If we could buy a few tools and a screw.
Simple things that we need
Prove tricky indeed,
To buy them, and transport them too!
If you've read the update on our GoFundMe site you will understand why connecting mains water is prohibitive, and the logistics of pumping water from the lake up to the village is costly and impractical.
Therefore Steve "The Engineer" and Julia AKA "Rodney the Labourer" have embarked upon a programme fitting gutters and storage tanks.
Having witnessed a couple of heavy thunderstorms, we realise that it is more difficult for the villagers to collect water during the rainy season as the steep, mud paths become treacherous. It was hard enough for us to negotiate the slippery mud and loose stone - we cannot imagine what it must be like with 25 litre jerry cans on our heads!
To us, the idea of fitting a bit of guttering to a roof is a simple and fundamental part of building a house. You just nip down to Screwfix and buy everything you need. Here, it is not so simple...
The general rule is...if you want it, you gotta make it! Like our homemade spirit level which isn't very accurate.
You cannot buy screws so we have to use nails (Steve's pet hate as they don't afford mistakes easily), the building isn't straight and the angles are deceiving.
Everything has to be bought from Kabale, the nearest town - a boat trip and 10km dirt track away, then transported back the long way round to the top of the hill, and carried down to the village by hand. Or on top of heads.
One trip back resulted in the truck narrowly missing skidding off the edge, and it was all hands to the pump to push it out.
Progress is slow, but at least we're making some!
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