices or cue sticks for very small people.

[buad hai]

I finished pouring the concrete this morning. Nicked all the sand and gravel from the piles in front of my driveway. Nobody said a thing. I did a much better job on the mix and pour this time.





There will be a small waterfall from the stream to the pond where the rocks are holding the form in the upper photo.

[AntRobertson]

^ so if I'm understanding this correctly, basically what you're going to do from here is dig out the dirt in-between the concrete and the concrete itself will act as some form of boarder (that you'll pave or whatever)?

Because even from those pics above that looks like it's going to be quite nice indeed!

[buad hai]

You got it, Ant. Once the area inside the concrete beams is dug out, on goes the liner. You fill with water and work the liner in place. The liner goes over the top of the concrete beams. Then you use mortar to set stones or pavers or whatever over the liner and beam. The beam sort of acts as a foundation for edging of the pond.

BTW - Since starting work on the pond I've lost two kilos, from 82 to 80!

[AntRobertson]

BTW - Since starting work on the pond I've lost two kilos, from 82 to 80!

Good weight loss program then! Actually when you're done there you could always pop around to my place and build one for me - only because I'm concerned for your health mind

[Sir Burr]

BTW - Since starting work on the pond I've lost two kilos, from 82 to 80!

Was that after you took a dump?

Great thread, by the way......

[buad hai]

Ms. B wields the garden hoe.

[klongmaster]

^ so if I'm understanding this correctly, basically what you're going to do from here is dig out the dirt in-between the concrete and the concrete itself will act as some form of boarder (that you'll pave or whatever)?

Now that's clever...I was thinking that there was no where for the water so thanks for clearing that up Ant...

[Sir Burr]

I think it's far cleverer to get the missus to do the heavy work.
How do you do that BH?

[buad hai]

This is supposed to be my day off exercise, but it was nice and cool and overcast this morning so I rode over to the house and started digging. I lasted about two hours -- until the sun broke through -- and got about half way through the job:


To the right of the hoe you can barely make out a shelf. This is for plants that like to get their feet wet but don't like to be too deep. Papyrus and taro are a couple of examples.


I'm leaving the sides quite sloped right now to protect against erosion should it rain heavily before we get the liner in. The sides will still be sloped, but less than they are now.

I think it was Thetyim who asked where the soil from the hole would go. Part of the answer is here:


They still haven't finished filling this side yard. It's about 40cm below grade level. So, it's a perfect place to dump the soil I don't need. When I run across some decent topsoil I'm putting it in a separate pile for use in adjusting the contour of the garden.

I should be able to finish digging in a day or so, depending on the weather.

[buad hai]

I think it's far cleverer to get the missus to do the heavy work.
How do you do that BH?

She can't wait to do it. She asked me to not start digging until she got home from work today. But, she's such a city slicker that I had to show her how to hold the hoe and train her how to use it. She's game for hard work, but she's hopelessly slow....

I'm positive that this garden is her very first experience at doing any sort of hard physical labor.

I should add that it's great fun to share her enthusiasm for it.

[sabang]

Has Mrs got any local family BH? Bring 'em round for a chain gang party.
Should only set you back some Lao Khao, Chang, Som Tam & chicken.

sabang. Making falangs life easier.

[buad hai]

^I don't think any of them have ever dug a hole or used a hoe. They don't drink and they don't eat Isaan food (or very much real Thai food, for that matter). Strange bunch.

[gos]

great gal you got there lucky man

[buad hai]

I'd like to get my hands on some geotextile fabric for use as underlayment (under the liner). This fabric is usually used in civil engineering applications where there is a need to reinforce a bank of soil and in dams and other projects where soil needs to be kept in place.

Anyone know where it can be purchased?

[Thetyim]

Anyone know where it can be purchased?

Here:

Welcome to Confelt Co., Ltd.

[Thetyim]

And Here :

[buad hai]

^Perfect. I will write them.

Where did you find the Premier Lining ad?

[Thetyim]

Where did you find the Premier Lining ad?

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[Sir Burr]

Does this mean we have to wait weeks for this thread to continue whilst you wait on delivery? Rats!

[buad hai]

If I can't find a retail outlet in Korat I'll just drive down to Bangkok next week. I can't really fill the pond until we have power and water anyway....

[Scooter]

Nice thread.Good luck.
Fancy a pond myself,will wait and see how yours turns out.
Reckon I could get my wife to dig me one too.

[Jet Gorgon]

Did you get a wheelbarrow yet, BH? Looking great and thanks to Ant, too, for asking where the water is going.

[buad hai]

Did you get a wheelbarrow yet, BH?

No....

And, it seems I won't really need one. So far I just used two buckets. Dig, fill buckets, walk, dump buckets, return to pond, dig....

Great exercise.

(Ms. B is rather thrifty and did not want to fork out 980 baht for a large wheelbarrow. She is still in search of a smaller, less expensive one!)