Progress on the work at the safe house

 We went to the safe house Saturday morning to check on the progress and to pay the workers for the week.   The painting continues outside and inside.    We had thunderstorms two afternoons which caused some delay in getting the outside painting done.   The man who is also the carpenter, is painting the outside while his wife and daughter are painting the inside.    He is now working from a scaffold on the second floor on the left side of the house.    He expects to get the painting done within another week.

This is a very hard-working man.   He can do many things from carpentry, painting to drainage work.  Although he is not a professional at these jobs, he knows how to do many kinds of work and he is very diligent to do the best he can.  The quality of work in Asia is not like in the U.S., but it is acceptable here and especially for a 40-year-old house that has been neglected for many years.   

When the electrician wires the house, some lines will have to be put in conduit along the walls, but they can be painted when he completes his work    He has not even started as there are no 3-phase lines run outside in this area.   The house is outside the city limits of Udon Thani, but the electrician is working with officials to get the lines installed to this area.   When that is done, he will begin wiring the house. He said it would take about two weeks.  The electrical will cost almost $3,000.   The cost of paint has been high also as the old wood is soaking up paint.  

More purchasing of supplies, equipment and furnishings were done this past week. 

A fridge and bunk beds were purchased, and pricing was checked at different stores for other items to be bought soon.    

When the painter is finished outside, he will begin work on the drain.  Large drainage pipes were delivered for the French drain that will be done on two sides of the house to prevent flooding.  

The drop ceiling in the kitchen is complete but lighting still has to be installed when the electrician begins his work.  

The inside painting is really brightening up the rooms.   

Ceiling of living room being painted.

The iron work on the windows is being painted black with a small brush so it is tedious and time-consuming work.   

The ironwork on the upstairs windows has been removed for safety purposes.  The girls could go out the windows and onto the roof that is not too high for them to escape a fire.  

The full weeks' work for these three people was about 29,000 baht equals about $800 U.S.  This did not include TG's salary and mileage on her car.  The total weeks' salaries for four workers were about $1,000 U.S.  They worked very hard, but these are good wages for them, and they are grateful for the work   TG keeps track of everyone's time and figures the wages of each job at the normal rate of pay.