PREVIOUS NEWS Wednesday, 08 August 2007

While we were waiting for our new home to be built, we stayed in a cosy, one bedroom cottage, about a mile north of town. Cosy it might be, but we could not wait to enjoy the spacious living areas of our new home. One advantage though was that we got plenty of exercise walking to and from town. It is always a great experience because you stop and talk to so many people on the way

By the end of May the hardest part of the construction was over. Because the house is built on pine posts, there has been a lot of energy expended moving dirt, digging holes and carrying the posts. No cranes or excavators here - just pure muscle and ingenuity!

Perhaps the hardest and most delicate operation so far has been the manoeuvering and placement of the post that holds up the roof of the main house. At 10.2 metres long, 250mm wide at the top and 500mm wide at the bottom, it is the 'mother' of all the posts. To get it to its final resting place in a hole 2.2metres deep by 1 metre square (dug by hand) was at times frightening, funny, something to be marvelled at and a tribute to the dedication, good humour and teamwork of our builders. Thanks, guys!

In the middle of June we completed the roof on three of the guest bedrooms. As we did with the placing of the first post, we enjoyed a small Fijian ceremony by one of the local Talatalas (Minister) followed by a few bowls of kava.

The main house was well under way in August and by the end of September, the major construction was completed - just waiting for plumbing and electrical work to be finished.

By mid-October and painting was well under way. All the little finishing touches were happening and we were growing more impatient every day as we saw our dream coming to reality. In December we were looking forward to welcoming our first guests.

Keep watching this space for more news of people and events in Levuka. There is always something happening and you never know who or what you might read about.

For more information:
levukahomestay@is.com.fj

(+679) 3440777,
Box 50, Levuka, Ovalau, Fiji Islands