Workers were moved in some time in August to hack away the 28-year-old cement floor and tiles around our 'uniquely-PLW' circular rings of Bougainvillaea. Armed with jackhammers, the workers had started to break the cement floor and tiles (which had been badly broken and remained in a sorry state for some time already).
I think movements of the marine clay upon which our whole PLW precinct sits, which had started ever since the KPE works began, had aggravated the cracking of the floor tiles just outside the B121 RC. Many parts had totally mismatching 'levels' and were a real safety hazard and nuisance.
The incessant, noisy hacking went on and on for many afternoons in August. (I cannot remember why I was not at work, but I was home anyway.) The potpourri of din and the hot and humid weather then was almost unbearable.
Alas, after about 2 weeks of manual jackhammering, they finally sent in an excavator during the week Mother took her vacation in September. To our relief, the machine finished up the hacking in a day or so and since then, the noise pollution has somewhat eased off a little.It has remained very dusty, neverthelss. And during the times we are home, we have not been able to open our windows except for a small gap just sufficient for ventilation. The floor in our unit seems to feel perpetually sandy. Sadly, though, we haven't been able to find time to mop it any more frequently than our usual weekend floor-mopping routine. Sigh.
After the debris were cleared, the workers had shifted in the tiles and started to lay them. They had begun the tiling works from the portion nearest to PIE.
Progress has been at a snail's pace. I am not sure if it is always like this, but 天下的 contractors 似乎都是一样的：三天打鱼，四天晒网！
Up to now, only half the place has been completed. See photos taken this morning:
The only consolation, however, is that this right-at-our-doorstep worksite is properly cordoned off and as can be seen from the photos, has been kept relatively neat and dry.
Given that the objective and eventual outcome of this improvement works are to benefit us residents directly when the re-tiling is completed, I guess we will just grit our teeth and bear with it. In fact, I haven't heard and don't expect to hear anyone grumbling about this worksite.
Of course, it helps, too, that we haven't been required to make any special payment in addition to our usual monthly SC&CC fee for this 'benefit'....
See?! Luckily it was only 71.4%!!!
1 comment:
How can they still keep these circles open? Do you know that they stink actually?
Of course the only ones affected could be the lower floor tenants and the uncles and aunties who sit around there for their evening chitchat and gossipings.
I hope the new design or new tiles will be pleasant and indeed add some pleasantries back into the surroundings.
My feeling with PLW is that the original owners have either passed on or moved out. The news ones are of quite "dubious" appearance, some even are contractors renting the flats for their workers (I heard a rumour).
But basically the old nostalgic "village" PLW is gone, in my view. (Not that I was involved in this comraderie because I was too young)
Nevertheless thanks for the update and the photos.
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