Loombucket's Paradise on earth

[SEA Traveler]

...and soak the ground to make it a little softer.



It wasn't long before my lovely site was starting to look like we were making fox holes for a small war. Soaking and digging was working, though, and towards the end of the day, it looked like this.




They reckon to have all the holes done by tomorrow, so we may see a pillar up.

Khun Loom, is it because the labor is so inexpensive that it was dug by humans rather than with a backho or some other piece of machinery? Digging holes in hard soil is back breaking work.... I've dug more than 1 fox hole in my life.

[a. boozer]

Loombucket, As has been previously said, you take some great pictures. Maybe you might consider a new thread - 'How to take good quality pictures', as I am sure that there are others apart from myself would benefit. Besides, with nothing much to do for the next few months, it might help in relieving the boredom! (Joke).
This thread looks as if it has the making of one of the (many) good ones, good luck with the project and keep the posts coming!

[HINO]

Your pictures are first rate and the story that goes with them keeps me wanting more. Keep them coming

[buad hai]

you take some great pictures. Maybe you might consider a new thread - 'How to take good quality pictures'

Seconded. Somehow you get photos of people that are wonderful. Not posed, just great shots of people being themselves. Wonderful work.

What sort of camera, by the way?

[mrsquirrel]

Khun Loom, is it because the labor is so inexpensive that it was dug by humans rather than with a backho or some other piece of machinery? Digging holes in hard soil is back breaking work.... I've dug more than 1 fox hole in my life.

A friend on Ko Chang had a well dug - 6m. Dug by hand for 1200B. A digger would have cost her 5000B.

Well wasn't deep enough so another 1200B dug it another 6M by hand - a digger would have been 5000B+

This was in 2002 so no idea how much it has gone up now but I can't imagine it's much

[ChiangMai noon]

^
JCB cost me 5,000 baht for a day.

[cimboc]

Great update LB, wow those pillar holes look like killers - hope you weren't planning on digging a well

[Loombucket]

you take some great pictures. Maybe you might consider a new thread - 'How to take good quality pictures'

Seconded. Somehow you get photos of people that are wonderful. Not posed, just great shots of people being themselves. Wonderful work.

What sort of camera, by the way?

My camera is a Sony DSC-H1 and is my first digital. I think that's the best compliment that I have had for a long time. I will consider giving lessons but it is more of an eye thing. I see beauty and I try and capture it.

Meanwhile, back at the thread, yes labour is very cheap here and my builder likes nice, square and accurate holes. It is back breaking work, which is why I have the local people doing it for me.

[SEA Traveler]

Khun Loom, is it because the labor is so inexpensive that it was dug by humans rather than with a backho or some other piece of machinery? Digging holes in hard soil is back breaking work.... I've dug more than 1 fox hole in my life.

A friend on Ko Chang had a well dug - 6m. Dug by hand for 1200B. A digger would have cost her 5000B.

Well wasn't deep enough so another 1200B dug it another 6M by hand - a digger would have been 5000B+

This was in 2002 so no idea how much it has gone up now but I can't imagine it's much

As I figured. The more cost effective way was by manual labor. Makes sense as long as your not the one having to dig the hole.

[SEA Traveler]

you take some great pictures. Maybe you might consider a new thread - 'How to take good quality pictures'

Seconded. Somehow you get photos of people that are wonderful. Not posed, just great shots of people being themselves. Wonderful work.

What sort of camera, by the way?

My camera is a Sony DSC-H1 and is my first digital. I think that's the best compliment that I have had for a long time. I will consider giving lessons but it is more of an eye thing. I see beauty and I try and capture it.

Meanwhile, back at the thread, yes labour is very cheap here and my builder likes nice, square and accurate holes. It is back breaking work, which is why I have the local people doing it for me.

Khun Loom,

Passing on the "having a good eye" thing is difficult. Either a person's got it or they don't. Fortunatly for you, you got...

Good decision on having the local labor do all the back breaking work. If you are anything like myself when I was in LOS doing what I could to oversee my house building project, you are bending the elbow a little to settle the nerves with liguid refreshment... and that can get pretty tough on the elbow.

Enjoying the reports. Good work!

[Loombucket]

We don't have too much to show for ourselves today. I spent most of the day at a School fundraising. Joking with the kids, hobnobing with the govenors and trying to get sneaky shots of the staff. Anyway, Khun Udon spent most of the day making the bottom ends of the pillars, on his jig in the shed.



Here, you can see them in all their glory. Quite artistic, I thought.



The Boys and Girls worked very hard, all day, to finish the holes. Here is Khun Pon waiting for devine intervention or, possibly, a ciggie.



The cement truck is coming tomorrow afternoon, to put some weight into the holes and support the metal statues. I will try to get there early, so that I can see the sand into the bottom.

[Jet Gorgon]

Loving it, Loomie.

[jizzybloke]

Coming along nicely MrLoom, great piccies too

[Loombucket]

Time to get those pillars in. Here we see the hole with a binding layer of sand and a bit of cement on top. I was still in bed while this was being done.



Now the base plate is lowered in......



........and held up on some bricks. That's Khun Orn's foot. Cheaper than socks, I guess.




Next, the pillar bottom is put in and wired to the base frame. The blue string lines make sure that everything is in the right place. Note the Isaan style ladder.



Right on cue, the cement truck thunders onto the site and does its' best to get stuck in a hole. After two or three attempts, it make the hill and starts to unload it's precious cargo. There is much relief all round. The home made chute will be used for where the truck cannot get.



Where the chute was not long enough, we had to form a chain like this.



One truck was just not enough, but the second one arrived not long after the first had left. He had no trouble, at all, in finding a nice deep hole. It fitted his back wheel a treat.



We tried to dig him out but he was too heavy. There was nothing for it, we all had to lend a hand with the buckets, me included, so there are no pics. This was a shame because there was a lot of giggling and dropping of empty buckets. Eventually, another cement truck arrived and pulled the first one out.



Another good day but after only two hours 'helping out', I am utterly knackered. On the good side, however, we have fourteen of these, ready for the next stage.



I am having a small birthday tomorrow, so there may not be a report. I intend to spend a quiet day reading the paper, flirting with my favorite shop girls and getting drunk with the BIL's. Cheers.

[Marmite the Dog]

I find these threads very entertaining. Good reporting as ever.

Have a happy bidet tomorrow.

[jaiyenyen]

Have a great birthday and enjoy your day off, but remember to be back on duty, camera in hand, the day after.

[jizzybloke]

Happy birthday Loomy!

[Tokyo Rose]

Happy birthday Loombucket. Good luck on your house.

[Fabian]

I find these threads very entertaining. Good reporting as ever.

Have a happy bidet tomorrow.

Second that.

[astasinim]

I find these threads very entertaining. Good reporting as ever.

Have a happy bidet tomorrow.

Second that.

Yep. All the best

[Loombucket]

cheeky bastard. However, as the plans were commisioned by yourself, and as they do not constitute a contract, ignore that stupid note

he does not have the right to post that unless that is what you agreed when hiring him to do the drawings

I've been doing a spot of fundraising for a local Primary School. One of the Teachers is very good at translation and she checked over the paperwork. It seems that we did agree to that, in the first place, so he was within his rights. An expensive lesson, we won't make it again.

[Fabian]

So what are you doing now, slightly change the plans or do you have to start from scratch?

[sunsetter]

appy birthday lb

[SEA Traveler]

Khun Loom, It may very well be belated but Happy Bday. Enjoy!

[Loombucket]

So what are you doing now, slightly change the plans or do you have to start from scratch?

We just need to change them slightly, move a few things over by an inch or tway.

Thanks for all the Bd wishes everyone.