Rainy Thursday

Thursday, 01 December, 2016, near the end of the workweek. Of course, it has to rain. Off and on, vigorously at times, others just a slight misting.

New Ramp Customized by Nelson

Yesterday evening, shortly after the workers left for the day, I heard Nelson meow loudly and then a sort of crash. What it was, I think, was that Nelson, didn't think a barricade to keep him out was a big deal. He proceeded to climb over it, and it collapsed, causing some scrapes and scratches on the newly poured ramp. Oh, yes. There were also a couple of incriminating kitty foot prints there as well. No harm done in the long term anyway.

Just about ready to start laying block

Rene is setting up a string line getting ready to start laying blocks to rebuild the wall. Progress is moving along.

Pump House Water Source

 I saw what appears to be a leak in the pump house, but I think it's rainwater collecting in the trough of the waterfall and since the pipe isn't hooked up, the water is simply coming back down the pipe and draining into the pump house.

Doggie Barricade

Since it was a gray day, and the fact that every time the workers began to do something, the heavens opened up, they decided that today probably wasn't the best to try and work.

They packed up early and erected a workable barricade across the opening, combining chain line and plastic sheeting. Very effective. Maybe things will be better tomorrow.

One Day of Sunshine Does Not Dry Make

Even with all the rain things have been moving along - slow, but moving along. For all intents and purposes, we're out of Tony's house. Dianna will be going over there today with Edna, our housekeeper, to do a final cleaning of that place. All we'll have left there is the stuff in storage and the generator. All of it waiting for the rain to stop long enough for the road to dry out enough to get the truck in so we can load all of it up.

Here's some pictures of our new (temporary) place, thanks to Canadian Bob, who is still in Cuba. That sounds strange to U.S. folks, but visiting the Godless Reds in Cuba is normal for Canadians. After we get our residency, we're hoping to be able to "v-i-s-i-t" there as well. It's actually pretty easy, contrary to what the US government would have you believe.

The Living Room

We're Just Getting Settled In

The bedroom has already been rearranged from the way it appears in this photo - not due to Dianna's penchant for rearranging furniture, but because the wooden hurricane shutters here do not keep out rain water that is blowing horizontally. Serious leakage problems... (Bob, take note).

Kitty's Expensive Toilet Causes Cramped Conditions in WC

Here's the kitchen. Two deficiencies noted here. A wall outlet right next to the sink at counter level - major shock hazard, and lighting. Bob, why did you put a ceiling fan in the living room and think that it would work as lighting for the living room, kitchen, and bedroom? And you're a guy who likes to cook too! Ever heard of task lighting?

Kitchen Getting Settled

As far as progress on the property. We got the well house/trash doors installed Saturday. They look good!

Well House Door Locked Up

Trash Bin Door

Here's an inside shot of the well house. The boxes are the well parts - the deep-water pump, the pressure tank, and the manifold/wiring kit and gauges.

Well House Contents

I've currently got Isidoro and his crew working on our fence. He's doing the long side first as you can see from the foundation trench below.

Fence Foundation Trench

Working on the trench

Isidoro's going to duplicate the long side of the fence at least for our new next door neighbor - Elsie. Below, she's talking over the fence project for her property with Isidoro.

Esidoro and Elsie Talking Fence Stuff

The padlocks that Owen and Sandy sent us finally arrived yesterday. The package looked like a bomb had gone off, but all the locks arrived safe and sound. Thanks guys, we'll be putting them to good use right away.

Gentle Hands of the International Post Consortium

We have more rain in the forecast. This will impact the fence (we have 120 bags of cement waiting to be delivered, along with a whole bunch of rebar. The road to Tony's needs to dry out so we can remove our stored items from his butcher shop, and the roads need to dry out so Franz can move our house from Shipyard to Corozal!

Rain Delay

What is this, the Northwest? Didn't I say that earlier? What gives? Enough already! We've got work to do here. These continual rain delays really drag these projects out. First, it's tropical waves, then tropical depressions, then tropical storms, then Hurricanes... Now this, pretty much, drizzle punctuated by thunder and a brief heavy downpour and more drizzle.Did I say turn on the waterworks, huh, did I?!

Yesterday, we barely avoided a rain delay, but the guys finished pouring the roofs about two hours before the deluge began, so the roofs had a good chance to set before getting drenched.

Trash House and Well House Roofs Showing Hatches - Trash Above

Trash House and Well House Roofs Showing Hatches - Well Hatch Above

This morning began warm and humid with no breeze to speak of. Good enough to do stuccoing or parging, depending on your wont (not won't - wont, meaning what you're accustomed to in Middle English). Pretty cool word, huh? I haven't used it in years. It just sort of popped up.

Here's the guys removing the outer framing for the forms, leaving the load-bearing parts till tomorrow, as the roof probably isn't strong enough yet to be unsupported.

Pulling off the Outer Frame

Removing Parts of the Forms

After pulling of the frames, they got right to work parging the outside walls. It starts with slinging mud (mortar) at the wall to ensure good adhesion.

Carrying Water

 and Slinging Mud

After the mud has been slung (no political punning intended), then they add an additional coat and begin smoothing it out as below right illustrates.

Slung Mud

and Smooth Mud

And, of course, they're doing the same thing to the septic tank, so that part of the project nears completion as well.

Slinging Mud

and Smoothing Mud on the Tank

And, of course, work stopped at about 11:30AM, because, you guessed it - rain. Followed by more rain and yet more rain. Our driveway from the highway is becoming all but impassable since it consists of about 8 or 9 inches of mud. All this rain just makes the problem worse.

Well, we are in the rainy season. I thought it was supposed to be winding down, but what do I know?