Hey there, it’s Aksel! Welcome back to another update from VibePinas. Today I wanted to give you an unfiltered look at what it’s actually like to be "Aksel Dahl" while building a home in the mountains of Ronda. Let me tell you, it’s a lot of balls in the air, and some days, like today, are just flat-out exhausting.
The day started early—7:00 a.m. to be exact. I had the car packed to the brim and Liam ready to go. I know I’ll get comments about having him in the front seat, but trust me, it’s an old car with no passenger airbag, so it’s perfectly safe. Besides, compared to seeing five kids in the back of a multicab here, Liam is traveling in luxury! We were both feeling a bit under the weather with sore throats and runny noses, which made the early start even tougher.
Our first mission was a supply run to Moalboal. I had a bit of a snag trying to pick up nails I’d ordered online; the communication between the store branches was a mess, but we got it sorted in the end. After a quick "snack meal" of nuggets and yogurt for Liam, we finally made it to Ronda to meet up with Jessa. Seeing the smile on Liam’s face when he saw his mama made all the driving worth it.
The progress on the house is really starting to show. The roof is finally up over what will eventually be our balcony. For now, though, we’re turning that space into a temporary room by putting up plywood walls. It’s not the most beautiful thing yet, and it means blocking that "million-dollar view" for a while, but we desperately need the enclosed space while we wait for the main house to be finished.
Speaking of snags, the second one hit right as we arrived: torrential rain. And of course, I was carrying expensive electronics and power tools! We had to wait it out for an hour before we could move everything into the safer storage area. Once the rain let up, Jessa and I headed out for one more heavy-duty run. We loaded lots of cement sacks and a new door into the car. With 15-year-old springs, the car was practically a "low-rider." Driving back to Ronda was a slow, bumpy process—we were definitely way overloaded!
By the time we got everything moved and sorted, it was after 8:00 p.m. Jessa was struggling with a migraine, so she and Liam headed back to our other place while I stayed behind to hold down the fort. I’ve spent 13 hours today working, and my voice is nearly gone. I’ve set up a tiny temporary office in the corner of the new room, and tonight I’m roughing it—sleeping on a mattress that’s still in its plastic protector with a thick blanket for a bedsheet.
It’s not glamorous, and I’m exhausted, but we’re making it happen. We’ve got the windows ordered, the door is ready to be mounted tomorrow, and bit by bit, this mountain project is becoming a home. Now, I’m going to make a rare late-night coffee, watch some Below Deck to unwind, and try to stay awake long enough so I don't wake up at 4:00 a.m.!
Thanks for sticking with the Dahl family through the rain, the heavy lifting, and the long days. See you on the next one!
