We had another site meeting today and it was not straightforward. The ground floor level was several brick courses higher than originally planned and definitely higher than we were happy with. We really want to avoid having a very tall house looming over a narrow stand. We could never have anticipated that something as prosaic as a sewer would complicate our plans in this way. After much – quite heated – discussion about various options, including storage tanks and pumps (strongly vetoed by me), moving the guest toilet to the landing level on the stairs (possibly tolerated by me but not happily), we arrived at a compromise that looks like a possibility: With a slight alteration to the existing guest toilet area, we should be able to include two steps which will give the troublesome loo the necessary height. We should still, hopefully, get away with having only two steps up to the front door and two steps from the patio down to the lawn. Whoever would have thought that the smallest room in the house could give the most trouble?
So it was back to the drawing board for Bernard this afternoon and yet another meeting planned with the engineer to confirm, once and for all, that this plan will work.
Discussion taking place where the scullery will be.
Taken from the west end of the living room. The ‘library’ will be on the right and the patio on the left.
Lunch Break!
home-in-the-making 
I love your pictures and stories. I’m getting a feel for constructions sites, South African style!
You’ve probably noticed all the bricks? The huge majority of houses in this country are built this way. You may also feel that there are quite a lot of workmen on the site. This is also quite typical. There is no shortage of labour here.