This week began with the exciting news of finally getting electricity. The electrician had been working on the wiring from the meter to the house, as well as throughout the house itself. A lot of the wiring had been stolen, possibly by thieves or maybe because the previous owner had stopped paying the caretaker, who might have taken what he could.

Two guys showed up on a bike to get the wires ready. Eventually, they came to connect the meter to the main power line across the dirt road. We had expected a big truck, but instead, two guys arrived on a small motorcycle. They climbed the electric pole with a rope, secured the main line without getting electrocuted, and installed our new meter. It was quite nerve-wracking to watch but took less than half an hour.

With electricity, we managed to connect the water pump and started filling the water tank with lake water. The pipes were already in place, so we just needed to buy a pump and fix a few leaks. It was a lot of work, but now we have water! Although the water permit hasn’t come through from the council yet, we’re hoping it will be cheaper in the long run than getting public water.

The wall separating the property from the road is almost finished too. I helped the builders and learned a bit about masonry, which was pretty interesting. Building the wall reminded me of playing with Lego – you have to slot the pieces together to make it strong. Unfortunately, the mason didn’t know this or was too lazy to do it properly, placing the blocks one on top of the other instead of offsetting them for strength. I thought BF might fire him, but in a small village, it’s hard to find another mason.

We also have a wall being built to separate the property from the road, and I’ve learned a bit about masonry from helping the builders. It’s interesting how similar it is to playing with Lego – you have to slot the blocks together properly for a strong structure. Unfortunately, the mason didn’t do this correctly at first, and I thought BF might fire him, but it’s difficult to find replacements in a small village.

We currently have an old SUV and are looking for a smaller, more efficient 4WD vehicle, probably an old Suzuki or Toyota. Our current one gets about 20 miles per gallon, and even less on dirt roads, so we try to limit trips to the city, which is about 20 miles away.

Last time I went to the city, I got a USB modem to access the internet. It’s slow but useful, especially in the early morning hours when it’s a bit faster. At night, it’s painfully slow.

The dry toilet that had become a nest for bats is now covered, and we can use the indoor toilet and shower. After living with the bare minimum, having some comfort is much appreciated. The shower is probably the most dangerous part of the house though, with an electric heater awkwardly wired above the showerhead. I wear flip flops to shower, just in case.

Now that we have a fridge running, it’s easier to stick to my goal of wasting no food in November. The handyman often brings fresh eggs and even brought a hen, which I made into soup. The nearest city has a supermarket with most products, and when we go to the capital, I plan to buy harder-to-find items like cheese, spices, and olive oil. Our diet mainly consists of vegetables with rice or potatoes, thanks to the wonderful climate that provides various delicious veggies year-round. We also have a bit of meat or chicken, and sometimes we buy fish from local fishermen, although they haven’t caught anything great recently.

With electricity installed, life feels a bit different. I enjoyed those days of waking up and sleeping with the sun, but now it’s more comfortable, albeit less authentic. I suppose I could still unplug everything, at least now I have the option!

This week’s projects include finishing the entrance wall and installing a parking door, thatching the roof of the deck, possibly painting the house, and doing some gardening. What do you have planned? Any projects or goals for the week?