That Bright Blue PVC

Strong, well-made furnishings are difficult to find in Thailand, unless they are old and extremely expensive. Before the 1980's, around half of the country's forests were logged and not replanted. At that time, the government bolstered efforts to preserve the remaining foliage. The lovely teak tables and doors we have seen in market places were made before that time. Deforestation continues, corrupt surveyors chipping away at National Forests. Most homes today are filled with plastic and metal; many Bangkok dwellers feel that those materials present a more modern finish. The ubiquitous material for home projects seems to be bright blue PVC pipes.

Modern conveniences, such as safety devices for small children and kitchen appliances, are difficult to find and inconceivably pricey. For my birthday, Philip salvaged bits of old wood from "outback" - the covered, cement slab behind our house - to make a baby gate between the living area and the library. Now, a hinged gate with a slide latch protect our school supplies, books, and games from a dribbling, gnawing baby. I remain thankful and relieved. The cupboardless kitchen and stairs to the third floor still presented plenty of hazards. At first, I removed all the fragile and dangerous items from the bottom two shelves. But it didn't take long for her to figure out how to use the bottom shelf to boost herself up to reach the third shelf. I was quickly running out of safe places to put everything.

Philip and PVC pipe to the rescue! Philip designed and built a sliding gate to keep Calla out of the kitchen when necessary. It is a bit more difficult to maneuver than the library gate but making supper has became a bit more manageable. We thought we'd have more time to secure the other danger zone, Calla has already managed to make it up the first step multiple times, always with someone near by to catch her. When my parents arrive in a little over a week, the traffic going up and down the stairs will increase and motivate her to climbing higher and quicker. Yesterday afternoon, Philip began working on a gate for the stairs.

The stairs arise from our dining room area, and at supper time yesterday, Philip was in the middle of his project. PVC pipes were set down in disarray on the stair landing, and everyone gathered at the table. Philip finished his food quite a bit before everyone else, as usual, so he went back to working as he could still be in the vicinity and participate in conversation and sodality. At some point, he realized that the fittings he had joined together might make a passable musical instrument. His efforts produced a sound not unlike a shofar (ram's horn trumpet). After that, the kids quickly finished their meal to join the PVC pipe ensemble. It was fun to watch them experiment and work together. Meriel patiently explained and demonstrated to Hollis, then Simeon, how to purse lips and blow. Our neighbors were serenaded by the lovely and loud tunes (or lack thereof).

So there you have it. PVC is great for piping water, protecting electrical wires, making baby gates, and musical instruments. I bet in the years to come, we'll discover more uses for this versatile material.