Rest of high rise on the go

The rest of the units go into Position

Charity Re designing the water flow under the tent.

WET/ 19/6/2010

A Bit wet

Kawaaja's

WET /

The beautiful aroma of damp dirty clothes resonates through the tent .I forgot they are clean and supposed to be dry the dark shadow of mildew and other Fungi spreads rapidly across the tent fabric like an all concurring plague of army ants. What’s this ripped shirt? Surely not? But alas it has BECOME ROTTEN AND WHAT IS THIS? Day 30 of the so-called wet.

Nothing is drying no point in hanging out the clothes as soon as they are nearly dry you put them away so they can become wet again .It sounds bizarre but we need a big fire just to dry out.

Grass is growing insects are growing and at last millions of frogs to eat the insects ,snkes to eat the frogs,we had a puff adder yesterday ,a tree snake the day before .Both are not nice the Puff Adder very ugly bit like our Death adder but this one can bite through a boot and your flesh rots a way a charming individual by all accounts.

The high rise is coming along well and hopefully all people will be out of the mud sooner than later.

High Rise begins

High Rise appartment development ,Availiable for purchase off the plan,ring Maanga Remax

Rain/High Rise

The rain has arrived I dribs and drabs with about 30mm a couple of days ago and 15 the next the area resembled very much a quagmire.

Bottom of the tents resembled small child like swimming pools about to become slippery slides. Be sure when you buy your next tent to make sure it comes from top quality canvas made in Pakistan and is guaranteed to let water in and every blood sucking insect. This allows the parasites to keep clean, provides an ideal home for them and there friends. The insects range from the very small to the goliath battle, which is about 4 to 5 inches long, and he is not fussy what he eats.

Eventually the mud has dried in the tents so will be able to use the vacuum, yes we do have the mod cons of a so called civilized society.

The preliminary work for the High rise apartments has progressed  well and the boys have spent their first night in the air. The crane lifted them into place yesterday and will be here today to get all the others out of the mud and up on the benching which should have been done first but we had no money or fuel to do so.

Bentiu has run out again, as has most of the country apparently the countries refinery was closed for repairs and the whole country ran dry of diesel .Should be some today.

Rains

Scrounged some drum cable ends for stepping stones

Full time sanitary Engineer at work Big Market Bentiu

Bit of a wet work area

At the Gwit Field Day

Overnight rain has slowed us down a bit

camp progress

Beatrice /electrician

Big Eagle Al and a bad hair day

Chippo attemptenting to put sand in Mixer

Rains/ and a little money

Rains???

The rain haas been a bit persistant in trying to come over the past week and has become quite intense in its efforts to do so properly but lucky for us it has not happened yet as the little bits we have had cause a few problems.

Genset trips out and does not want to provide power to the masses,4 foot people become 6 foot people with still the short person persona, vehicles cant move ,tents leak ,for the etomologist a very large variety of insects have emerged some are very different looking insecsts although the flies and rain bugs are just the same. But hey that’s what where here for to grow corn for eating.

Had a stint on South Sudanese TV earlier in the week with the Governor and the Divisional Commander of the Local Army don’t know what they said but I guess it was good as they were all smiles I of course slipped straight in to my Political speak and exponded the virtues of the cooperation we had received from the Unity government and also the Government of South Sudan as best I could I tried to speak s l o w l y as apparently we Aussies speak to fast.

Appropriatley dressed? Of course. Straight off the dozer no shave for 10 days ,I even have a few dred locks on the back of the head and I must admit it is in need of a bit of attention as I just can’t do a thing with it. Shorts dust and not so clean shirt ,they could have said they were coming.

The entourage consisted of about 60 with small guns and big guns and even bigger guns and even a very big one. One of the point guards was standing between the 2 dozers when we moved off to demonstrate chaining for the cameras and associated dignitaries unfortunately for him he was not familiar with this operation and as the chain began to move he stayed in his position as a good point guard does. The trees started to fall and he looked a little concerned then he thought he had better move so off he went towards the chain. I must admit I admired his fortitude as the trees began to fall a little closer to him he was still intent on going back to the others watching then one tree was dropped pretty close to him, the eyes widened a bit then a particularly large one was very close and a degree of panic could be seen upon his then the real big one went crack [and those of you who have not seen chaining it can sound like guns and explosives going off as the trees snap off] the ensuring retreat past the dozer and away from the chain was worthy of an Olympic record. The crowd of on lookers were in absolute fits of laughter as were the dozer operators the South Sudanese have a great sense of humor very similar to ours when they get to know them.

I lent our spare chain to the Governor to use on his farm at Gwit, which we took down on the small truck. We were supposed to give them a few instructions but the boys were too excited so as soon as it was off the truck off they went into the savanna to plunder some trees and we never sore [probably not the chain either] them again so I wonder how long it took for the chain to be picked up by the tracks and tangled in the final drive, The chain won’t break

Still no money so are just plugging along slowly with no fuel, no gravel but we will have our new high rise up soon and before the real water comes down I hope.

Hunting and gathering for the kitchen again today as the larder is low and food getting a bit short on. Went with Jim out into the dried up swamp to see the Falata camped out on this big flat are with a few tents several thousand animals. Cattle, sheep and a few goats. All the stock were good and would provide a great base for some introduced Brahman or equivalent breed. All different mobs in age groups and they do not mix not even week old lambs and calves will move to there  mothers until they are allowed, no yards no nothing quiet incredible.

All run by the families little kids .big kids and a few adults not many old people as I think there life span is not great. Very friendly and welcoming we seemed to be able to communicate some how ,with signs and a few broken words on each side.

We did our purchase of 2 sheep that took 2 hours just before the wind before the storm came sweeping across the flat  at break neck speed blowing a couple of the tarps they have over some sticks for shelter away and a bit of general excitement but they wern’t worried the animals just stood and sat with not a care in the world. A very humbling experience .No ulcers or high blood pressure with them just lots of miles to walk where ever they want to go and so long as there is grass that is all that matters.

James, James and Noel at Gwit on the Governors plow which has a bit missing here and there

Chain off

Living on the Job Charcoal maker

Looks like we have some money at last!!!!!