Hello there,
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The photos below span about a week, and include construction updates, a couple of days in Naivasha, and a couple more poking around in Nairobi.
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The steps connecting the servery window to the patio area, where communal meals can be taken.
The entrance area getting its fair share of mazera stone.
The newly delivered second truckload of mazera stone. Straight from the quarry.
The masons have been busy doing the finishing work on the main building.
The foundation posts for the second house have been lined up and leveled.
And the electrical fixtures for the big building are finished and tested.
A look out one of the windows in the two admin offices, complete with a handmade broom on the sill.
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The land locked version of a tall ship. Sailing its way to Naivasha.
You shop at the Safeway Supermarket; I shop at the Safeway Hypermarket. You buy "po-tay-toes," I buy "po-tah-toes."
I have been trying to find a starter for the Bedford. One of the many places the search has taken me had this magnificent machine. There may be one 24 volt starter for a 1989 Bedford left in this world, but if so I think it must be housed in the true Ark of the Covenant. And I am not, it seems, Indiana Jones.
A brief meeting and parting in three parts, on the cut off road from Limuru to Dagoretti.
"Hi High. Hi Sigh."
"How's it going High?" "Fine Sigh."
"Bye, High." "Bye, Sigh." Giddy-yup, Giddy-yup.
I woke one morning in Naivasha to take Sabobo out for a short call, and said a quick howdy to this neighbor,
whom I only saw on the way back in.
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I spent a couple of days in Nairobi while the new shell for the pick up was fabricated, modified and fitted.
It's something I should have done long ago. Like many other things I still haven't done.
Peter, the best welder in the world, working on the gate. Gilbert, at the wheel of the Bedford, had a too close encounter with one side of it,
so we took the opportunity to fortify it.
The beginning of the sub-flooring for the first of the two childrens' houses.
The finished electrical box.
Mr. S in his new mobile office.
His first visitor.
The view from the room.
Peter making the half door for the cooking area.
It will go in this opening, where another Peter, a mason, is putting the finishing concrete on the step below it.
The foundation posts for the second childrens' house.
David, another mason, fashioning the concrete box where,
eventually, the main electrical cable will enter the kitchen building.
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This is Pascal, the tailor, who does his business al fresco, making canvas curtains for the windows in the truck shell.
At dawn just outside my window this morning.
Our latest big dig. A sunken home for six 24,000 liter water tanks. Our rain water collection repository.
She and her t-shirt declaration were selling bananas in the stopped traffic on the Mombasa Road this a.m.
I went to pick up the disassembled Bedford starter. We were unable to find the parts we needed. I know I've shown you this machine before, but I am in love with it.
Sixty years old now and nearly obsolete,
its duties taken over, no doubt, by a small circuit board.
I arrived at a Tim Sales, a lumber place, at 1:02p.pm. They close for lunch from 1 to 2. I walked to the only restaurant in this area, a tough, no nonsense, keep your wits about you industrial enclave, and found myself incongruously at the Executive Grill, and this extravagant lunch of grilled jumbo prawns. It was lunch and dinner as it turned out, and I spent a happy hour at it.
One of the thirty 8' by 6" poles from Tim Sales I came home with.
The guys from H-Tess have finished the sub flooring for one of the childrens' houses.
And Peter the mason has finished cementing in place the door that Peter the welder finished making yesterday.
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There are some hard truths here,
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David
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Chris L says
November 10, 2009 at 6:06 pmYes, hard truths indeed. You leave us with the impossible task of trying to imagine how Gilbert experienced this. But I know that’s an impossible task for you as well — and for Gilbert himself, I’m sure.
We need these hard truths just as we need the poetry of all the finish work being done.
I love how the steps lead up to — and into — things. You know I’m a sucker for the “flow”…
Pat says
November 11, 2009 at 10:51 amHello Brother,
Wow, the raising of the Residence Bulidings and the finish work of the MPB look wonderful! The Social Justice along the road is something horrific for certain but something that a past visitor to Kenya can imagine [but still not truly understand] in this frontier country. Sobobo’s new traveling digs looks both functional and meets the needs of your sidekick! He looks very happy David! I trust you are well and full of God’s graces as you forge forward! I saw Ali and Boo Boo on Sunday. Boo is turning into a young lady! Ali is a growing young mother to be. Both looked fabulous! Hugs and Love Dera Brother. Have a blessed day. Patric
Ed Richardson says
November 12, 2009 at 10:44 amDave,
You continue to amaze me with these updates. The children’s first house is looking good! What are the dimensions of it?
The squareness of it is mind boggling with what you have to work with. Have a great Thanksgiving and enjoy a good meal. That shrimp you had a few days ago sure looked good.
Be well.
Ed
martin says
November 12, 2009 at 12:31 pmrest assured that no matter how rickety and obsolete, you could never be replaced by a small circuit board.
unless it was a reallllly good one from Japan or somewhere.
–martin
p.s. counting the lion on your walk, you’ve now had real, non-safari, close encounters with two of the Big Five. i don’t think Sabobo knew what he was signing on for.
Jenny Marquez says
December 4, 2009 at 12:58 pmI recall a story about Michaelangelo where he once said that he uncovered the art within the stones he chipped. He released the image from the stone. He believed his job was to uncover what already existed. In a way your talent and blessings are similar. You have found much good in a difficult place and chipped away at to reveal much beauty. The marked difference between your work and that of Michaelangelo is that his work could only evoke emotion. In the end, with all its beauty it may well have brought a sense of spirituality and a desire to be closer to God. Your work with stone does that, but instead of releasing the figure within, it works to nourish the mind, body and soul and puts into action the living figures who work to build, who work to heal and teach. In the end you and the children you all help are the living art of the true Master.
God bless your work. It is wonderful. God bless the children, they are precious.
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