pool terrace and roof tiles

While we were in Bangkok our builder has been busy - On our return to Samui we discovered a pool terrace (pictured) with steps leading up to the 1st floor terrace, and some tiles on the roof.

The electrical people have also been in and started the wiring, so all in all things are going full speed ahead.

Bangkok

We successfully jumped the bureaucratic hurdles in Bangkok at the weekend and even found time to do some shopping.

In addition we indulged in some culinary delights that we can't find on the island - Mexican and margaritas one night and Spanish tapas the next. We also discovered a Bangkok institution, "Cheap Charlies" which has been serving expats on the corner of Sukumvit Soi 11 for 26 years!

Bound for Bangkok

We are escaping the island this weekend, to spend a few days in Bangkok - where it will no doubt feel very hot (38 degrees is forecasted). We have some paperwork to sort out, along with some shopping. We're meeting Tammy's mum (Margaret) in Bangkok... and she will join us in Samui next week.

These photos were taken from our future villa balcony today - couldn't decide which one I liked best! The concrete truck is coming tomorrow to lay the slab on the pool terrace, and we've been promised steps up to the 2nd storey within a week (making the wobbly ladder redundant). Despite the progress, we're still waiting for the roof tiles to go on! :-)

Plugs and plaster

Things are moving along inside the house - the electrical sub contractors were on site today putting in the pipes for the upper floor electrics. Lucky we were also on site - as they were originally working to an old plan! On the upside this meant that we could also add a couple of additional extra points - which we didn't think about when doing our plans last year.

Meanwhile down in the lower floor the workers have been starting to plaster over the bare brick walls (which already have the electric pipes inside).

Singing in the rain

Compare the pool in this picture to the last one - yes it's raining...hard!

Despite the local lore which says it NEVER rains during Sonkran, the heavens opened today and a massive thunder storm ensued.

However after a particularly "dry" wet season, the rain is actually most welcome on the island, as long as it doesn't slow the b uilding project down! Luckily for us not much is happening now anyway as many of the workers have left to go back to their home villages for Sonkran.

Easter Brunch

We invited some friends round on Sunday for an Easter brunch - which was also a good opportunity to use up the sausages left over from the school fete.

It was a hot day so after a good feed a number of us retired to the pool to cool off.

Hope it doesn't rain...

Here's the latest shots of the house - with the steel roof structure in place. We hope that the roof tiles will be on by next weekend, which is Songkran (Thai New Year).

The wooden structure on the right of this photo is the 'formwork' around the swimming pool.
















View from the road...
















View from the carpark...

School Fete

We offered to help out at Wendy's school fete last week - running a Sausage Sizzle, and serving drinks and ice-creams - to raise money for the new playground.

We managed to find a good supplier of home-made Cumberland sausages for the event - made by a publican from Carlisle (UK). It's amazing what culinary treats you can find on this island.

Here's a photo of Ian 'resting' at the end of the day! We were exhausted after serving up food & drinks all day.




















Wendy also agreed to shave her hair off - along with another teacher - raising 14,000 Baht (around 200 pounds) in the process! Here's a picture of Wendy's new "do"...