The slog continued through the rains and the mist and the fog. Some showers were not only untimely (so common these days) but pretty heavy too. Being where it is, sandwiched between two valleys from where strong winds rise every now and then, every second spell of rain had a look and a feel of a small thunderstorm. And when it pours, one feels as if a small cloud burst has occurred. All such acts of nature would be fascinating once we are safely indoors and are watching the fun from the safer side of a 10 mm thick glass screen. But the package becomes horrifying when you have construction work on.
I was once again absent when the slab of the ground floor roof was being laid. The team, however, carried on. Weather was kind and the phase went through without a hitch...
Issue, however, became a bit debatable as we reached the slab stage of the first floor roof. We were already into winters and while snow was holding on and was yet to come tumbling down from the skies, the night temperature was already into negatives. In the areas like Kasol where the sun changes its track and doesn't cover many areas, no slab work is undertaken during such a season since water freezes before the cement has been set and the result is invariably a disaster. Here, at FRD, however, sun shines bright throughout the year (akin to what happens in Ladkah....sharp, bright sun that needs 50 plus SPF protection (unless you are like me!) and as per the locals, such an issue doesn't come into play here. The local knowledge is based on the fact that if a slab gets about a few hours of strong sunshine, water won't freeze well into the night and cement gets set in time. With some apprehensions and some doubts and with prayers on lips, we went for it. The second slab was laid and there was no sign of snow yet!
We were lucky enough to have more than a fortnight of uninterrupted fair weather with sun coming down heavily on the structure and helping it get firmed up! And at a time and moment as decided by HIM, the fun began. Winters of 2017-18, have not brought in too much of snow and yet the height and location of FRD meant a good white cover.
As per the revised plan, we were to have two similar blocks of three floors each with each floor having two rooms (12 in all). Now, it was revised again and the second block was now earmarked to have two floors (10 rooms in all). The third building, our cafe, was to be a single storeyed structure. Such an arrangement is likely to give a look of stepped up construction and is likely to look nice.
I was once again absent when the slab of the ground floor roof was being laid. The team, however, carried on. Weather was kind and the phase went through without a hitch...
Issue, however, became a bit debatable as we reached the slab stage of the first floor roof. We were already into winters and while snow was holding on and was yet to come tumbling down from the skies, the night temperature was already into negatives. In the areas like Kasol where the sun changes its track and doesn't cover many areas, no slab work is undertaken during such a season since water freezes before the cement has been set and the result is invariably a disaster. Here, at FRD, however, sun shines bright throughout the year (akin to what happens in Ladkah....sharp, bright sun that needs 50 plus SPF protection (unless you are like me!) and as per the locals, such an issue doesn't come into play here. The local knowledge is based on the fact that if a slab gets about a few hours of strong sunshine, water won't freeze well into the night and cement gets set in time. With some apprehensions and some doubts and with prayers on lips, we went for it. The second slab was laid and there was no sign of snow yet!
We were lucky enough to have more than a fortnight of uninterrupted fair weather with sun coming down heavily on the structure and helping it get firmed up! And at a time and moment as decided by HIM, the fun began. Winters of 2017-18, have not brought in too much of snow and yet the height and location of FRD meant a good white cover.
There were a few such spells of snow and work on interiors carried on while it remained more or less white outside. The snow that came later, didn't stay for long. During the break between laying of the slab and snow, we were able to erect pillars of the second block.
Two specialists were brought in after the snow to check on the slab and they passed it as OK!
continues....
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