In 2017 we hosted through Airbnb, (to comply with CC privacy guidelines I will call them David and Sarah, and not include any identifying photos of them) two professors from the Helsinki University in Finland, Each year they return here twice and we have become firm friends.
Although Sarah is a Dutch national she has fallen in love with this part of the world, to the point where they have bought a block of land on Kangaroo Island at a place called American River and ultimately want to build a Studio and a main residence there.
Being half our age we have this sort of Parent/Offspring type relationship with David and Sarah, and because of my practical past in the building industry David has been eager to get some of my knowledge and assistance. So at the start of last year I went over and helped them fence their newly acquired property. I also helped them design the buildings they wanted to erect, which have subsequently been engineered, drafted and approved for construction. I told them I would give them 5 days when the time came to have a crack at getting this project under way, and with the help of a really fine subcontractor we have spent the last week (8th-12th Jan) putting in a bit of hands on effort. David had his subbie help had already built the sub floor and put down the flooring when I arrived.
Kangaroo Island is a 45 minute ferry trip from the mainland, serviced by two identical ferries which run an hourly service each way. Each of these ferries has a capacity of 50-60 vehicles and around 400 passengers......
Being summertime the crossing was smooth, there was a small cruise liner at anchor in the Penneshaw harbour as we approached KI.
First project for me was to set up my accommodation......At least I could stand up in it, David couldn't in his!!
As there had been a bit of rain about we set about cleaning off the tarps and the floor that David and Damien had put down in the previous two weeks.
And set to work cutting and fabricating the timber stud walling......
I had brought over a heap of tools including my drop saw so all the timber cutting in the building fell to me.
The Island is absolutely teaming with wildlife and, as there are no predators (apart from humans) on the Island the wildlife has nothing to fear and is almost.....friendly.
This huge Western Grey, must have been 7 Ft when he stood up, came up by my tent and watched us work for 20 minutes or so......
And I could have almost reached out and patted this fellow.....
At night-time you could feel a presence around you as the locals searched for any scraps of food we may have discarded.
Over 2 days we got all the studwork up.......
The building is enormously over-engineered but, you have to follow specifications or local council will not approve it during their regular inspection visits......
Everything had to be strapped down and braced with metal strapping......
Always time at the end of the day for a Red or two.......
Well, day 5 and here we are, Fascia's on and ready for foil insulation sheet and roofing.......
Hopefully my days there has saved David and Sarah a few thousand dollars in fabrication costs, by next weekend they hope to have the place to lock-up stage......roof on and walls clad, windows are being installed next Wednesday.
I have volunteered to go back there again and do the internal wall sheeting when they are next back here again in June!
The neighbours can't believe how David is managing to drive a project like this, and have it run so smoothly from the other side of the world.
It goes without saying we are offered whatever we want when next in Europe which hopefully might come to pass, but we have this camaraderie and great friendship thanks to Airbnb.
Cheers........Rob