Week 45 Slow Progress

Week 45

As Winter nears...

Meanwhile, the roof saga continues.

We had to contact the main company because we were concerned about...

pilfering, of all things!

We have lots of comings and goings here. In fact, we have always had strangers here since the days of Groups Accommodation and Refugees. Of all the groups, there was only one -  University students - who caused us concern - my theory at the time was that they lacked leadership - as in that there was no one who had taken responsibility for behaviour or anything else for that matter. As I recall, it was many months before we even got paid.

A couple of the refugees gave us cause for concern - they were openly "playing the system" for a roof over their head for the winter and then would go back to being gypsies somewhere (as they explained to us). One of the families had all members caught for shoplifting at one time or another!

But, by and large, people have been good and trustworthy and we have learned to live with the openness. These days, it is almost entirely people we know - in the apartments or our own clients, kids, social workers or parents. 

So, it was almost a hurtful observation when Janny saw one of the builders driving off with some of our timber - the back door of the van was wide open and even in the fading light Janny could make it out clearly enough.

We couldn't believe it, of course. I was pretty tired and couldn't think what to do at the time - trying to think of some reasonable explanation.

So, Janny rang at about 0800hrs next morning and the Directors of the company came at 1100hrs to "sit around the table" to sort things out.

As it turns out, we had quite a list of things we weren't happy with - the timber pilfering might just have been the last straw.

The slowness of the work (well we think it was slow). the time spent on mobile telephones, the collection of scraps of timber and old iron for their private use (in our time). Janny pointed out to one of the builders that we have three(3) wood fires here and we can use the leftover scraps - and "we have paid for it after all". The chap said (literally) "but I have to keep my own fire going, perhaps we could go halves". Janny just had to walk away, shaking her head! 

The sandwich panel sheets are insulation with metal sides - they were peeling the metal off so that they could take it for scrap metal (quite a money making enterprise over here). As it turns out, we can use some of the panel offcuts to insulate the underside of the Summer House - but in any case, we have promised our scrap iron to one of our clients as some sort of compensation for helping us out so much.

I'm not sure if I have conveyed my (our) dissatisfaction and unease. 

The  Directors managed to allay our fears and promised to remedy matters by "putting their own team on it".

So, the Self-employed Sub-contractors (ZZP's) won't be here on Monday - but we're not sure who will be!

(Note, it turns out that they had been contacted by another client about pilfering - again, a "suspicion" with not enough concrete evidence to make it a Police matter - but enough in their minds to sever the relationship).

(It also turns out that our "villain" was involved in a Police case a few years ago - for threatening to kill his brother over a family property dispute - wow!, I had heard that story at the time but didn't know that it was him!).

On a brighter note, our clients and workers have been amazing - helping us with cleaning up, fastening the plastic sheets, replacing the spouting, getting the kids sorted out, finishing our Church Christmas Project, etc., etc. In short, being good, trustworthy people - as we try to be for them, of course.

Sandwich insulation panels.

Janny's Dad - aka "supervisor"

Spouting replaced (and not leaking!) on the apartments

Church Christmas Gift Project...

Lucas 10 years with us!

and he had to supply the cake!

I found myself reminiscing quite a bit during the week...

For example, It was 50 years ago that I started in the Fire Service! "Big Drill at no. 1" saw us "running the ladder" and jumping from the 2nd floor of the Drill Tower - well there's been quite a lot of ladder work over the past few weeks - but none of it includes "running" anymore!

I have been doing quite a bit of walking, however...

9.98kms

11.58kms

10.49kms

9.17kms

I even found myself remembering "folding tarpaulins"...

... and even explaining "Scaling Ladder Drill" to our young worker!

And that's not all in the Reminiscing Stakes...

Ben went to the Melbourne Cup... and I recalled that as a 16 and 17-year old, I used to go to the races with Uncle Bill. I was underage, but I could get away with it. Luckily, gambling didn't stick as one of my vices! My Grandfather used to be a Bookie and Uncle Bill used to be his "penciller" - writing down all the bets. I never saw this, but only heard it from Mum. Maybe my brothers have a better recollection.

I remember that I used to prefer Caulfield as a racecourse - and that is was used as a barracks at the start of WWII - our father was billeted there when he came over from WA.

Ben went to the Cup with a group of Dutchies...(I don't know how he found so many of them!).

(Note: it rained in Melbourne - as we had the "hottest November 6th on record").

Ben has been getting feedback from his modeling work in Shanghai - his work is being used in quite a few shops - one chain in particular - pity there's no royalties...!