Little house on the prairie

So far this house and its owner have been a revelation of hope over experience, facilitated by You-Tube construction videos.

Francoise has lived her entire life in this village and spent the last 7 years in the construction of this house which is still not ready for interior decoration. A number of startling facts have emerged during the week, starting with the lack of electricity:
+ the solar hot water heating system has not been regulated, (so the panels must be covered with tarp whenever it gets too hot;) the panels are shaded from the winter sun during the mornings; and there is no secondary heating for the times the sun don't shine;
+ the doors and windows have been fitted with gaps and without proper waterproofing so the wind-driven rain enter;
+ the fireplace didn't work, which is a pity since the nightime temerature is around 4 degrees;
+ the carport has been sunk to below the height of surrounding drains;
+ the floor is bare concrete which is always dusty
+ the waterproof coursing around the house is incomplete
+ the rammed earth walls are beginning to crumble as they haven't been lime-washed yet
and so on.
Francoise explains tells me that she quite understands if I want to move on immediately, but I reply that there is plenty to do to help and my apartment is quite comfortable anyway.

Despite my intention never to project manage anything, I have a feeling that this how best to help her: to give her some tips on how to get things moving forward again.

Meanwhilst, I have started by making a housing for the noisy generator that needs refuelling with a 20l jerrycan every other day. Actually, it is more like a pile of earth thrown over a timber pallet, but it cost nothing and does the job. Shouldn't be for too long as I have nagged F sufficiently to get her to copy and submit the papers necessary for the electricity company to agree and schedule connection to the grid.Read more