In a carpentry workshop in the south of Lima, of course
I have visited this wood workshop five times in the last four weeks. “Will you be finished with our 15 closets?” – “Of course, probably much sooner. There are no problems at all!”
The e-mail late yesterday evening sounded different: “We ran out of time a bit, don’t come at 9:30, but at 11!”
We are on site around lunchtime. The cabinets are inside and outside in a semi-finished state. And there are complaints about every second piece of furniture. The truck driver who is to transport the goods over 930 km to Curahuasi waits patiently on the road. Now the palaver begins as to who will actually pay for the packing material. Finally we agree on Fifty Fifty and the staff get to work.
Neither the production nor the process is perfect. As we know, perfection only exists in heaven. But the wooden cabinets will fulfill their purpose and even look quite classy in the guest rooms.
After 2 p.m. I have to leave in a flash for my next appointment. An hour later, our contact Don Robert sends me some pictures. “The last defective cupboard door was replaced at the last minute, the truck loaded and the bill paid!”
Hopefully the driver will get through the mountains safely. Without landslides, accidents or hold-ups. /KDJ
