Winjama: Dr. David Hoy MD

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. That would be 27-30 October, 2016. Ok. So I lied. Four days. Here's what's been happening around Casa Winjama.

Crack Ready For Patch

First off, this is a crack in the concrete patio that we've had virtually since the problems with the pool began. Endher has just finished pressure washing it. A little later on, you'll see the results of the patch job.

Concrete and Beam About Done

The scaffolding extends the whole length of the pool. The guys are almost done plastering the columns and the beam.

One thing that's happened, is that the metal beams spanning the pool were, unfortunately, not properly prepared no painted. We have flecks of blue paint all over the ground. The metal guy is supposed to be coming back Monday to refinish them. What that is going to entail is removing all the old paint from the beams, probably with a pressure washer, then it's a three-step process to finish them. Each beam has to be painted with Ospho.

Ospho is a product, that when applied to rusted surfaces resists and retards rust. Ospho drys to a tough, hard surface that gives 'tooth' which makes it ready for priming. Common knowledge incorrectly says that you can't paint over galvanized metal surfaces. Ospho allows you to do exactly that. I did it with the previous galvanized framework that held our awning. It held up very well, even in our light salt environment, for the seven or eight years that we had the framework and awning up. I used two coats of Ospho, two of metal primer, and two of metal enamel

With proper application of Ospho, primer, and top coat, a paint job will last much longer because subsequent paint coatings securely attach so that moisture and oxygen do not attack the painted metal. Ospho is water-thin, covers a larger area than paint, and goes on easily. It is equally effective for exterior and interior work alike.

Overhead View Smoothing Pool Walls

Here's a strange view. I shot this looking straight down as Erwin was chipping at a concrete patch to smooth it down for finishing inside the pool. The wall of the pool is at the bottom of the photo.

Plumbing Almost Finished

The plumbing is almost done. About all that remains is to hook up the ½ Hp pump for the waterfall. This is a very clean and professional looking installation.

The Rest of the Valving

Here's the additional valving to complete the connection. I think the valves control the spa jets, waterfall, and inlet eyes for the pool itself, but don't quote me on that. I'll have to work with Bani to make sure everything is labeled as to its function.

½ Hp Waterfall Pump

I rode with Bruce and Colleen Saturday to Belize City. Bruce had an appointment with Dr. Hoy to check up on his cataract surgery, so I tagged along to keep Colleen company as she drove. I also wanted to stop at Pumps and Motors on the Northern Highway for a ½ Hp pump to use for our waterfall.

Turns out they were too expensive and they didn't have exactly what I wanted anyway. I was all set to kick back and relax while Bruce did the eye doctor thing. Colleen asked if I wanted to stop at Bennie's for a pump. Good idea. So that's where we went, and surprise, surprise, they had exactly what I wanted for just a hair more than I had planned to spend. I brought this one home. Hopefully, it will get installed in the next day or two.

Bela Showing the New Patch

I mentioned the patch job on the patio earlier. Well, here it is, with Bela showing how much she likes it. Very nice job, even matched up the 'mortar' lines in the concrete. After a month or two, it will fade enough that you would be hard-pressed to tell the difference between it and the surrounding red of the patio.

Pump House Porch Light

This is our new small porch light for the pump house. Complete with a separate electric eye to control it. Both work like a charm.

Pump House Motion Detector

We also have up in the roof overhang a motion detector light. I didn't know that spot was there when I told Bani that I wanted a porch light installed. If he had said that there was already an overhead light, I probably wouldn't have asked for the porch light. But they both seem to work well with each other, so no problem.

Pump House Interior Light

The last bit of lighting for the pool house is the inside light way up in the ceiling. I opted for an industrial safety-look fixture. Works well.

Floor Drain Under Tape

Before the floor for the pump house was cast, Endher said he was going to install a floor drain for the pump house, just in case. And after it was cast, you couldn't see any sign of it, till he flexed the tape covering and popped of some of the concrete poured over it. This will be cleaned up and it's going to look and work great.

Bruce's Appt. With Dr. Hoy

I mentioned riding with Bruce and Colleen to Dr. Hoy's. Here's a shot of them both going over calendars with Dr. Hoy. He's a very nice, caring man and an excellent eye doctor and surgeon as well. He did my cataract surgery too. You can read all about that on the blog at (http://www.winjama.net/search/label/Dr.%20David%20Hoy%20MD).

The Hour Bar and Grill

After we finished at Dr. Hoy's, it was time for lunch. We stopped at the Bowen family's newest restaurant, the Hour. Lunch was good, the draft Belikin was good too, but I think I still prefer the Riverside Tavern. Something about the ambiance of a pub, or at least an American idea of a pub, at any rate.

Pig on the Hour

The Hour has at least three or four gigantic BBQ pits, made from some sort of industrial tanks. Along with the BBQ pits, they have two or three large smokers as well.

The pig you see here, came just a short time ago from one of their BBQ pits.

This last Wednesday, I went with Doug and Twyla over to Orange Walk Town. It was a three-fold mission. We wanted to visit the Boundary Store - you never know what treasures you might find there. We also wanted to have lunch at Nahil Mayab - I had an outstanding fish burger and fries. And then, our main reason for going, Doug and I both had appointments with Dr. David Hoy of Hoy Eye Center. He and his wife, also an MD, have six clinics throughout Belize.

...Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright, bright

Sun-Shiny day.

-- Written by: Johnny Nash

Doug needed to get new glasses and I needed advice on cataract surgery as my right eye was speedily becoming a definite liability.

To give you an example of how bad things had become with my right eye, take a look at the photo below. Left eye, right eye. I think you can tell the difference. Thankfully, both eyes weren't matching. I'd have been functionally blind.

My Left and Right Eyes

We left Corozal about 7:00 AM, Thursday morning, and arrived in Bellize City about 9:20 AM for a 10:00 appointment. Good thing too as the out-bound lanes of a major roundabout were blocked by a reviewing stand and a whole lot of chairs - not to mention the crowd. They were there to introduce the babes who were in the running for Carnival Queen. Carnival in Belize is held in September to coincide with the 'September Celebrations', The Battle for St. Georges Caye Day (now blandly called 'National Day') on September 10, and Independence Day, September 21.

So, anyway, we got to Hoy Eye Center (http://www.hoyeyecenter.bz/) with plenty of time to spare. You can see Doug in the waiting area below. They started me off with eye drops fairly soon after we arrived and things progressed from there.

Patiently Waiting In The Waiting Area

Here's a glimpse of the main lobby of the Hoy Eye Center. Quite nice with a good selection of frames.

Hoy Eye Center Lobby

Just off the lobby area is a window where you can see the various machines they use for grinding lenses - with 24-hour turn-around service. Doug got examined on Wednesday in Orange Walk and picked up his glasses in Belize City on Thursday morning. Not bad service.

Lens Grinding Equipment

Here's a picture I took of Dr. Hoy amongst some of the equipment in his center. He's very personable and caring. I just can't speak highly enough of him and his staff. Very professional all the way around.

Dr. David Hoy, MD Opthamalogist

Here's a shot I took of the computer screen that shows what the laser took of the inside of my eyeball and the cataract. This gave him the information he needed on where to make the incision to remove the original lens and to insert the replacement.

In conjunction with some other computers, it also gave him the information on how to correct my retinal tearing - the other issue I had going one. Luckily, everything took place in the same eyeball.

My Eyeball According to the Computer

Here's a shot of some of the other equipment in the center. I think this is the one he was looking through for the actual surgery - but, don't quote me on that.

One of the Machines Used On Me

And yet more computer equipment in the room.

Another of the Machines

Here I am, taking a nap. Not really. I was awake throughout the whole procedure. Although, I will admit, the Valium they had me chew just prior to the operation (the aftertaste of which, reminded me of a martini) did make me a tad more relaxed than I actually thought I was.

Yours Truly Full of Anticipation

After the operation, and paying for it (Would you believe, total cost was $1,900 BZD?), we left immediately, with Doug driving, for the Riverside Tavern, which I've written about extensively here before. And, it was a really, really good thing he was driving too. My vision was much improved in one way, the fog of the cataract was gone, but the medication Dr. Hoy had administered to lock my eyeball wasn't going to fade away for about six more hours. Here's an approximation of what I was seeing with both eyes open.

My Improved and Way Off-Kilter Vision

It didn't matter if I was walking, driving or what, I couldn't do it with both eyes open. Going up and down stairs was a really weird experience.

So, anyway, we got to the Riverside without incident and had a very enjoyable lunch and a few beers. When we left, Doug discovered he didn't have the keys to the Isuzu. Oops. Looking inside, there they were in the ignition.

What to do? Doug trotted inside and asked our waiter if they had a locksmith they could call. The waiter came out and zoomed off on his bicycle returning about three minutes later, saying a mechanic would be along 'right now', as they say.

Sure enough about five minutes later, here comes the mechanic pedaling up on his bike. Using a screwdriver and a short length of wire, after struggling mightily with the door for, oh, about seven seconds, he had the door open. Doug gave him $30.00 BZD and we once again were on our way.

This time to get to the Best Western Biltmore Plaza Hotel (http://www.belizebiltmore.com/), on the Northern Highway, just across from Brodies.

They have a gorgeous central area, full of local tropical trees and shrubbery, a pool, a nice tiled bar area and an aviary with parakeets.

BW Biltmore Plaza Pool

First thing we did after checking into our room was to take a nap - at least I did. I think Doug went out exploring the hotel. It's surprising how something like eye surgery, no matter how calm you think you're approaching it, jumps up and lets you know you were a lot more keyed up than you thought. So I slept for about three hours.

Their Parakeet Aviary

After that, we retired to the bar area for a few Belikins and then migrated to the dining room for supper. We both ordered pizza of all things - which turns out, was some of the best pizza either of us have had in Belize.

Then it was back up to the room and by 8:00 PM, both of us were conked out till the morning.

BW Biltmore Plaza Pool Bar

Oh yes. We stayed overnight in Belize City because Dr. Hoy wanted to see me at 8:00 AM the following day to check out his handiwork and make sure I was doing ok.

Another View of the Pool Bar

By morning, my vision had returned to almost normal. No tilt-o-matic, no foggy business, no floaters either. What a relief and no discomfort at all.

Another View of Their Pool

My eyes were in good enough shape that I felt comfortable driving from the hotel to the center. We didn't even have any incidents.

We got over to the Eye Center about a quarter to eight, just as they were raising the roll-up doors. Doug went over to the ATM at Atlantic Bank and I went on in. By the time he got back, I was all done and ready to roll.

On the way back to Corozal, I asked Doug if he would drive as Dr. Hoy didn't want me to watch TV, read or do any computing (don't tell him about this, alright?) for a few days to lessen the strain on the iris and surrounding area. I even bought an eye patch at Brodies to ensure I rested the eye as much as possible.

Dr. Hoy also gave me three sets of drops which I've been taking religiously several times a day. I have to go back to Orange Walk on Wednesday to see him at the clinic for a follow-up appointment.

Again, I have to say, the whole experience was excellent. I have nothing but praise for Dr. Hoy and his whole team. It was a fun experience, which I'll get to repeat in three or four years as he found a small cataract in my left eye. Hey, something to look forward to, right?

One cool thing, besides getting my vision back again (as if that wasn't cool enough), was the fact that included in the price was a DVD that Dr. Hoy shot through the microscope he was viewing the operaton. I've tried to edit it down, but it wasn't that easy to do. So, what I did was capture a few shots of key points during the procedure for your viewing pleasure.

If you're squeamish, you may want to stop here. If not, or if you're being particularly brave today, head on and scroll down. Don't forget to read the warning message however. Oh, also, the photos may appear upside down... That's because Dr. Hoy was sitting at the top of my head, looking toward my feet, so that's the orientation of the photos. Enjoy.