Hot running water, and working washing machine

This morning dawned much as every other morning has (other than Belgium) since the party; absolutely gorgeous. I didn't set an alarm again even though I had to be up and away to collect the men because every morning the sun has woken me and it did not let me down.

Morning view

I looked across the valley and saw that the mist was heavy on the river and I had to take some pictures before I even put the kettle on for a morning brew. What a beautiful sight to wake up to and I hope I never ever get bored of rushing to the window to check out what it has in store for me that day.

My trench system

I did very little after this, just pottering a bit and enjoying my brew while chatting to a few people on the twitter (even out here, I'm not disconnected any more. Which is a good thing) and taking this picture of how far I got digging yesterday, and then it was time to head off to pick up the men. Now, I have never done this by myself before and so for the first time as I drove I felt a little apprehensive. Would I remember the turning to take up to their village of the Nuovo Put; Would they, when I got there, be waiting and how would they react to me on my own, and not my friend who they have known for years; Would my language be good enough to communicate with them all day and get the results I was looking for.

River mist in a bank ahead in the valley

The only way to find out was to just do it. I set off stupidly early and so was able to stop regularly along the way to get out of Thomas and snap some photographs; today was proving to be a particularly beautiful day and the road up to their village is a stunning one, which winds and rising along a ridge which commands views across the river below. The mist was still gathered right down by the river and the road follows the twists and turns so I had no choice but to drive through it.

Looking back at the mist I just drove through

As I got through some quite thick river mist I looked back and was treated with a stunning view of the river disappearing into the bank and the sun glistening on it all. What a lovely thing.

Thomas on the Cheren Put

I found the turning OK but got a little confused as to which road to follow from there however this was resolved quite quickly and I was soon scooting along up the Cheren Put and admiring the views all the way. I got to the collection point about 20 minutes early but I wasn't too worried; I just sat and chilled and watched a few people wandering around in their village life. About five to Bekir and Sally appeared out of the cafe and bought their lunch, then made their way to Thomas.

As you would of course have expected they were absolutely fine with it being just me and we had a couple of laughs on the way back to the school, other than that it was a quiet journey. That suited me fine as I was still feeling a little nervous about the day. This was a big day for me; the one day I would have the men in the next couple of weeks.

Continuing the trench to the wall

First order of the day was to investigate the trenches and decide which was the best way to get the water into the house. They wandered around, chattering in Turkish and hitting the walls with hammers and the pick axe and generally investigating the whole situation before settling on one of the ideas we had had; to take a turn from the "wrong" trench I dug towards the corner of the entrance and then try and go in through the walls. To this end we all grabbed some digging implements and without too much fuss (and with the slabs coming up under Sally's pick axe skills very much quicker than I managed) we had extended the trench correctly.

Investigating a way through the wall

At this point they once again set to at the walls, try to work out how to get through the two foot thick stone which runs around as a lower course of the entire building, and pretty quickly changed tack again and decided to lift the pipe up the corner and into Room 13 from outside, avoiding all need for stone drilling and making the job a whole lot simpler.

Starting to drill

Decision made they sprang into action with the SDS drill and my ladder (health and safety? We don't need your steeeenking Health and SAFETY?) and before you know it a hole had been excavated between the downstairs trough and just by Sassy's cage. They had kindly moved her a little out of the way but I did get Sally to assist me in carrying her completely to another room so the noise didn't get to her as much. Poor little thing.

After all the drilling had been done, and the route for the pipes had been worked out, Bekir calculated the items we would need from the shop and down we headed towards town. At my usual place they didn't sell boilers so we headed off to the specialist boiler shop. I chose a boiler (not the cheapest, not the most expensive, but the most efficient for the size I wanted) and then realised I needed to get cash to pay for it (most places still don't take VISA here). I got this and then decided to get fuel and then my parents before heading back to pay for the boiler and collect it.

After this we went back to the original builders merchants and spent about half an hour getting all the bits and pieces that Bekir needed, though about ten minutes of this was spent with them trying to explain about a tap and me getting completely the wrong end of the stick. I did work it out and admitted I was stupid and we bought the right things in the end. My poor parents were stuck out sat in Thomas the whole time and the weather was getting really rather hot.

Starting to trim the path

When we got back home my dad was feeling a bit funny so he had a lie down in Julian (he commented after just how comfy the bed is and he isn't wrong) and Bekir got straight back to preparing the walls and cutting the pipes to get my water plumbed in. My mum was feeling like doing some work today so I set her the task of cutting a path through the bushes which had grown over my front entrance steps. This she did very successfully, though the young lad from the farm below me did turn up at the end and take over somewhat which was a bit frustrating; they don't seem to understand the boundaries between "help" and "interfere" but it is all goodhearted.

Pipes appearing

Things inside were developing apace and when I went in after eventually finding my axe (in a laycorn box) the first pipes had been fitted down from upstairs towards the trench where my shower was to be fitted. The way these guys work never fails to amaze me; they don't seem to hurry (indeed, when I first started working with them this concerned me) however they get an incredible amount done without appearing to try. Brilliant.

The results of my sweeping

I was feeling a bit like a spare wheel by this point so I took the wheelbarrow and a broom and started to sweep out and clean the toilets down the little corridor. This is not of amazing importance apart from I have sited the Humanure Toilet in one of the rooms and it felt like a nice thing to make the surroundings a little more comfortable.

Plumbing for the washing machine

After filling two wheelbarrows with crap from two of the rooms I went to check what was going on elsewhere in the building and found Bekir and Sally already finishing the plumbing for the washing machine. After a really slow start because of all the shopping and faffing in town they had achieved one of my major objectives already.

Cleared path to front gate

I went out to see what was happening with my mum and found that the path had been completely cleared allowing access from my front gate onto the patio. Eventually this will be the pedestrian access onto my land after I have put a fence all around the place so I will spend a bit more time cleaning it up and maybe plant some flower beds either side. We shall see.

Keeping the fires burning

About this time my dad appeared feeling much better for his rest and wanted to get involved so he set about trying to put the new stylus on my record player, without much luck. I had meantimes started the fire again without using matches or a firelighter (even though my mum walked off saying I wouldn't do it) but I was struggling to keep this one going, particularly as we were down to less flammable items and a few things, from the old burning pit, which were damp and therefore did not want to burn. I stood for a fair while just watching and poking and playing with the fire and I must admit I find the whole thing very relaxing.

While I was playing, the men were still at it and upon next inspection I found that the pipe had been run from the connector by the box all the way to the corner of the building ready for joining to the riser.

Shiny tap with shower (dujd) attatchment

Even more excitingly I was able to watch as they attached the shower/tap combination jobby to the wall and they did laugh as I excitedly took pictures of it. I am sure they think I am completely insane with the pictures I take but I am keen to record this journey for myself (believe me, you only see a small percentage of the shots that I take every day).

One thing had been running through my mind since we got back; we didn't have any way of taking the drainage water away from my kitchen sink. I pointed this out to Bekir and after a short while we headed back down to the shop to get the stuff we needed for this. This was a very quick trip however I had to drive really slowly back up the hill as the drainage pipe was tied (badly) to the roof of Thomas and it was slipping.

Iron to support the sink

We got back just about in one piece and Bekir set to installing the sink. He drilled holes in the iron we had bought and hammered it into the wall, and then measured where the screws would need to go to support the pipe work and secure the sink to the walls, and drilled some pilots holes for these. Sadly I don't have a picture of what he did next but Sally was whittling some sticks into points and Bekir hammered these into the guide holes and then broke them off flat; he was making primitive (but far more effective) wall plugs. Incredible and so simple when you think about it.

The following are a series of photographs showing how he uses fire to soften the pipe and then inserts the joint, allowing for a really snug fit and no leaks. It is a very delicate task to ensure that you get it just hot enough that it is malleable, but not so hot that it becomes torn and leaks.

Start with a fire and swing pipe through it 

Repeat until end of pipe is flexible

Insert joint, wait 10 seconds, and voila

Amazing and great to watch.

Chilled out Sassy

My friend arrived from the main town with the replacement kettle for my parents and she stayed to chat and watch. I was wondering around with my camera snapping pictures and noticed that Sassy looked completely chilled out and happy which is really nice. I will be cleaning her out and letting her have a good run around in the morning which I'm sure she'll appreciate.

Workmen at work

I also leaned out the window to snap a photograph of Bekir at the top of a (not footed) ladder fitting the final pipe in the system; the one which linked inside to out.

The early evening sun, my dad, my friend and my mum

While I was pottering my mother was still hard at work; not content with having chopped all that bush down she went and finished the job I started on the old toilets and got them all swept out, then got involved with keeping the fire going (a huge pile of old brambles did the trick and kicked it fully into life so we could burn everything) and also carried on with glass picking at random times; she is indefatigable!

RUNNING WATER!!!!!

I returned to the business of watching the men and was rewarded by the sight of the first water appearing through a tap, and not just any water but this was coming through the boiler, which had been mounted and plumbed in, just not connected to the mains yet.

Is he a plumber, is he an electrician?

Bekir was fiddling with electrics and looking a little uncomfortable sat on the floor but I left him to it as a chair was right next to him so he had obviously made his own choice. This man really does know how to do everything; he switches smoothly from builder to plumber to electrician and back again.

Proud man and his washing machine

Around this time I suddenly realised that I hadn't gone and connected the washing machine up, even though it had been possible for hours and so I went with my dad and we removed the bolts holding the drum during transit, got the drain into the trough and plugged the power in. With a bleep and a flash of lights it was on and I was obviously very excited. So I posed for a photograph. I then programmed it to do its first 30 minute self clean and went upstairs to find that the power had been wired a bit wrong and Bekir wasn't ready yet.

We decided that I would take the parents home to give them time to finish off and so this was done and by the time I got back not only was the power done to the boiler, but they'd got the standpipe in on the Bes Pare water too. These people just do not stop they are incredible. My friend headed off quickly after this and so did we (after I located my keys which took a few minutes) and we were scooting down the lane while I attempted to remember "Topolo Mush" for "Smiling Man". Finally I have the Bulgarian for his nickname.

On the drive back towards my parents for dinner another milestone; I have driven all the time over here with no sound however I wanted to listen to some music so put some Rodrigo y Gabriella on which really sped the miles past.

I keep getting given the Bulgarian menu

Dinner was lovely but I was in a hurry to get back so I left straight after and since arriving back I have put all my washing on (but delayed the start to take advantage of cheaper power while also ensuring it doesn't sit damp post wash for too long), tidied Room 13 a bit and put things where they need to be, and written this blog which has taken AGES.

Now to add the pictures, hit post, and go to bed. From tomorrow there is to be no more work on the building until my parents leave next Tuesday (I will be sad to see them go, they've really been so helpful and it has been great having them here) so we're off for a bit of a walk in the afternoon; a lay in for me maybe? We'll see if Kuchie allows me to.