The final Hat

Left: Retaining wall snaking between existing trees and large boulders. Below: Major rock formations are being exposed by removing deposits of soil, stones and general rubish. The light brown colour shows the exposed rock. In the background the rebuilt retaining wall which had failed due to the unexpected heavy down pour. 11 cm in 24 hours.

Steps are being formed to link the various levels (9 major terraces in all). The stone steps find their way respecting the existing boulders. Below: The building is now wearing its final hat, being the roof over the stair case. A roof terrace is designed under a concrete and timber pergola.

The festival of Onam is here again, which I described in one of my earlier blogs. All work stopped last Thursday and will resume on Tuesday 16th September. The civils contract (the frame , walls, floors, roof and plastering) is programmed to complete by end of October. I am hoping to stop all work and return home for the month of December and am still hopeful of completing the building by the end of February. Selection of materials is very time consuming as I have to travel long distances to see samples. No, not on my two wheeler! On Tuesday it is programmed to go to Kochi to select, hopefully, ceramic tiles. Total travelling time: 8 hours.

The plant nursery, some 400 plants now is thriving aided by the monsoon. Penny is due third week of September for three weeks and we are hoping to get most of the plants in the ground in the newly prepared beds created by the construction of the retaining walls.