Part of the Plan

It was a delight to see the fluorescent lamps working when we got the electricity finally connected but that euphoria was short-lived when we realized it wasn't enough to power the welding machine.  The 1,900 meter traverse of the electrical wire caused a voltage drop while the machine's requirement is much higher.  So the truck chassis had to be brought back all the way to where it was sitting originally where the electrical post was in the property so that the base could be welded onto it. 

We also figured if we bought a new welding machine with a built-in transformer, perhaps it could be powered by reduced electricity.  Meanwhile work had to go on in the part of the property where the electricity originated. The plan was my husband and I would go back to Manila to get a new welding machine while the workers welded the floor structure onto the chassis.  When we came back to the farm, the platform was done and we pulled it back to the beach area.  If we welded the complete structure in its original location far away from the beach, it would be too hard to bring it back to the beach because of its height and bulk.  The roads are simply non-existent and treacherous for this kind of operation so we have to figure out a way to make majority of the structure by the beach.

The hero of the day was Junie, the laborer-turned-stunt-driver who was Lito Lapid slash Jet Li in disguise maneuvering the truck chassis balanced on two pieces of angle bars.

My husband first pulled the chassis and then when they had to go down a long slope, he had to be positioned behind it to control the descent.  My husband enjoyed all this since it put his off-roading skills to the test and to best use.

Back on the beach where it belongs, the whole thing was leveled to make sure we won't have a wonky house.

Now this is the crux of the problem -- the quality of welding.  We need to fully weld the steel bars.  The old welding machine can't be powered by the electricity by the beach.  The newly bought portable welding machine could only do spot welding and could only be powered by the generator we brought in.  So . . . . . . I had to get another welding machine from Manila which today they are trying out only to have the capacitor of the generator give way.  Sigh.  As Agent Osso from Disney Junior would say, "It's all part of the plan -- more or less."

Bayanihan Logistics

 The truck chassis was transferred to the beach  after the engine was removed and it was much lighter to pull.  This is where we hope to build the house upon -- but that's not as easy as it sounds as one challenge swooped down after another.   On Saturday, July 23, we drove to Calatagan from Manila with all the workers and construction materials gathered from three hardware stores and my Mom's store room. 

 The 16ft elf truck that was rented couldn't traverse the usually tricky part of a curving bumpy slope so my husband pulled it with his pick-up. 

 While one group handled the transfer and unloading of construction materials, one group had to connect 1,900 meters of wires to bring electricity to the beach area. 

 While all this was going on, Joshua enjoyed himself playing in the sand and making a playground out of the older house on the hill.  

 After unloading the materials, the carpenters set out to build their barracks which will be their sleeping and living area while the space under the floor hosted all the wood to be used for construction, protecting it from the rains -- which is additional challenge building in July - August.  

At the end of the day, scenes like this make it all worthwhile.