Last days

Today is Monday and it was to be the last day at the house for all the workmen. Mohammad has been counting down for at least a couple of weeks. But it is 5.45 pm and the news is that the painters need to come back tomorrow to finish some things and the electrician will be back after 3 days to put the lights in the hallway outside the front door and over the front door. But tonight he will finish all the inside work, so we will be here until he does.

Later the same night

Sorry, little break – we just went down to the local shopping centre and got some bread rolls and cheese and stuff for a sort of picnic meal (didn’t have lunch) with the electrician. The electrician is putting all the plates on the light switches and power points at the moment – am struggling to get them all on straight and I suspect that some of them won’t be which will likely drive me mad. Anyone who knows me knows how I am about crooked paintings etc.

The fly screens and outside awnings went up yesterday and last night we bought the bedroom lights we needed – Masry really did the choosing and I agreed although he chose the glass shades that I liked best for the lights in the main bedroom. They are all excellent and will do very nicely. So all the lights are now fitted (except for 2 wall lights in one bedroom, coz we couldn’t get any to match the main light and we think a wardrobe will have to go in front anyway). All this stuff doesn’t count the roof of course, there are many lights to go up there and the plumbing has to be finished up there also and the kitchen cupboard installed and the sink. So the roof has got a bit to do but the house is SO close. Oh yes, and most of the curtains go up on Wednesday. As long as it’s ready to live in next week – I must move on Monday at the latest.

When we went down to the shopping centre I noticed a sign on the first floor for a net café so tomorrow I will investigate and hopefully there will be one there, which of course will mean I do lots of cursing and looking back wishing I’d discovered it quite a few weeks ago – when I think of the time wasted sitting in traffic going to the other one in Dokki!!! But I guess that’s why looking back is a foolish pastime. So if there’s one there I’ll just be very grateful.

Mohammad must be exhausted – all day at the house he just walks around and around, helping out if he’s needed, fetching and carrying at times and just keeping an eye on everything. When we are here for 12 hours at a stretch he is basically standing and walking for all that time while I take my ease on the roof, sitting for all that time. I know he is looking forward to it being finished, so that he can concentrate on the company for one reason I’m sure, but maybe also because he is tired. He is very uncomplaining, stoic really, and rarely says he is weary or hungry or anything else that indicates discomfort. He is quite wonderful about everything, he will do anything I ask and often he thinks to do things anyway that I don’t ask about. All-in-all I think I’m pretty lucky to have found him.

The carpenter also has to come back to finish off the doors – locks, handles and the glass inserts. I have been quite intrigued by the process to stain and finish the doors. In Oz we would simply grab a can of wood stain or Estapol or something and give them 2 or 3 coats. But here it has already been more than a week and they are not finished yet and they do something to them every day. They are using some kind of vile smelling stuff that goes on with a small air compressor and the doors have already had many coats, being sanded off in between each. Whatever it is, it sort of bubbles on the surface after it is put on and is drying. I’m wondering if it is old-fashioned shellac but I don’t know and no-one can tell me of course. They brush something on to the door surrounds, but they are not yet as dark as the doors. And whatever happens I guess they have to be sealed with some sort of gloss something as this brown stuff comes off on your fingers if you rub them across the surface. And the men are spraying it in the kitchen, definitely a confined space and no-one wears a mask or goggles or any of that stuff. Not even shoes!

Speaking of OH & S, yesterday the plumbers needed to move where the toilet was going in the bathroom on the roof. That was another interesting exercise to watch as they got a very thick but rather frayed rope, a single circular piece of canvas that had one big hook to attach it to the rope and they tied the rope around one of the poles on the roof and then the man put the sling sort of around his waist and climbed over into the light and air well and down he went. I assume he sort of sat in the sling while he did what he had to do to move the pipes. Quite amazing.

Tuesday morning

Well, instead of being at the cafe in the estate Mohammad has dropped me off at the regular net cafe in Dokki while he attends to a business appointment Downtown. It's good because I am here for a few hours before we go out to the house. It's quite warm here today, about 25 I think, so I'm out of jeans at last although I'm sure I'll be back in them when the khamseen is here. That's Egypt's cold desert wind that comes in March sometime, I've read that sand can even be blown in through the keyholes so we'll see how the new house survives it. Masry says it's miserable and lasts for about 3 days.

Looks like the weekend will be for moving... No more daily traffic woes! I have made a second foray out to Felfela from the house, again without problem, so hopefully my confidence will slowly build in regards to driving myself around. And finally my sense of direction seems to be coming back - very odd, maybe it's being in the northern hemisphere or something but I have been totally turned around and clueless - and now I can recognise quite a few of the roads and streets. If all goes well for Masry today he soon won't be around to drive me soon, he'll be busy at his office running his company so it will be get in the car or be a stay at home!

Somehow I've nearly managed to while away my three hours on the net but thank you to everyone for your emails - I love hearing from "home" so please keep them coming. Was thinking of everyone in Port Fairy over the weekend - I bet Folkie was just amazing again!

Lots of love to all

Lyndall