The poles that I was hoping would be an option was not usable - they had been lying around too long and now were full of termites. Back to the drawing board; it seems that in the Carribean the only place to get logs is Guyana, the cost of the logs together with the shipping makes it expensive but may be the only option I have.....the other and most important concern is that with these hardwood logs, we will have considerable trouble getting rebar into them let alone anything else.....I am beginning to think that the gods are against me....we have been thinking of maybe constructing a chinkless home but at this moment in time I will need to speak to my forestry guy to find out how old the logs are.

On the home front our house goes on the market in a couple of weeks, just had the agents around and they seem to think that it wont be a problem to sell but the question of course is how much, the UK is still in a recession and I have no idea what we will get for it at the end of the day. As soon as the house sells that's it we will go, we are now assuming that this will be in August which brings me to the next thing...... the rainy season, can't build in the rainy season so may have to put back the build to now start 2011. I am still waiting to see if my lastest planning permission is successful................things are never esay or simple in life but with each moutain all I can do is start climbing with one foot in front of the other , I know it will all come right in the end so I guess perseverance and patience is the order of the day.

Since returning from Trinidad last September I left my log sourcing to a contact I made through one of my cousins in the forestry - he may have come up trumps with logs for me in the form of logs used for telegraph poles. The whole island is having the poles replaced in favour of metal ones and the old ones are now stock piled. They are one of the hardest woods in the region and I hope I can get the quantity and size I need. I will have many palms to grease and just hope that I can afford them.

The other problem I have is storing them as I am not be able to leave the UK in Feb this year as I had hoped - I am not sure of what condition they are in either i.e. how they are being stored I will have to make sure that they are in good condition before I part with any cash. I have had many set backs one of which is the sale of our house here in the UK. Due to the snow we have experienced over the Christmas and new year period I have held of putting the house on this depressed market. So looking to try and have everything in place to leave at the end of spring. Crossing my fingers and toes as I really need to get going.....have had enough of the UK now and just want to get on and build.

Logs not yet sourced but have put the word out hoping to get something affordable for next spring

Have had to re apply for planning permission and have left my cousion with the 40 x 40 plans to put in my amendments - he will then submit - hopefully we will get planning permission - if not don't really know what our next step will be

Now that I am back I am going to start on a model

Also realised that what little money I do have is not going to get me very far as everything is still so expensive - so am hoping that next year prices will drop .....here's hoping !

Attended class in June '09, got our stock plans (we decided on getting the bundle to cover any future needs and all contingencies). We purchased our land 6 years ago, 5 acres of which half of that is good to build on. We got planning permission for 1 two storey building only - am travelling out next week with our plans (we have not had the time to make any alterations but will ask the architect to add a wrap around porch for us). We would ideally like to build two 40 x 40 side by side but will be happy just to have the basic plan with wrap around accepted by the planning dept. Our biggest problem will be in finding the logs and oh boy I think that will be one huge problem, if we get any for free will be a miracle but I've a lot of work to do to find them in the first place and then to get them as cheap as possible - worse case senario would be we will have to import them in - not sure how that will work out as money is short.
I've a huge list of things to do, sorting out the water, electricity options, planning dept. finding a surveyor to wet stamp the plans etc. etc. etc. and getting some sort of temporary living sorted out while we build....will probably end up in a tent!! have tons of practical stuff to sort out with the move, we plan to move at the end of the year latest beginning Feb next year - ......if I can just find a good source for logs I 'll be happy... I have two weeks .........wish me luck I'll need it!