The Golan Home

Things are moving a lot faster now. The electrician, after meeting last Friday to mark everything, has already finished his work for this stage.

The plumber had the same round yesterday (Thursday) morning with Shimon (and me on the phone). This morning we were there to see his progress and answer a couple of questions – and he is almost done too, telling us that by the end of the day Monday he’ll complete it all.

We also met with the alarm guy, and he is off to work, starting Sunday.

After meeting with the aluminum guy Tuesday, he should be measuring and supplying the window frames (the ‘blind frames’) soon.

The electric company’s inspector paid us a visit Wednesday, so Sunday I’ll call them, pay the fees, and get the electricity hooked up.

Next up – carpentry. It’s getting urgent as we need the inner door frames ASAP. Once all the above is done, we can start with the stucco, and I really want to get it done before it starts to rain.

Hosam has completed his part last week, and yesterday (Sunday) the electrician started working after we met Friday morning to mark all the electric points (light switches, outlets, etc).

To run all the wires through the house, they punched holes in blocks, cut through beams, even broke through the study floor. The house, with its nice smooth walls, looked wounded this afternoon.

Things are progressing very quickly all of a sudden. The plumber will start working in a few days too, which means we’ll need to pick out an alarm system installer (goes with the electricity) and an air conditioning guy (plumbing) immediately.

Today I also got the Form 2, which allows me to connect “temporary” electricity, so bright and early tomorrow morning I need to be at the power company to get hooked. Then I’m running to meet the aluminum guy, with the hopes that he will lower his price and fit into the budget.

Meanwhile, Gali, Shimon and I have been spending some time picking out tile for the bathrooms (mission accomplished) and for the living quarters (sealed and reopened after we heard that the stone we picked stains very easily).

The frame, or skeleton as we call it in Israel, is done. Hosam, Yaron and I met at the house this morning for a last inspection.

Since returning from Belgium last week (great food at De Kliene Zavel!), Shimon and Yaron met with Hosam at the house, made a couple of comments and two changes Gali and I asked for.

There is plenty to add – about the changes, images, things we did in the meantime – but I’m just so tired these past days, that the rest will have to wait.

By any measure, this is a great milestone for us and the house.

Good night