We've done rather a lot of painting over the last few days. At the site there are walls and windows to paint and at home we have 16 desks and tables to do! In addition the students are preparing information boards for the classrooms. Here are Owen's views on painting and an update on another outing .......
Hello everybody back home! We've been fairly busy with the painting and building the new centre. Everything is coming along nicely!
Because we raised extra money, we were able to include some desks and chairs for the centre. 16 whole sets! Quite a bit of work has gone into this, and now they're all done at last! The teachers at the school will love them! (Don't tell them yet, though; they're a surprise!)
The picture above this is the height chart. We decided to make it in the shape of an alligator so we're going to put markings on it soon.
Below, Issie is putting the undercoat on a chair. The painting is really fun, so it's certainly my favourite job. I'm sure everyone else agrees!
Above, we're painting the outside of the building. This was the undercoat; very thin paint that dribbled everywhere.
This is me painting the inside of the building. The building is scheduled to be finished in 2 days time.
Human chains! They move loads over large distances! We've moved concrete, sand, stones and now roof tiles. We moved around 1000 tiles today! Our arms!
We moved tiles onto 2 sections of the roof and in position to go onto the third part of the roof. This is us moving them into position to go onto the 3rd part of the roof.
Ermm... Eddie seems to have made a new friend and pet.
Near the end of the day, we meet some Buddhist monks and they told us about Buddhism, its values and followers. This is the High Priest of the monastery . We had tea, rambutans and received some leaflets. Soon, we might be converting to Buddhism!
End of the day shopping for products in a traditional Sri Lankan supermarket. Tea, hopper mixture and fizzy drinks, as well as chocolates, were the most popular items purchased today
2 days till the project is finished, only 5 days left in Sri Lanka. Love you all back at home
Owen
Thanks Owen and a very big thank you to Sarath our driver who took us to the temple. The monk with Mrs Speed and me is Sarath's friend and it was a great honour to be taken inside the monastery for a really interesting question and answer session which helped Hannah enormously with her RE coursework!
We were all very surprised when the High Priest joined us and we were held spell bound by him.
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Good to see the building taking shape inside and out. Your arms must ache now! Weather still raining here and we are longing to see you guys home soon.Keep up the great work you are all doing, we are all so proud of you.
ReplyDeletemuch love mum and dad x
yay finally a proper photo of mum!!
ReplyDeleteI like the chairs and that looks so interesting and exciting
love you lots mum, Molly xxxxx
Hello Emmie and all of you on the project. You should be so proud of yourselves doing such an amazing job. Here with Mark and Maxine who send their love. Saw Connor yesterday and he is missing you lots.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work love you lots xxxx
It just gets better and better. I can't believe how much progress you've made, not only with the building, but all the extras like painting the furniture. Marvellous! You must all be shattered.
ReplyDeleteKeep on blogging, Love, Dave, Alex and Becky
P.S. 'Elf and Safety would have something to say about the table/chair combo ladder here.
Such a transformation. What you have achieved in such a short space of time is really amazing. Proud of all of you.
ReplyDeleteI am instructed, Sarah, to tell you that grandma is really enjoying reading the blogs. All that lifting and human chain activity looks like really good gripping exercise to me. But what would I know?
Looking forward to the next instalment.
Ruth & Jeff
hi owen, hollis here and haven't really missed you, much see you soon and hope you the best.
ReplyDeletejust had a couple of guinness's with mark R and now looking at the amazing photos .........he says you are not looking busy enough !!!!!! dont worry i said you were just on holiday enjoying the sun and getting a tan . miss you loads Dad xxx
ReplyDeleteGreat painting Owen. How much is on the chair and how much is on the floor? Mr Pool
ReplyDeleteThe building is really taking shape, all your hard work is paying off, very proud of you all!!
ReplyDeleteWhat an honour to go inside the monastery and meet the High Priest, one amazing experience after another. Sophie don't get any ideas about bringing Eddie's little friend home!!
Keep up the great work, look forward to tomorrows, update and can't wait to see you all back home on Sunday.
All our love mum and dad xxx
Glad to see Mrs Speed and Mrs Clarke are still smiling! Love the painted chairs, Cassie, right up my street! On the home straight now, well done everybody, can't wait to see it finished. Lots of love, Mum, Dad, Kate, Eliza, Nanny and Pappy (they loved the pics!) Jon and Jackie home last weekend, they are looking too.
ReplyDeleteBeen away for a few days and I am amazed by the progress you have made - it looks like hard work, but hopefully all very satisfying.
ReplyDeleteEqually impressed with the ambition necessary to teach the work "Igloo" to children in Sri Lanka. Well done.
With our Jamas (sic) heading off to Cornwall, Sally & I now have a few days R&R ready for the family reunion on Sunday - hurrah!
Hope the remaining days are just as fantastic.
Lots of love
Mum, Dad & James
Wow, what an incredible amount you've all achieved. As the old adage says 'many hands make light work.' Having said that the painting looks quite therapeutic compared to all that tile shifting. Miss Treasure has taught you well Bobby.
ReplyDeleteOwen, I think your mum's right you are looking leaner and meaner, Matt Chant might just have some competition. Is that a toblerone though I see in your basket?
Mrs Clarke I was not disbelieving that you have taken all these wonderful pics but it is good to see one of you and know that you are not really down that hole.
Keep up the great work everyone. Nearly there.
One last thing because it's driving me mad. EQT
Environmental Quality Technology
Extended Quality Television
Emotional Quotient Theory
Equipment Qualification Test
External Qi Therapy
End of Quarter Test
Am I getting close?
Issie,
ReplyDeleteTed has just emailed me to say:
"Great Blog - Great photos-.Great experience-Wow"
Your uncle visited Sri Lanka about 150 years ago (probably called Ceylon back then), so when you get back, you must compare notes on the country.
Dad x
Well done Owen, you're looking well, keep up with the good work, don't cut corners.
ReplyDeleteDad
What a privilege to be taken to the Buddhist monastry, the mixture of different experiences you have managed to fit in to such a short time is quite extraordinary - I suspect it will take a while to process it all!
ReplyDeleteHi Ed and all the team.This is so interesting, you are all working so hard and making amazing progress.What a huge honour to meet the High Priest- cant wait to hear all about it.Katie and Tom are looking at the blog and Aunty Ei sends her love too Ed.
ReplyDeleteLove Mum and Dad
I'm glad you're all having such a great time, even though it certainy looks very exhausting. My Mum says to keep up the good work! You seem to have made a lot of progress in a very short space a time, it must be rewarding to see the building taking shape.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the postcard Issy.
Mary xx