I still remember when my family built the cottage. It was a time when totalitarianism was in full swing, and as anyone who lived through those days will recall, building such a structure was not easy. The craftsmen were not unreasonable, and if they took trekkers without permission, they demanded money that ordinary people could not afford to pay. Therefore, if you wanted to build a building, you had to learn everything and do it yourself. It was far from ideal because building materials and equipment were not easily available at that time. But my relatives managed. They managed to dig and lay a foundation, procure building materials, build wall and roof trusses, plaster and paint the walls, lay roof tiles, install gutters, dig and brick the septic tank, plant windows and doors, and make all the water pipes and electrical wiring.
And thanks to all this, we have a cottage that is the envy of everyone who does not have the aforementioned skills and cannot build anything similar. It\’s been a long process. And what about the present situation? If you think about it, while much has changed, in many ways we are ultimately in the same situation as we were under socialism. A few years ago, I needed to repair my chimney so that I could continue heating with a regular stove. And to this day I still do not heat. I don\’t have a chimney sweep and they don\’t want to do it. So I haven\’t heated for several years. Because I don\’t dare to risk a fire.
After all these years, the plaster is coming off in places. I was looking for a bricklayer. Or at least a construction worker, someone who could fix it. And I ended up like my parents. I had to learn and fix it myself. No one professional was interested. The well pump broke and the water stopped coming out. It was a pretty big problem. Who would you ask to replace that pump? No plumber or electrician would go into the well for that. Until I agreed to repair the entire water line, which is a very expensive job, but they showed interest. But we have been trying in vain for two years to find a schedule. There are a few other little things! Besides, I\’m on my own as much as possible. Because there is no one else. So I don\’t let anyone tell me how poor this country is. Anyone can make money in my country. If they want to.