I Forgot To Give This'n A Title

As promised, I said I would include photos of one of the other houses around here that're adding to the changing landscape of the neighborhood.

And, here it is. Well, first, the gate. Featuring the sun and water, it's easily the most artistic gate in the neighborhood and quite striking.

Cool Gate

 The house that goes with it. Mae and Craig built this as a 'spec home'. It's cute with lots of potential and some really well-thought out ideas, besides the gate.

Cool House

For example, it has a crawl space, so piping repairs under the main floor will be a breeze. No need to dig up the concrete and tile floor first. And the roof. Right now it's suited as an observation deck, but can easily be walled in and become a second story for the house.

Ok. Enough of the sales pitch-like stuff.

Here's something entirely different. You may not know it, but satellite dishes here require a license. Our TV dish license from the Belize Public Utility Commission (PUC) costs us about $150.00 BZD annually. Not a big deal as far as such things go.

What is weird - at least for this year is paying for it.  Allow me to explain. We have a savings account with Belize Bank. the PUC has an account with Belize Bank. Ours is with the Corozal Branch, theirs is with the Belize City Branch. Makes sense so far, right?

So, I thought, well, I'll just transfer $150.00 from our account to theirs. Done deal.

Whoa, not so fast there, cowboy. It seems that I have to have the PUC's permission to deposit money into their account automatically. Since I did the transaction online without the intervention of a teller, they had to do it manually for me. Which meant debiting our account for the $150, transferring it to the PUC account and crediting their account $150.00. I'm assuming without PUC's permission.

With me so far? Ok. For that service, Belize Bank had to charge me $10.00 - which they did also without advising me or asking me beforehand.

When I went down to the Corozal Branch to find out why the extra withdrawal from our account, all that above was explained to me. I asked, "Even though it's with the same bank?" "Yes," was the reply.

For next year, I can avoid the fee by having PUC fill out a form that the bank gave me. I also have to fill out part of it and return it to my branch bank. What this form does (it's called a Online Transference Registration form), is the PUC, by filling out their portion, authorizes me to deposit money to their account, thereby avoiding the direct intervention (assistance?) of Belize Bank and their charging me the $10.00 fee.

Isn't that just the most convenient process you ever heard of? Goes without saying that there will probably be some rubber stamping required on the form as well. I wish I had a rubber stamp. It would make it seem so official.

I'm just wondering if it's worth the effort to get PUC to complete the form, or if I should opt to go down to my branch next year, stand in line and manually transfer the money to PUC's account and avoid the extra fee by doing so? I'll have to think about it.

Cheers,

Onward and Upward

Woo Hoo! Guess what we did Monday morning? Doug and Twyla, Dianna and I all went together over to Belmopan for our interview at the Department of Immigration and Nationality.

First though, I took the girls for their daily walk into town. On the way back from collecting the mail, I managed to grab another shot along the waterfront.

Early Fisherman Prepping His Castnet

It took us about 2-hours to make the drive from Corozal to Belmopan, about what it takes to drive to Belize City. It started off kind of rainy, but gradually cleared the closer we got to Belmopan.

When we got to Belmopan, we found a little Italian place for lunch across the street from the Belize National Police Academy. That way we could all ensure we had good, strong odors of garlic just before we went in for our interviews. What were we thinking?

After a bit of fumbling around, we found the Immigration Building and amazingly, a parking spot directly across the street from it.

Doug checked at the main door and found we had to go around to the side entrance for the Nationality and Residence Section, where we sat and waited. Naturally, we got there at about 12:30 PM. Our first appointment was at 1:00 PM, so that meant we still had a good hour and a half wait if Belize punctuality held true.

Here we are all waiting for our interviews. None of us really had a firm idea what to expect. We'd heard stories all over the map, as to what they asked, was there an interview panel, etc., etc.

The Posted Schedule

We checked at the counter, "Was this the right place?"... It was, but they were closed for lunch. We could wait outside, so that's where we waited.

At 1:00 PM, we trooped inside and sat on benches there. We thought it was a lost cause as there were piles of green folders all over - on desks, on top of every filing cabinet, in every filing cabinet, and on top of everything else.

I checked in with the counter clerk who ticked off my name in her log book. Surprisingly, she found our folder on top of one of the file cabinets in about 30 seconds. Wow! Their system really did have a method to the madness.

Showing Lots of Optimism Before Our Interview

Showing a Little Apprehension Before the Interview

At about 1:30, I got called for my interview. No committee, just a single interviewer who only asked 4 or 5 of the most innocuous and mundane questions about our property, why we wanted to become residents, and where we had traveled in the past 10 years. It took about 10 minutes. Dianna was called right after me to the same interviewer.

I came back and sat out front with Doug and Twyla. They were singled out for special attention. They got to go into a private office for their interview. Doug went first, followed in short order by Twyla.

Twyla and Doug Pensively Waiting

We got done - a successfully of course, although Dianna said with her clowning around with the interviewer, that she probably got marked as being "dull" - one of the things that could get you disqualified. As if that was likely to happen with her.

Naturally, while we were being interviewed, it began to rain - at times quite hard. But, by the time we were done, it let up for a few minutes as you can see as the group is leaving the Immigration Building, all quite happy.

What a Relief - It's Over

Immigration Sign

Since we got done with our interviews so early, we had time for a quick trip to Builder's Hardware to do some sight-seeing there. Of course, we weren't expecting to do that, so we hadn't brought our lists of stuff we needed for the guest house. I did get some mildicide for paint and three roller handle extensions.

A bit of a bummer there. While Dianna and I were waiting outside the hardware store, under the awning from the rain, two dogs were running around the parking lot playing. Some asshole came flying into the lot in a pickup and struck one of the dogs who began howling and severely limping away. The driver calmly got out of his truck, took a quick glance at the dog and continued on his way into the store. I asked him (I'm sure in the most calm manner) if he was doing to do anything for the dog. His answer was that it wasn't his fault!

After letting him know what I thought of that answer, we talked to a couple of the workers at the store (the dog had already recovered somewhat and had run off with his playmate). One of the workers said he used to work for the guy and that he treated his workers the same as the dog. I hope he's ready for a bucket-load of karma one of these days.

So, after collecting Doug and Twyla, we zoomed off uneventfully back to Corozal, getting back to our homes about 5:30 PM, just as the light began to fail for the day.

The following day, Tuesday, the workers tackled the roof and worked hard all day, setting up the forms for pouring the roof tying and shaping rebar, and making sure the Polyducto for wiring was all in place.

While they did that, I climbed up to the roof and took a few shots of the surrounding area. Here we are looking toward:

Bob's (our contractor) Place

Robert and Lynn's Almond Tree Inn

View of the Bay Improves

Our Canal Boat Slip-To-Be

A View of the Swimming Pool

Couple of Views of the Swimming Pool

Mae and Craig's Place In the Distance

Our House

 

A Look At the Drain Field Garden

Here's shots of the work actually being done to get ready for the pour.

Back of the Guest House

From the Utility Room Roof

Completing Forms For Concrete

Bob and Isidoro Completing Wiring Using Polyducto

Lots of Polyducto

Bob Supervising

A Splash Screen Set Up To Protect the Pool Deck From Concrete Droplets

The guys thought they might be able to pour Tuesday afternoon. That wasn't the case as the wiring, Polyducto, rebar and forms took too long to get ready. What concerned me was that they had a whole bunch of guys on hand to actually mix and carry the concrete. Since that wasn't happening Tuesday, they climbed on their bicycles and headed home. No one seemed upset about it.

Ready To Pour - But Not Quite

Later, I asked Isidoro how that worked, as far as their pay. He told me they only get paid if they're moving concrete. It wasn't unusual to have to go home without pouring concrete, and since none had regular jobs anyway, they weren't out anything since nothing happened.

Ok. Wow. This is just one example of some of the (from a Gringo perspective) of the severe labor problems and abuses that are an everyday occurrence in this country. As a former Chief union Steward for our local (Washington Federation of State Employees), I can see plenty of opportunities for organizing in probably another 20 or 30 years. In the meantime, no one seemed upset in the least.

While the guys were working at getting ready to pour, we went across the street for a bit to Mae and Craigs place to see more of the progress of their new place. It's really looking good.

Dianna Just Got Luis' Number

Dave and Mae At the Gate

Kelly, Twyla's Brother and Mae

So, on to Wednesday morning. I unlocked the gate at 5:30 AM and by 5:45 AM, guys started riding up waiting for Isidoro and his crew to show up.

The dogs and I left for our walk at 6:00 AM, and by the time we returned at about 7:10, they were better than half done with the pour.

Mix and Fill, Carry and Pour... Repeat Till Done

Vibrating the Poured Concrete

Humping 5-Gallon Buckets Full of Concrete

 Up and Down Home-made Ladders

Mixing Like a House Afire

Hump and Dump

Hump and Dump - A Young Man's Game

Troweling and Floating the Mix Smooth

Troweling and Vibrating the Mix Smooth

By 8:30 AM, the pour was complete. As these things go, it was a small pour. About another half hour cleaning tools and bodies, and then Poof - No workers. Everyone left for the day. My guess is, plum-tuckered out. I would be, or in the hospital.

Happy New Year 2009!

First of all, I'd like to wish everyone a safe, happy and prosperous new years. If everyone would feel as safe and secure as Miss Blue does as she's napping on my office desk.

Miss Blue, Safe and Secure

Well, all except the crooks who caused the financial mess for so many. May they spend an eternity counting pennies and nothing but.

Our walls continue to go up and up. A lot of progress in just a few days. I'm impressed.

Southwest View

Southeast View

A view a little farther away, and one a lot further. Probably in a week or so, work will begin on the roof.

Farther

Further

Views now right from the deck. You can almost see the sliding glass doors.

Esidoro mudding in a switch box

Bob cutting a switch box hole

Esidoro and Bob

Here's a couple of views of the house Mae and Craig are doing across the street from us. I took a break and strolled over to kibitz and sight-see.

Upstairs Back

South Side

Front Quarter

It's looking pretty good. Well, whoever moves in, it'll be nice to have some close-by neighbors.

And again, we're wishing everyone a great new year. Stay safe.

Christmas and Beyond

On Christmas Eve, Jen and Matt, a young Canadian couple staying at the Oasis Guest House, did the catering, cooking, serving, etc., for a north American style Christmas dinner.

The meal featured turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, tasty stuffing, egg-less eggnog (with shots of rum available) and desert (sweet potato pie or black cake - a fruitcake-like affair, very rich).

We were a bit slow on making reservations, so we got in on the second seating - at 5:30 PM, under the palapa at the Oasis.

Below is a shot of the 3:30 PM crowd just finishing up. This being Belize, they were a bit slow. We got seated and served around 6:15 or so, basically right on time or "right now" as the saying here goes.

Early Birds For Christmas Dinner

We brought a bottle of Cabernet to share at our table. It went down very well with the meal, which, by the by, was excellent.

Here's Craig Relaxing After Christmas Dinner

Here's Mae After Christmas Dinner

Here's an update on our guest house. You can see the rough-ins for the plumbing going in, and the forms for the floor pour are almost completed.

Roughed-In Plumbing In Place

More Roughed-In Plumbing

Before pouring the guest house floor, the guys had to finish parging or plastering the inside of the septic tank. They also had to fabricate a temporary wood deck on the septic in order to pour the roof of it. The that and the guest house floor would be poured in one go.

Parging the Septic Tank

A couple of days ago we went over to the house across the street that Mae and Craig are building. I shot a couple view of our place from their upper deck - gives a different perspective.

They sure have a nice view of the bay from up there as well.

Our Place From Mae and Craig's

Another View of Our Place

Our Guest House Area From There

Of course, we toured the house. They've really done a nice job of it, inside and out. We really liked the texturing they have for the downstairs ceiling. So much so that we're planning to do the same thing in our guest house. We also liked the trim pieces on the wood ceiling. And again, we're going to add those to our current house ceiling. It gives it a much more finished look.

Wood Ceiling Treatment

A sad day for the doggies yesterday. My walking partner, Twyla, left to head back to her folks place in Canada, eh? Not permanently, just for 10 days or so. Long enough to bring her mom and dad back down here to paradise for a visit. So, for the doggies, no group walkies early in the morning till she returns. Secret and Cindy and I will still go, but Doug's not into long walkies.

Doug and Twyla invited me to ride with them down to Belize City to see Twyla off, and to go to Benny's Hardware Store, Courts Furniture and Appliances, and Brodie's Supermarket after we dropped her off at the airport.

Doug and Twyla Arriving at Phillip S.W. Goldson International Airport

Doug and Twyla Entering the Phillip S.W. Goldson International Airport

Doug and Twyla Saying Their Farewells

After dropping Twyla off, we zoomed down to Benny's for the serious stuff... I needed a belt sander. That would have been nice to get, but they were closed (Benny's had told Doug a couple of days earlier that they would be open. Hey, it's Belize!). So, off we zoomed to Courts. Uh, same thing. I'm detecting a pattern here. We did notice that traffice in Belize City seems quite light, but were a little slow to put things together.

Then, we decided to try for Brodie's. Ah, success! They were open. We completed our mission involving shopping lists and headed back north toward Corozal.

Along the way, we decided to see if the bakery was open in Orange Walk. Of course, we just happened to pass by Landy's Hardware in OW. They were open, but didn't have what we were looking for.

Last stop, we hoped was the bakery. Yeah, they were open. We each bought a bunch of dietary supplements and headed out of town for Corozal. It's a good thing the bakery isn't in Corozal.

By the time we got home and Doug dropped me off, the workers had finished casting the floor of the guest house. Here's a couple of view of it including the roof for the septic tank and it's hatch.

Guest House Floor Poured

Septic Tank Access Hatch

In the last but not least department, the day before Twyla left, as we were walking the dogs along the waterfront, we happened to spy this heron taking a break from his heavy labors. I thought it made a nice photo.

Great Blue Heron On Corozal Waterfront