Moving house here in Phana, Isan, has finished. What happens next is that the newly-located building is going to be renovated and adapted to new purposes. As I explained in Part 1, the house has been empty for some years and it has looked increasingly sorry for itself and uncared for. But in fact many people care a lot for it and want the house to be used, to be useful, and to reflect the life and memory of Ta Rin and Yai Hom who lived in it for so long and who brought up so many young people (not just their own children) in this house.
As I also explained in Part 1, we were not in Phana on the day that the house was moved back away from the road. But we were here and I did take some photos on the day that the house was raised to its new height. I hope that the pictures will give an idea of how this was done because I think my explanation would be tedious and would probably not offer any clarification at all. All I will say is that the raising of the house was done with great care and patience, little by little, co-ordinated, and with lots of measuring and fine adjustments before the craftsmen were satisfied that the job was done.
Once the poles had been raised, they needed to have supports added to each of their bases. My father-in-law had a traditional rice store in the lane behind the house but this, too, had not been used for years, and the lane wound round it in a way that made little sense now that traffic (motor bikes) use the lane. So the rice store was dismantled, the ancient hard wood still in excellent condition. Just how hard it was was discovered by these men who had to saw it up, albeit with an electric saw.
The new bases were fitted to the poles and they were all bedded down:
As a reminder of how far the house has been moved back, here is a photo taken before that happened:
And here is the house in its new position, awaiting the renovation and new work:
So the house has moved! Over the next few weeks I will try to record the renovation and adaptation work as it happens. We are expecting that everything will be done by about mid-January. The workmen here don't hang about once they get started.
Lawrence I'm impressed with the work gang. I was wondering how they'd raise the house and now I see how. Not a crane in sight. Also there's not an empty plastic food bag on view either. They're not only a clever bunch but a tidy one too.
Posted by: Martyn | 19 December 2011 at 02:45 AM
Not just clever and tidy, Martyn. They are able to vanish into thin air, and work on several houses at the same time. Not ours, today, I'm afraid. Sometimes I wonder if they are spirits from the buea baan across the road.
Posted by: Lawrence | 19 December 2011 at 11:47 AM
I'm so amazed with the results of the house moving! Everything just seemed to have gone smoothly and easily, like pushing a toy car with just a finger. How's the renovation going on?
Posted by: Richelle Jelsma | 10 February 2012 at 01:45 AM
It's finished! I'll post pics etc. soon.
You're right about it going smoothly and easily. I was certain the whole house was going to break up and fall apart. Brilliant!
Thanks for your comment, Richelle. I'll try not to keep you waiting too long for the finished product.
Posted by: Lawrence | 11 February 2012 at 04:53 PM
Hope the moving was successful. Wishing good luck!
Posted by: Furniture Removals | 08 March 2012 at 09:23 AM