Friday

Ok, it's Friday, 21 October, 2016, and work continues. This is turning into one of those days where it's like a three-ring circus. There is a lot of activity going on.

Ramp Slope is Looking Good

After a lot of filling with fairly fine marl (no big rocks) and a lot of tamping with the very heavy home-made tamper, the slope on the ramps is looking very good. I think Dianna is going to be quite happy with the way the ramps will work for her.

Running Electrical and Plumbing

Plumbing and electrical is being shoehorned into various spaces. One of the things we're having done is re-positioning things like the pump timer and the pool fill valve to be inside the utility room up on the deck. No more running around into the bushes to turn the water on or off or reaching way over the edge of the pool to do that. likewise, we don't have to run down the ramp and into the pump house to turn the pump on. We can just lean into the utility room on the deck and turn it on or off.

Main Water Line

The main water line, that at this point feeds only the house and the pool is being re-routed just under the deck. Hopefully, there will be no more leaks with that system.

Old Deck Lumber

The old deck lumber is going away bit by bit. I'll be glad when it's gone as it gets in the way of parking vehicles.

Column Forms Being Saved

Endher has kept all the small column forms. I don't know if they're going to use them at Bruce and Colleen's place or somewhere else. I guess I don't really care that much either, as long as the forms go away too.

Cutting Plywood for Plastering Guides

If you're wondering what they're cutting plywood into 4-inch strips for, here's why. It's used as a guide for plastering the large columns. They're clipped to the side of the columns and control how thick the mud is applied to each side. Then they can be moved to the other sides and same thing done.

Cleaning Pump House Floor

One of the necessary jobs - that of cleaning all the plastering (parging - although no one calls it that down here) debris off of the floor of the pump house.

New Pool Fill Location

This is just a shot showing the new fill spout to the pool and it's feed line coming from the main line against the house, all just under the deck, once it's concreted.

Pool Filling Pipes

This is the water line going into the utility room. There will be a valve so we can turn the water into the pool on or off easily.

First of Five Span Trusses

Roof Beams or trusses, made of welded C-beams to form a rigid box, have arrived and are being hoisted into place. Two guys, the welder and his assistant, are doing the hoisting and positioning. Each beam is about twenty-four feet long, or so, and weighs in at about 350 pounds.

As They Arrived off the Truck

Here's the remaining five trusses waiting to be carried over, hoisted up, and maneuvered into place. Lot of work for two guys.

Hoisting A Truss Into Position

They jockey the trusses along the edge and adjust them to the tabs that are anchored in the concrete of the chain. Precarious work for sure.

First One In Position

Here's a shot of the first truss in position. They put that one the furthest away so that each succeeding truss seemed easier each time because they didn't have to carry them as far.

Next Truss Coming Up

Here they're bringing in the second truss. Long hummers aren't they?

Hoisting the Next One into Position

Hot, heavy work manhandling each one into position.

Endher Starting Work on the Pool

This is the start of Endher finishing the pool. Finally. It's been a long time to get to this point.

Plastering the Spa

He's moving fast with it too. In just a few minutes, he had advanced through all of the spa and around the far corner behind him.

Putting Roofing Felt Under Beams

They're putting heavy roofing felt under each of the beams to help retard corrosion and rust. That means each beam must be raised and held again while the paper is placed.

Felt Under All the Beams

You can see the paper is wrapped around each beam, and at each end.

Curbing Coming Out by Palm

More changes on the ground. We had a small portion of curbing near the west ramp that really wasn't doing much as it was just a remnant of the previous design. Out it came.

Drilling Additional Anchor Holes

The welder is drilling additional anchor holes adjacent to each beam on the opposite side of the in-place bracket to help reduce any tendency of torsional rotation.

Inserting Steel Anchor Points

His helper then pounds in steel anchor points into the holes. The steel is then welded to the beam.

Lotta Progress

Well, today saw lots of progress being made - even though the Shipyard crew got off to a slow start. They had to wait in Orange Walk for two doors to be loaded into their truck before heading out to Corozal.

Here's a couple of shots that show the utility trench dug from the power pole to the inlet side of the utility room. There's a shunt over to the well house where the power for the well pump and well house lighting now runs. I'll tap into that to power up the lights for the streetside fence.

The trench will stay open till after the water is run from the well house to the house - and a few other places (garden area, cart port, canal end of the house, etc.).

Power Pole Trench With Shunt to Well House

Trench Going to House

Here's a couple of views (I know, these are similar to previous views. Just hold them together and fan 'em. You'll see them magically come to life.) of the house and and the Streetside Fence showing the progress that has been made.

Sreetside fence - The Gate Area

Sreetside fence - Looks Unfinished This Direction

Here's the detail showing the line for the pump inside the well house. I'll simply drill another hole in the bottom of the box to tie the Streetside fence lighting to this circuit.

The other shot shows Isidoro's crew putting finishing touches to the Streetside fence.

Electrics to Well Pump

Finishing Plastering Streetside Fence

Siliconing the pump access hatch. We tend to get a fair amount of water in the well house after rain or even a heavy dew.

The other shot is a view of the fence hiding the garbags site - and to remind me I need to get a hatch made with hinges and latch to go with it.

Sealing the Hatch

Viewing Trash Hole

Isidoro's crew is making fast progress on the last bit of fence. Here they've dismantled the chainlink fence, and by evening had already poured the footing for the wall to come tomorrow.

Laying a level line

Finishing plastering block tops

This is a nice view showing all the scallups of the fence.

Fence Scallops

For some reason, adding doors really makes things seem as though they're coming together. The jamb frames and doors are all made with solid mahogany (Imagine that Stateside - $$$).

Fitting the Jamb

Getting an assist with it

Interior doors looking good, Man! No locks for knobs, yet. Place seems like a carpenter shop with all the sawing and hammering going on.

Our Three Interior Doors

Trimming Streetside Exterior Jam Piece

Showing some of the progress that's been made - drywalling, plastering, and texturing technique.

Drywall Texture and Finish - Living Room

Drywall Texture and Finish - Dining/Kitchen

Discussion is always easy to allow with crews that work as well and as hard as these do. It's been a real pleasure working with guys who know their trade (perhaps by Belizean standards in some cases) and know how to work on their own without direct supervision.

Abraham and Esidoro - Always time for discussion

Jose Camera Inspecting

We're actually moving into some of the finish stuff that floats Dianna's boat - texturing, tiling, cabinetry, painting and lighting.

Texturing - From the Overhead

Boxes of Tiles Waiting for Placement

Again with the discussions! This has just gotta stop. Oh, wait. I'm an enlightened boss. It's fine. Carry on.

Dianna and Jose Discussing Texture

Our drain field fence is dang near finished. Once that and the rest of the fence are done, Isidoro's crew will be done too. It'll seem strange and too quiet.

Finishing the Drain Field Fence

Just to prove to everyone that Dianna's fine and in good spirits after the near-miss with tragedy, we went over to Bob's new digs for home cooked liver and onions with fried potatoes. Yummers! Was it ever good. Bob swears it's because he soaks the liver slices in milk before throwing them on the fire. I think he's right. It does seem to lessen the bitter taste.

Dianna and Bob actually did all the cooking. I posed, looking all official and stuff.

Bob and Dianna

Dave Pretending

You'll notice Bob's counter space is somewhat limited. That's cause he just built it the other day. This house came with bare essentials. So he's been spiffing it up.

We haven't visited with Bob's dog, Sadie for a long time. Now that Bob is back and living near Tony and Nellie, he felt he should retrieve Sadie from Doug and Twyla - the folks who were dog-sitting her for Bob while he was in Cuba.

Sadie's a Great Dog

As Up-To-Date As It Gets - December 16, 2007

Quite a bit of progress to report on this morning.

First is a glimpse of the finished back (or streetside) stairs. Everything looks so smooth with a nice coat of mortar.

Back Stairs Looking Good

Our gate and fence area is coming along quite fast. There should be lots of progress today. Of course, I'll be documenting that as well.

Streetside Gate Area

Streetside Fence Going Up

More Views of the Streetside Fence

More Views of the Streetside Fence

And Again, This Time From the Street

And Again, This Time From the Street

Saturday was a day for folks to bring their families along - partly because the Freezone was open to Belizean's for shopping, not that the money savings are great (duty must still be paid on purchases) but, purchasing items not normally available in Belize is the attraction.

A Young Trainee - Son of Esidoro's Brother

Franz Ozman's Wife and Children

Looking inside the house at some of the changes that have been occurring, more happens just about every day.

Bathroom Floor Drain

Do Instructions Come With This Setup?

Here's the drain field footing with blocks already being mortared into place.

A Nice Soldierly Course

The drain field wall will have two curved corners. Here's a couple of shots of the one that was in the sun when I was shooting.

Nice Curves

Nice Curves

Here's the footings minus the bricks. Lots of concrete goes into these. About 18" wide and up to a foot deep, along with quite a bit of rebar for strength.

More Drain Field Footings

More Drain Field Footings

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Torn right from the society pages of the newspaper...

Here's four of Corozal's social set enjoying a Christmas Banquet and Dance. Sponsored by Saint Paul's By the Sea Anglican Church, the event featured speeches by church dignitaries and notables, Kreol poetry, awards by the dozen, a fabulous turkey dinner, champagne, live music, all al fresco under the big top.

The social event of the year brought together four of Corozal's citizen's for an evening of gaiety and fun.

Jenni Enjoying the Evening's Festivities
(Jenni's photo taken by Nigel)

Nigel Enjoying the Evening's Festivities

Dianna and Dave Caught Up In the Fun

Dianna and Dave Caught Up In the Fun

The band, which hadn't played together in 17 years, and had practiced for 4 days before the event, provided a solid and surprisingly good set. Starting off with slow and soft tunes, and progressing to some roots reggae and some solid dance hall rhythms later, got most of the ladies out on the floor. "Pump it Up!"

Anthony Watson, the bands bassman, is also an electrician, having done numerous projects for the Rider's.

The Evening's Entertainers

Anthony Watson on Bass

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Well to be honest, the food wasn't quite up to banquet standards. The turkey was good, as was the potato salad. The rice was good, but the techniques of preparing stuffing, escaped the chefs. It was pretty dry, as was the champagne.

Anyway, it was a fun evening and the money went to a good cause, to help the church with some of its projects. This was the first event of this sort that the church had tried. This event set the mark, next year's should easily top it.

It felt really strange to put on a socks, sandals, real pants, an actual shirt and, heaven forbid - a tie (which I had to buy since my other ties are still in storage).

Ok, back to construction...

Here's some detail shots of bathroom plumbing, and some of the wiring beginning to appear in the utility room downstairs.

Bathroom Plumbing

Cable and Other Wiring