Hey guys. Yes, the blog has been quiet for the last few weeks, but I can tell you there is good reason for it. Internet connections in South Africa are crap or just plain non-existent! So, while we were over there on holiday, doing the tourist thing round the country, seeing friends and family and working on the tan which has already started to fade after being back here for a few days, I had every good intention of keeping the blog updated, but with barely no Internet connection in most of the places we stayed, it was all I could do just to read my emails. We had a good time and it was nice to get away and I did have a good look at how the thatch roofs over there are put together  - one of the ideas for the eco-huts.

Back to business and with the business proposal for Reaseheath College complete, off I went back to the college this morning for another meeting with Annette from Enrich. We went through the proposal, had another look at the field and next week we will be meeting with one of the college directors to see what she thinks. Fingers crossed she will like it and take it to the board for approval.

This morning, I paid a visit to a demolition contractor in the area who sells reclaimed stone, brick, wood, building materials and internal fitttings like doors, fireplaces, etc. I spent a good hour wondering around and getting my shoes all muddy in the process - forgot the wellies at home! What a fantastic place with loads of stuff that we could use for the eco-huts, but unfortunately, the reality is that reclaimed materials can be more expensive than buying new, so we’ll have to weigh this up when we get round to building the eco-huts.

These last two weeks have been phenomenal in what we have achieved with regards to the project - largely due to a friend and Greenwellymonster member that offered to help and has been staying with me for the last week and a half. Clemmie has studied an Geography degree at university, a Recycling Technology Masters and is busy with her thesis at the moment. She has done some fantastic research for our project which would have taken me a lot longer than a week and a half if I’d been trying to do it all on my own! So, a massively, huge, big thank you to Clemmie for all her help. We have now got costs, websites and/or contacts for most of the materials that we will need to build the eco-huts, the bathrooms, kitchen area, etc. so I can now get together a detailed plan for the farmer, which is what he wants. We’ve also found a lot of info about how to do things on some of the websites which is going to be hugely beneficial to us, but WOW, there is so much to learn!! It’s so exciting to get to this stage where you really have to think of everything, even down to the toilet paper in the loos!

On another note, I’ve been in touch with the Soil Association and the Forestry Commission as well and both are keen to help if they can. Two more meetings coming up:- next weekend, back to the farmer and the following weekend, a visit to the Forestry Commission to see what wood they’ve got and what they can supply us with. Will keep you posted.

And last but not least, a very big Happy Birthday to K & J, who both turned 12 yesterday.