Dave's throne room blew over!

Weekend weather lately has been frustrating! Last Saturday was a no-go day up at the Ashmore Street site, wet, windy and cold. The footings have been prepared but because of sickness and the weather the block layer hasn't been. Ken Foote has been arranging for the power to go on. ...But the wind blew the toilet over even though it was staked to the ground!!

Tomorrow we want to resurrect the toilet! (Well we need it!) We will continue with sorting out the container and sorting out the tools and equipment stored there. Some of us will make an attempt to go to Shona's house and do a fence there.

As always ring 4774848 to check the answer phone to see if it is on.

See you there. I am talking to an Anglican Men's breakfast so will be a tad late, but hopefully with some volunteers.

We did it... we started!

In spite of predictions the sky was blue and the sun was shining today. Nine volunteers turned up on site. We did very well. Gravel was spread around the main traffic areas. Protective fencing was put up. There was some sorting out and tidying of the containers. Dave's throne room (site toilet) was erected. The profiles were done and it is all ready for excavation work for the foundations. The only black spot was that Elizabeth got hit on the head by a falling toilet wall! (Dave's fault) It is just great to make a start! Well done team, in spite of the cooling wind you worked hard.

Photos:

Top: The completed profiles and marking out. 

2nd: Daniel, Martin, Richard and the new David working on profiles.

3rd. The two Davids making sure the toilet is on a solid foundation. Elizabeth looks on with some doubts.

4th. Findlay and Barbara erect a protective fence on site.

Oh no! the rain is falling.... but we'll try again....

It is Friday afternoon and the rain has started falling again here in Dunedin. "It looks like we'll be blessed with a little more rain." Some of us are keen to go up to the Habitat site in Ashmore Street tomorrow (Saturday 30th May) and try to sort containers, erect toilet and do the profiles. We will be there at 9 a.m. If the rain is bad we will have to cancel again. We really are hoping it will stop long enough for us to do what we want to do. If you want to know if it is cancelled phone 4774848 and listen to the message. If there is no cancellation it will still be on.

Anybody is welcome to join us. We really WANT to make progress!

Water and mud...no work!

The digger has cleared the building area. A pile of gravel is there ready to be spread. The tool and kitchen containers are in place. The surveyors have marked the boundaries. We are ready to start our build.... but there is water, mud and more rain still coming down everywhere. There were some keen volunteers wanting to work anyway, but the consensus was that it was too wet, cold and muddy. Apart from picking up and delivering some chairs to the container we all went back to our warm dry homes. Some of us will work Queens Birthday weekend to make up for lost time.

Working day 23rd May.

On Saturday 23rd of may, if it is fine, we will be doing some preperation work for out build. The two containers have been moved on site. We have to erect the toilet shed (throne room) and clean out and list off what is in the containers. We need to check what tools we have and what building materials. We also need to spread some gravel around the site.

If it is fine we will start at 9 and go through to around 4 p.m. Come when you can go when you must.

If the weather is doubtful you can phone 4774848 and check the answer phone.

What's Happening?

We are starting to build a house with Christine and Mike and their big family. The section is purchased, the plans have been finalised and consent has been granted. Tomorrow, 16th May we have a ground breaking ceremony at 2:30p.m. at the Ashmore Street section.

Our first working day will be Saturday 23rd May at 9 a.m. At some stage some of us will go over to Shona's house to do a fence there.

We will have a rest over Queens Birthday Weekend and then every Saturday after that there will be a working day. Ring the Habitat office for any enquiries (4773507) We will have updates, progress photos and news of work to be done on this blog.

Steps to keeping warm on Saturdays during winter. :-)

1. Work hard at the Habitat House.
2. Enjoy warm company at the Habitat house.
3. Get warm fuzzies as you complete jobs at the Habitat house.
4. Get the ultimate warm fuzzy when Christine, Mike and the family move in.

Exciting progress!

Just an update. The section at 126 Ashmore Street has finally been purchased and now the plans and consent forms for the Dunedin City Council have been lodged. We are getting close to starting the building process. The building committee meets next week to make work out practical details of the build.

We are to have a Ground Breaking Dedication ceremony with the family at the section on Saturday 16th May at 2:30pm. There will be a short ceremony and an afternoon tea to follow.

Are you sharpening up your tools, washing your overalls and sorting out your tape measure? We will be building soon!