Category: Fixed Abode

I went to see a house the other day. Oh sure it was alright, you could move in tomorrow, if you don’t mind the nails some vandal had banged in the walls for pictures long ago discarded, or perhaps the doors that wouldn’t close. Then of course there was the running toilet, the ten years […]

Terrazzo is used extensively as an attractive, hardwearing floor surface in places such as banks, hotels, railway stations, supermarkets, public buildings and private homes all across the world. While mostly used for floors, terrazzo is a versatile material often used in Indonesia for walls, kitchen benchtops, washbasins, shower cubicles, baths, planter boxes and tubs, tables, […]

Wet and damp walls are a perennial problem in many parts of the world. Waterproofing is a specialist skill and can be surprisingly difficult, even the most competent contractors will be doomed to failure if they don’t know what they are doing. By following some basic principles and using initiative combined with sophisticated materials walls […]

It’s wet, very wet. Ark Constructions Pty of Serangan are doing a roaring trade, ducks are getting new seals fitted to their nether regions and my dog is growing webbed feet. Finally, after years of pretty feeble attempts at a wet season, we are now being treated to a more acceptable tropical monsoon experience. Who […]

A building permit has to be obtained before construction of any building in Indonesia begins. The building permit is also known as an IMB or Ijin Mendirikan Bangunan, it specifies the approved initial design of the building but it also continues through the buildings life stating what the building can be used for. Here we […]

“Ark The ‘Erald Angels Sing” It’s been a bit wet. In fact it has been so wet that the ducks have all had new seals fitted to their nether regions. A leaky duck is a very unhappy duck you know. My next door neighbour has started behaving quite odd. He has suddenly started collecting animals. […]

I have come across many sad cases over the years of honest people who are building their dream home only to find that the builder has scarpered, the money has run out and there is a distinct dearth of windows and doors, electrical wiring is nowhere to be seen and there is some really effective […]

“I say, are you a scruncher of a folder?” “I beg your pardon?” “You know, a scruncher or a folder?” “Sorry I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “A scruncher or a folder, It’s the question of the moment.” “Whose moment?” “Well I don’t know, everyone’s moment. It’s the question everyone’s asking.” “Asking what?” “The […]

Have you noticed? The Balinese don’t like rain, they don’t drink rainwater and they certainly don’t like it on their heads. It is something to do with picking up evil spirits on it’s way from the sky. Which reminds me, I picked up an evil spirit the other day, it was supposed to be gin […]

Mrs Razzo had a problem. Her husband Tossa never stopped talking. He drove her totally bananas. “It must be a defective gene” she often said. Then one day she realised the only time he ever shut up was when he was knitting. It was as though if his hands were kept busy he didn’t talk […]