“Get Behind the Wheel” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

First job for Rose and I yesterday morning (well after we had wished each other happy anniversary) was to go to the Tropic Air Cargo office to collect the insurance policy that Willard Young of R F & G Insurance had sent over on the 4.30 pm flight the previous day.

With the policy in our possession( at last) we went straight to Captain Shark’s to give it to Enrique so he could get the permit (and license plate) from the San Pedro Town Council Transport Department.

To ‘allow’ Enrique time to do this I went to Estel’s for breakfast (well,why wouldn’t I) and Rose went shopping. Fair division of labour I would say!

After her shopping spree (sic) Rose collected me from Estel’s and we went to Atlantic International Bank‘s branch in Pescador Drive so that I could make another withdrawal (ouch). Unlucky with our timing because it seemed that most (OK so a bit of an exaggeration) of the businesses in town were making deposits (deposits always take so much longer).

With the banking done we rushed (and i do mean rushed) off to Captain Shark’s to collect our golf cart. Unfortunately we are still waiting for the license plates but this didn’t prevent us from taking it away. And I got to make the maiden journey when Rose told me to get behind the wheel.

Proud new (co-) owner. Note the colour co-ordinated polo shirt and shorts. Oh, and the flip-flops too!

On the way back to our rented condo I stopped off at the gas station (petrol station for my UK readers) and filled up the tank for BZ$ 58.00. Should last a little while. Especially whilst the bridge is closed.

Once ‘home’ Rose and I focused on the plans for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize to decide where we want our lighting. This for the 3 am meeting we had planned with Rolando, Daniel Camal’s (our building contractor) plumber/electrician.

It didn’t take us too long (we have been through it so many times before) and by 2.15 pm we set off (in the rented golf cart because we were not returning it until the evening) and got to the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge just before 2.30 pm to find that the repair work was progressing very well.

Pedestrian /bike way very busy.

There has been lots of comment on the island about the bridge and especially that the one/two week repair period will be exceeded. Some believing that it will take at least twice as long. I have a funny feeling that it could be finished by the middle of next week.

As a future frequent user (when our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize is completed) of the bridge I find one aspect of the repairs very interesting. They have dispensed with the girder that ran through the centre of the bridge. This will stop the practice that many of the taxi drivers had of putting one side of the taxi over the girder and taking more than half of the width available. Or if they do, they will have no excuse for not moving over. Anyway, enough of my ramblings.

When we got to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize we saw immediately that the guys had finished laying the ‘blocks for the septic tank/soak-away.

And had applied the first coat of cement.

Up on the First Floor José and Alfonso had finished fitting the grid for the ceiling of the western veranda.

And were busy at work fitting the grid for the southern side.

Rose and I saw Rolando and walked around the First and Ground Floors telling him, on a room by room basis, exactly where we want the light and fan (all fans will have lights as well) fittings. When they are all installed we may well find that we have gone for ‘overkill’ but better to have too much light than not enough is our view.

On finishing our meeting with Rolando we took a quick walk around the rear (lagoon) side of the house to see that the stairs from the ‘master’ bedroom’s veranda are taking shape.

In the evening Rose and I went to Elvis’ Kitchen (in Pescador Drive) for a celebratory first anniversary dinner in Ambergris Caye and ‘went for’ the buffet which, at BZ$ 50, is exceptionally good value. I rarely take the camera with me when we go for a meal so you will just have to trust me (or not). Plenty of choice and as much as you can eat.

The headline for today’s edition is based on track six of the 2009 album entitled “Fork in the Road” by Neil Young which reached number nineteen in the US Billboard Hot 200 and number twenty-two in the UK Albums Chart.

“Slow Hand” for Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Oh, meant to mention in the previous edition that Daniel Camal, our building contractor, has located where the windows for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize are. Miami! So, a little while yet before we get to see them. Just hope that this does not delay the finish.

Yesterday. as soon as the office was open (8.30 am), I made contact with Willard Young of R F & G Insurance to try to arrange insurance for our golf cart. He was extremely helpful and told me that once he had the necessary documentation from me via email (information/photo page from my Passport, copy of my “QRP” ID card and a copy of my Belize Drivers License) he would get to work producing the paperwork and send it to me via Tropic Air. I already had photos of all that he wanted so it only took a few minutes to email him what he needed.

Thought the processing for the insurance would be relatively straightforward and quick but this wasn’t the case! Willard ‘phoned me three or four times during the course of the day and as the hours went by I had serious doubts that the policy would arrive so that we could get our golf cart.

As the hours passed by my misgivings became stronger and at 3.30 pm Rose and I concluded that we had waited enough and decided to go look at what was going on at our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. I hadn’t been driving very long when my ‘phone rang. It was Willard, the policy would be on the 4.30 pm Tropic Air flight to San Pedro. Too late for us to get the permit for our golf cart but… Either Willard had a lot of paperwork to complete for our policy or he has a slow hand when it comes to filling in forms!

Relieved (perhaps me more than Rose – boys toys and all that) by the knowledge that we would get the cart the next day we arrived at our build Ambergris Caye, Belize around 4 pm and after parking our rented golf cart went straight to the Ground Floor to see that José and Alfonso had completed fitting the ceiling grids in the Store Room/Garage.

The ‘home’ for our new golf cart!

It was still very wet and muddy around the northern side of the house so we looked through the kitchen window of the Ground Floor self-contained apartment to see how work on the septic tank/soak-away was progressing and were extremely surprised to see that not only had they fitted the rebar frame but had started laying the concrete blocks.

(From left to right) Eduardo, Martin, Nicholas and Angel at work whilst Porfelio looks on.

The two younger members of the team, Miguel and Apollito, at the ready with the cement.

Nicholas ‘threading’ the rebar rod through a ‘block.

And it’s in!

Satisfied with the progress on the ‘tank we went up to the First Floor to find José and Alfonso – now that the cantilever beams have had their finishing coat of cement – fixing the ceiling grids for the western veranda ceiling.

With nothing else being done on the First Floor Rose and I ‘took’ the scaffold up to the Second Floor where we found Rolando, the plumber/electrician – assisted by Rafael (aka The Frog) – installing the wiring for the sockets, switches and lights.

Wiring for the lighting in the Master Bedroom begins.

Our timing was perfect because Rolando had been waiting for us to let him know exactly how many lights we want and where we want them to be. Rose, with the encyclopedic memory she has for this type of thing, was able to answer his questions very easily and quickly. We have arranged to meet Rolando today (Friday) at 3 pm so that we can tell him the lighting layout for the Ground and First Floors.

With Rolando knowing what we want we decided to head off home but on the way out saw that Porfelio had finished laying the blocks for the first flight of the entrance stairway.

Now for the cement coats!

Today is one year to the day that Rose and I, after leaving the UK, arrived in Ambergris Caye, Belize so I need to put my ‘thinking cap’ on to decide where we will go this evening to celebrate our first anniversary. Wherever it is I hope we go there in our new golf cart!

The headline is based on the single released in 1981 by The Pointer Sisters which reached number two in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number ten in the UK Singles Chart.

“Feeling Good” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Picked up the tile sample that Jesus Cervantes of The Tile & Stone Center had sent to us via Tropic Air on Tuesday evening and with just one look at it Rose and I knew that we had the replacement for the unavailable Real Stone Gris that had been our first choice.

So, with the decision made, I fired off an email to Jesus yesterday morning to ascertain if he had sufficient stock of the tile to meet our requirements. Within minutes I had a response advising that he has 13,000 square feet in stock. We only need just over a tenth of this so what could have been a problem for us has been resolved. And, very quickly.

Then spent a bit of time exchanging emails with FC Exchange to make sure that payment to Captain Shark’s ( the balance for the golf cart we are buying) was being processed. It was, so ‘all systems go’!

At around 11.30 I got an email from Enrique at Captain Shark’s advising that the final payment had been received (FC Exchange is exceptionally quick at processing transactions) and that our golf cart is ready for collection today. We just needed to pop down to the store to choose our wheel rims. So off Rose and I went.

Just the insurance to sort out (will contact R F& G Insurance as soon as the office opens today) and collect the permit and number plate from the San Pedro Town Council’s Transport Department and we will have our own ‘wheels’!

Feeling good Rose and I set off at around 3 pm to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and, because of the walk from the northern side of the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge (because of its closure for essential repairs/maintenance work) got there around 3.30 pm.

As we approached the house we could see José at work in the Store Room/ Garage fitting ceiling grids.

The final room on the Ground Floor.

In to the self-contained apartment where we saw the living/kitchen room area fully fitted with the ceiling grids.

Through to the ‘master’ bedroom and out on to the veranda to find that the rebar (bet you rebar ‘haters’ thought that you had seen the last of this word!) had been fitted for the stairs.

Just need the form boards to be fitted and the concrete can be poured.

Next we went up to the First Floor to find Sam applying the finishing coat of cement to the cantilever beams.

Sam at work on the final beam.

The beam in the south-west corner already finished.

Just around the corner on the southern veranda Martin was at work applying the finishing coat to the underside of the Second Floor veranda.

As we walked around we could see that Rolando, the plumber/electrician, has been busy at work running the wiring for the external power sockets (there will two power sockets on each of the exterior walls – so eight in total on this floor).

Eastern side of First Floor veranda.

Northern side of First Floor veranda.

Looking down to ground level we could see that the hole (although full of water from the rain) for the septic tank/soak-away had been completed.

View at ground level.

As we departed our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize we saw Porfelio at work laying the last of the blocks to close the gap under the stairway to the First Floor.

And because only small amounts of cement were required Miguel was ‘knocking-up’ by hand.

Over by the bodega Angel and Eduardo were creating the rebar (knew I would get another opportunity to mention rebar!) frame for the septic tank/soak-away.

Just a few more rods required for the base.

The headline is based on track seven of Nina Simone’s 1965 album entitled “I Put a Spell on You” which reached number ninety-nine in the US Billboard Hot 200 and number eighteen in the UK Albums Chart.

“Move It On Over” to Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Woke around 3 am yesterday morning (didn’t get up until around 4.10 am though) to the sound of pouring rain. Exactly the same sound I had gone to sleep listening to the night before. It continued right the way through until around 6.20 am and then returned intermittently for most of the morning.

A very grey sky at 5.30 am.

Got an email from Daniel Camal, our building contractor, on Monday (in response to one from me) advising that it is OK for us to ‘press the button’ on getting the stuff we have in storage in the UK shipped to us. So yesterday morning I ‘fired off’ an email to Excess International Movers asking them to move it on over.

In his email Daniel also advised that he was going to Belize City to ‘chase up’ on our consignment of windows and sliding doors from the States, place an order for the tiles at The Tile & Stone Center and place an order for light fittings at Benny’s. All of these items being, of course, for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Just as Rose and I were preparing to leave our rented condo we received a call from Daniel advising that the tile we had chosen for the entrance stairs and First Floor veranda was ‘out of stock’ and would take nine weeks to manufacture sufficient stock for our needs. Not wishing to delay things I ‘phoned Jesus Cervantes at The Tile & Stone Center and asked him what tiles he had in stock that closely matched our original choice. He responded positively and advised that he would send a sample to us on the 4.30 pm Tropic Air flight to San Pedro.

With arrangements in place for the replacement tile sample made Rose and I set off to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. By this time it was 2.45 pm and we were ‘running’ slightly later than normal but luck came our way as we were approaching the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge and saw Rafael (one of Daniel’s guys) in front of us on his bike. Knowing that he would have the truck on the other side of the ‘Bridge we parked the golf cart quickly and caught up with him and managed to secure a lift.

Once at the build we made immediately for the Ground Floor where we saw Nicholas at work laying a coat of cement for the Store Room/Garage floor.

A walk in to the self-contained apartment and we could see that José had been busy at work fitting the ceiling grids.

Fitted in the bathroom for the ‘master’ bedroom.

And for the ‘master’ bedroom too.

They had also finished laying the cement for the floor.

Final sections completed.

Outside on the veranda we could see that work had begun on creating the stairs (a late revision to our plans) that will provide easier access to the rear garden.

Base poured and rebar in place.

As we left the apartment we saw José busy at work fitting the ceiling grids for the living/kitchen area.

José at work on the final room in the self-contained apartment.

On the way to the First Floor we were going to take a quick look to see how the digging for the septic tank and soak-away was going but saw straight away that the heavy rain had put a stop to any work.

Waterlogged area in front of where the septic tank will be.

Up on the First Floor Sam, assisted by Miguel, was applying the final coat of cement to the cantilever beams.

On the last of the ‘beams.

Although we knew that there was no work taking place on the Second Floor Rose and I climbed the scaffolding to take final measurements for the walk-in closets that we have to produce our designs for.

Whilst up there we could see just how badly the roof terrace and veranda areas need the final coat of cement to provide the necessary gradient for rainwater to ‘run away’ via the pipes in the veranda walls.

South-east corner of the roof terrace.

By now it was time for Rose and I to head home and on leaving our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize we could see that Nicholas was just waiting for the cement to dry a little before he applied the smooth finish for the floor of the Store Room/Garage.

The headline is based on the 1947 single by Hank Williams which reached number four in the US Billboard Country Singles chart.

“The Winner Takes It All” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Rose and I have enjoyed a really lazy weekend so far. I ‘say’ so far because it’s a public holiday today so the weekend is an extended one.

We did go to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize on Saturday though and progress continues to be made although until the windows and sliding doors arrive from America progress appears so much slower than it has previously been.

We had been ‘warned’ that this would be the case but nonetheless we still have expectations (unrealistic we know) that we will see material changes from one day to the next. So to those of you that are going to embark on having your home built in Belize (and I suppose anywhere else for that matter) be prepared for the length of time that the final stages will take.

When we got to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize on Saturday we started off looking around the Ground Floor self-contained apartment where we were pleased to see that Martin was applying the final coat of cement to the ceiling for the veranda above the ‘master’ bedroom.

Rose and I then proceeded to the First Floor and on finding it a bit like the Marie Céleste very quickly climbed the scaffold and got to the Second Floor (we knew that the guys were up there because we could hear music booming out).

This little unit ‘gave out’ some seriously loud sounds.

In to Rose’s bathroom and we found that José and Alfonso had finished fitting the ceiling grids.

And they had also finished my bathroom too!

Out on the roof/veranda areas Nicholas had finished cementing the floor in the south-west corner.

Having done so the guys were now concentrating their efforts on the northern side of the roof terrace.

Section of floor adjoining the exterior wall finished.

And the guys were busy laying the next section.

Now that we have the concrete seat and table up on the roof terrace it is so much more comfortable for us(!) to watch the guys at work. We also get to admire the scenery.

View to the west – the lagoon.

Whilst we were sitting there the guys were packing up for the day and having said our goodbyes Rose and I followed them down the scaffolding. Before leaving our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize though it was good to see that our store room/garage was being put to good use.

Just about fits in there.

Before leaving we took a walk around the house and could see that the digging for where the septic tank and soak-away will go had really progressed.

And around the back of the house, with the landfill underway, the garden is starting to take shape.

Having finished this edition I am now going to get ready (Rose isn’t coming with me) to go to Pedro’s Hotel to have breakfast with Peter (aka Pedro) whilst we watch the Crystal Palace v Watford play-off final that will decide which one of the two teams get promoted to the hugely lucrative Premier League. The loser stays in the npower Championship. Definitely a case of “the winner takes it all”!

The headline is based on the 1980 single by ABBA which reached number one in the UK Singles Chart and number eight in the US Billboard Hot 100.

“Walking the Dog” in Ambergris Caye,Belize.

Have spent (more of it yesterday) what seems like an interminable amount of time (the +7 hour time difference doesn’t help!) communicating with the relocation company we are using in the UK (Excess International Movers) to ship some of our old household items and personal possessions to us in Ambergris Caye (as opposed to Belize City) for inspection by Customs.

Haven’t got a ‘yes’ yet, but then again I haven’t got a ‘no’. So it remains a challenge on my ‘to do’ list.

I then turned my attention to trying to obtain further indicative costings for shipping any online purchases (TVs , dinnerware, pots and pans, etc) we might make in the States for our build in Ambergris Caye,Belize. Having already obtained information from Hyde Shipping I sent emails to M A Pariente, Manray Express and Eurocaribe and now await replies so that Rose and I can decide whether to proceed with this approach or not.

We did visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize yesterday afternoon but I got lazy when we got home and didn’t publish an edition of this blog. Deciding instead to publish a ‘double issue’ today!

So without further ado here is what we saw and experienced during the last two days:

YESTERDAY (23 May, 2013)

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When Rose and I got to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize around 3 pm yesterday afternoon we again found Martin at work in the Ground Floor self-contained apartment. He had moved to the hallway that connects the two bedrooms to the living/kitchen area.

Finishing coat of cement for one of the columns in the hallway.

Starting to look like it is ready for painting.

Outside Porfelio was still working on the stairs but was now applying the finishing coat.

There was no ‘action’ on the First Floor and not being able to access the Second Floor (no scaffolding or ladder for Rose and I to use) we contented ourselves with a walk around the house and were pleased to see that work had begun on digging the hole for the septic tank.

It needs to get a lot bigger than this!

TODAY (24 May, 2013)

Around 8.30 am this morning I received an email from Captain Shark’s advising me that our golf cart has arrived in Belize City and will be available for us either Thursday or Friday next week.

Knowing that we had to go to both Atlantic Bank and Belize Bank to sort out a few things Rose and I decided to ‘celebrate’ (Rose goes out for breakfast rarely) the good news about our golf cart by going to Estel’s for breakfast. Whilst we were there we saw the common, but nonetheless eye-catching, attention grabbing sight of the guy walking the dogs.

Taking the step in unison.

Following our very enjoyable breakfast we quickly took care of the banking matters and headed off home. Stopping off on the way though to pop in to Captain Shark’s to make certain that next Monday’s public holiday would not affect the delivery date for our golf cart. Don’t want to cancel the one we are renting unless we are certain we have the replacement!

Following a bite to eat for lunch we headed off to Tres Cocos to see how our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize was progressing and were really pleased that (having parked the golf cart) we saw Daniel Camal, our building contractor, in front of us as we were walking across the bridge. Result, we had a lift!

Within minutes – in an air conditioned environment – we arrived at the site and went up the stairs and saw immediately that Martin, assisted by Appolita, was applying cement to the walls in the store room on the Ground Floor.

Pleased with this we went straight to the First Floor, noticing on the way, that the stairs that
Porfelio had worked on yesterday, were starting to dry out (OK, cure).

With no one working on the First Floor I climbed (intrepidly) the scaffold to gain access to the Second Floor to see that work had begun on the veranda floors.

Eastern veranda floor.

Just around the corner I found Nicholas (the happy new father) busily striking lines for the floor of the northern side of the veranda.

Probably thinking about his new baby son, Nathan Nicholas!

Not far away I could see that José and his assistant Alfonso (aka The Wolfman) were fixing the ceiling grids for the veranda ceiling (or is it roof?).

Very pleased with progress on our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize Rose and I headed home.

The headline is based on the 1963 single by Rufus Thomas which reached number ten in the US Billboard Hot 100.

“Daddy Cool” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Up yesterday just before 4 am and managed to publish an edition of this blog before the Internet started playing up. Really strange. I could open and send emails but couldn’t access the web. Denied The Times online there was only one course of action I could take. Estel’s for breakfast!

When I returned to the condo we are renting I ‘phoned Coral Cable (the company we get our Internet and TV services from) to be told that the problem with the Internet was island wide and that they were ‘working on it’.

There was a connection but it was intermittent and getting frustrated with having a connection and then not, I retreated to the beach with my Kindle. And very relaxing it was too.

Thoroughly ‘chilled out’ after around 90 minutes on the beach I returned to the condo and Rose and I had a light lunch and then set off for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and got there just after 2.30 pm.

On arrival it was difficult not to notice that Portfelio was working on the entrance stairway applying the final coat of cement in preparation for when the tiles are laid.

The second flight.

Moving aside – always the perfect gentleman – to allow us to access the First Floor where, on looking up, we could see that José and, his assistant, Alfonso (aka The Wolfman) were busy at work fitting the ceiling grids for the ceiling above where the stairs to the Second Floor will end.

Seeing that the scaffolding was back I was able to clamber up to see what was going on at close quarters.

On the western (lagoon) side veranda Eduardo had made a good start on laying the final coat of cement for the floor.

And on the eastern side the lines had been struck.

On the southern veranda Nicholas was busying at work laying the second of the two lines that will be used to lay the floor.

Whilst I was watching Nicholas at work his ‘phone rang. He had got a call to inform him that his first child, a baby boy to be called Nathan Nicholas, had just been born. Nicholas, although obviously excited, calmly (well he looked calm to me) completed striking the line and then proceeded to wash his tools. Daddy cool personified.

This cool persona very quickly disappeared as he changed from his work clothes (using my walk-in closet as his changing room I might add), ran down the stairs and sped off on his bike.

Rose and I send our best wishes to Nicholas (and of course his wife). He is an extremely likeable and polite young man and we are certain that he will make a great dad.

With the excitement over I rejoined Rose on the First Floor and we went down to the Ground Floor to find that Martin – working alone in the self-contained apartment – had finished applying the final coat of cement for the columns in the living/kitchen area.

Outside the house on the southern (I had noticed this when on the Second Floor) side two guys were busy at work digging a very large hole.

This hole will be where the final rubbish from our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize will be buried(land filled) and will not be covered until the end of the project.

The headline is based on the 1976 single by Boney M which reached number six in the UK Singles Chart and number sixty-five in the US Billboard Hot 100.

“Walking Back to Happiness” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Enjoyed a beautiful breezy early (got out there just after 4 am – early to bed, early to rise) morning on the veranda yesterday. Caught up with the UK news – paying special attention to the Sports’ pages to see if Arsenal had made any early forays in the transfer market (nope).

Up-to-date with the news I then gave the instructions (online) to FC Exchange to pay Benny’s for the appliances that we have ordered for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. With the payment made I now just need to organise the barge delivery from Belize City to Ambergris Caye. Another task to go on to the ‘to do list’.

Rose and I (well Rose more than me) then spent time finalising the designs for the closets in the ‘master bedroom’ in the Ground Floor self-contained apartment and the First Floor bedroom (Rose’s handicraft room) for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. We will review these one more time to make certain that we are ‘happy’ with them before sending them to Daniel Camal our building contractor. Just the designs for our respective walk-in closets on the Second Floor to be done now!

With our ‘office based’ tasks out of the way Rose and I set off to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and parked the golf cart just south of the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge for the walk across it and were pleased to see that the repair work was underway.

The southern side.

Plates being removed.

It didn’t take us too long to complete the half mile walk but we were quite hot by the time we got there. It didn’t bother us though because we feel like we are walking back to happiness ( OK I agree this is probably my worst segue for a headline yet).

When we got there we didn’t stop for a rest though. We wanted to see what progress had been made so we went straight up the ramp to the Ground Floor where we could see that Martin had just finished applying the final coat of cement to the last of the columns.

With no other action we headed up the steps to the First Floor where we saw straight away that work had started on laying the final coat of cement for the veranda

And to our right Eduardo was working his way towards us.

Straight ahead of us Jose’s assistant (will find out his name today) was well on the way in fitting the ceiling grids in the bedroom (Rose’s handicraft room).

Having finished fitting the ‘grids in the living room area.

From the living room we could see that the floor for the veranda (on the lagoon side) had been finished.

We could hear activity on the Second Floor but with no access from within we descended the stairs and walked around to the back of the house. On the way out though we old see a sailing boat going by.

Taken from where our front door will be.

Around the back of the house we looked up and could see Nicholas busy at work on his own laying the final course of cement for the western ( lagoon) veranda.

The headline is based on the 1961 single by (the then) fifteen year old Helen Shapiro which reached number one in the UK Singles Chart but only number one hundred in the US Billboard Hot 100.

“Need You Now” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Started the day yesterday – obviously with a mug of coffee on the veranda – researching the prices of the remaining items (TVs, dinnerware, mattresses, etc,) we need to purchase for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize

On checking my In Box I found that I had received an email (in response to my enquiry) from Hyde Shipping which provided detail for the charges for transportation from their warehouse in Medley, Florida to Belize City. Just need now to get prices for moving the stuff from Belize City to Ambergris Caye and I can get the calculator out to make the cost comparisons versus buying the stuff in Belize.

Knowing that the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge (which connects the southern and northern ends of Ambergris Caye) is closed for repairs (they closed it at midnight on Saturday) Rose and I set off to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize slightly earlier than usual.

Parking the golf cart at a friend’s house who lives just south of the ‘Bridge, Rose and I made the half a mile walk to our house. This will be our routine for the next week or two. Enforced exercise!

As we drew closer to the build the sound of birds chirping (amazing how much more you hear (and see for that matter) when you are not in a golf cart) was joined by the sound of a cement mixer. Obviously they had managed to effect the necessary repairs

As we walked up the drive (OK there isn’t one there yet but there will be -one day) we could see that Martin and Eduardo were busy at work applying the finishing coat of cement to the external wall behind the staircase.

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Martin in the foreground.

Up the steps to the Ground Floor and we saw that they had already finished the external wall of the self-contained apartment.

Drying out nicely.

With no more ‘action’ to see on the Ground Floor we took the stairs to the First Floor and saw straight away that the ceiling grids had been fitted in the hallway.

Ready for the Sheetrock (plasterboard).

To the left (south) we saw that they had finished laying the cement floors in the bedroom (Rose’s handicraft room) and en-suite bathroom.

Bedroom (sic).

En-suite.

Just around the corner , on the northern side, they had finished laying the major section of the veranda floor.

And had started to ‘sweep’ around to the western (lagoon) side veranda.

Inside the house Jose’s assistant was measuring and then cutting the ceiling grids to the required size.

And then joining Jose to fix them in place.

The remaining section in the living room area leaving just the bedroom and en-suite to do on the First Floor.

Porfelio admiring the view during break time.

Until the windows arrive (hopefully this week) the focus will be on fixing the ceiling grids , finishing the floors and all walls (not many) that do not include windows. For progress versus schedule to be maintained, windows we need you now!

The headline is based on the title of the album by Lady Antebellum (released in 2010) which reached number one in the US Billboard Hot 200 and number eight in the UK Albums Chart. The title track of the album also reached number two (in 2009) in the US Billboard Hot 100.

“It’s a Beautiful Day” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

On Saturday morning – after I had read The Times online – I sent an email to Hyde Shipping to try to get an indication of what the cost would be for shipping some household items (if we purchase online) from Miami.

I just detailed the type of things we would like to ship here as opposed to detailed specifications ie size dimensions and weight, and am hopeful, given their experience, that this will be sufficient for them to provide a reasonably good estimate of what the cost would be. This would be adequate for us to produce a ‘ballpark’ comparison versus purchasing the stuff in Belize.

I then set off to the Belize Express Water Taxi terminal near the Tackle Box to collect our friends Dave and Frank (who are serving members of BATSUB) who arrived on the 9 am departure from Belize City and ‘deliver’ them to Pedro’s Inn which is where they stay when they come to the island for a bit of R & R. Not too sure that when they come here they get too must rest or rehabilitation. Lots of Belikin though!

After lunch Rose and I collected Dave and Frank (oh and Ziggy who is Frank’s dog) and took them to see progress on our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. Dave last visited around six weeks ago but Frank hasn’t visited our lot in Tres Cocos since the land was cleared and the posts were placed to indicate where the house would be built.

When we arrived Dave was surprised by the progress but Frank was absolutely gobsmacked and even more so when we gave them both a tour. As we gave the tour Rose and I looked to see what had been done since we visited the previous day.

Lines struck for the floor on the First Floor northern side veranda.

Jose and his assistant had also made good progress fixing the ceiling grids in the dining/kitchen area.

And Nicholas, working with his elder brother Angel, was busy at work laying the floor in the bedroom (Rose’s handicraft room).

Nicholas -soon to be a father- with the feather edge.

And sharing the ‘load’ with his brother Angel.

On the southern side of the First Floor Sam and Eduardo were laying the floor for the veranda.

Sam nearly there.

With no scaffolding inside the house to provide access to the Second Floor we descended the stairs and took a walk around to the back of the house (the lagoon side) and looking up we could see Martin, assisted by young Miguel, finishing the wall of the roof.

After leaving our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize we stopped off at the island’s newest bar –Carlo & Ernie’s Runway Bar & Grill– for a few much needed Belikins.

Sleeping very well on Saturday night (wonder why?) Rose and I got up yesterday morning and after showering and dressing set off to Pedro’s Inn to join Dave and Frank for breakfast before Arsenal’s final ‘need to win ‘ game against Newcastle.

Arsenal didn’t play brilliantly but did secure a one nil win. So Champions League football next season. Nearly just as good was the fact that I won my BZ$100 bet made months ago with Peter (aka Pedro) “he of little faith” Lawrence that Arsenal would finish in the top four. Couldn’t help but conclude that it’s a beautiful day to be on Ambergris Caye!

The headline is based on the 2013 release by Michael Bublé which reached number ninety-four in the US Billboard Hot100 and number ten in the UK Singles Chart.

“Let’s Do It Again” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Yesterday morning I spent a bit of time ‘bouncing’ emails between myself and Benny’s trying to secure an improvement on the discount they had offered on the appliances (ovens (ranges), microwaves, refrigerators, washer and dryer) we need for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. Pleased to say that eventually I did get a small (every bit helps!) improvement so we are ready now to formally place an order.

With that out of the way I sent an email to Daniel Camal, our building contractor, in which I detailed the dimensions for all of the appliances we have chosen so that he has the necessary information for when the kitchen (Ground Floor and First Floor) and Utility Room cabinetry and countertops are installed.

Rose and I then made a visit to F C’s Aluminum in Sea Grape Drive to enquire about having an aluminium (English spelling) cargo box made for our new golf cart. We want one that we can bolt on when we need it or take it out if we need the back seats for passengers. He is going to think about the design and revert to us with a price.

We then set off for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and got there around 2.30 pm to find an eyrie silence. No sound of the cement mixer at work! It became patently obvious why this was so when we saw Porfelio and Angel peering at the engine compartment of the yellow ‘mixer.

A ‘sick’ ‘mixer.

They had already tried to get the red ‘mixer to work but it was ‘sick’ too.

Not expecting much to be going on we went up to the First Floor and were pleasantly surprised to see that a number of the guys were working on the inside of the veranda walls. We had assumed (wrongly it transpired) that they had applied the finishing coat of cement.

Sam at work in the north-east corner.

North-west corner already completed.

Southern wall finished.

In to the First Floor where we found Jose at work fitting the ceiling grids for the Sheetrock (plasterboard).

Dining room area nearly finished.

Hearing noise above us but not being able to access the Second Floor (the internal scaffolding had been removed for use outside) Rose and I went down the stairs and around to the back of the house and on looking up saw that Martin was at work on the wall of the roof.

A shout up to Martin and we found out the reason- one section was thicker (too much cement being applied) than the rest and Daniel had said “let’s do it again”!

With no ‘mixers working young Miguel was knocking-up the cement on the Second Floor ( at least it meant he didn’t have to carry the buckets as far!).

Miguel mixing the cement.

A close up.

And Martin set about applying the correct thickness.

Loading the hawk.

Applying (flicking) the cement.

Using the feather edge.

The finishing touch!

The headline is based on the 1975 single by The Staple Singers which reached number one in the US Billboard Hot 100.

“On the Floor” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Spent some time yesterday morning exchanging emails with Benny’s firming up on the appliances Rose and I have chosen for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Pleased to say that following this exchange we have decided what we want for both the (our) kitchen on the First Floor and for the kitchen in the Ground Floor self-contained apartment. Prices agreed and Benny’s will hold the goods ‘in store’ until we are ready to take delivery of them.

I now just need to provide them with proof of my acceptance in to the “QRP” ( so that import duty is not applied) and arrange payment (ouch). Oh, and organise arrangements for a barge to get them to Ambergris Caye.

Next job for Rose and I now is to choose the TVs we would like, get prices from Benny’s and compare these to buying on-line (and arranging/paying for shipping) from the States.

I then sent an email to Excess International (the company we are using to ship the household goods and personal effects we put in to storage before we left the UK) to establish if they can deliver direct to Ambergris Caye as opposed to Belize City.

The duration to get our stuff to us is between seven to ten weeks so with our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize scheduled to be complete around mid-July the time to ‘press the button’ is around now.

Whilst I was taking care of shipping arrangements Rose spent time reviewing her designs for the wardrobes and our walk-in closets. We will review these one more time before handing them over to Daniel Camal, our building contractor, early next week.

We then took it in turns extracting Marley (the coconut tree we have been nurturing on the veranda of our rented condo) from the pot so that we could transport it (or him as Rose prefers) for planting at our new home to join the other twenty-nine coconut trees that we planted back in November.

Marley (on the left) when we took it (him) home for planting last November.

Pleased with our morning’s work Rose and I had a bite to eat for lunch and set off, along with Marley, for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and got there around 3.30 pm.

Marley made it safe and sound. Look how it (he) has grown.

We had already decided where to plant it (him) so it was just a case of borrowing a shovel from the guys, digging a hole and planting it (him).

At home at last. Marley moves in before we do!

With our gardening duties out of the way we proceeded to the house to see what progress had been made and went straight to the First Floor to find that Jose had started work on fitting the ceiling grids that the Sheetrock (plasterboard for UK readers) will be fixed to.

Installation of the ‘grids for the Utility Room ceiling finished.

And work was underway fitting the ‘grids for the dining room area.

Across the room Eduardo was on the floor applying the finishing coat of cement in the living room area.

The final sections of the floor for the hallway had been completed.

As we were leaving Nicholas was finishing off striking the lines in the en-suite bathroom for the bedroom (Rose’s handicraft room).

The headline is based on the 2011 single by Jennifer Lopez which reached number three in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one in the UK Singles Chart.

“Baby Boy” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

A really lazy morning for me yesterday. A couple of email exchanges with Benny’s in respect of appliances (oven(range for non UK readers), microwave and refrigerator) for the Ground Floor self-contained apartment of our build in Ambergris Caye,Belize to fully understand the quotation that they sent me and my administrative tasks for the day were completed. Easy.

I next took a drive to the lots that we have in Fire Coral Street (the San Pablo area) to see if the area in front of them had been cleared of the car carcasses that were there when I last visited. Pleased to say that all of the broken down vehicles had been removed (OK some of the parts e.g. an engine had been dumped on our land to join the brush and plastic bags) and it was a lot,lot more presentable. Perhaps my letter to the Mayor (even though it did not receive the courtesy of a response) may have worked after all.

Rose and I had thought that our visit to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize yesterday would -because of the planned one/two week closure of the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge- mean parking the golf cart on the southern side and walking (the bridge will be operational for pedestrian and bicycle access) the half mile to the house. I had picked up the news though (when taking my daily read of the Ambergris Caye Forum) that the closure has been delayed until midnight on Saturday.

We got there slightly earlier than usual at around 2.15 pm to not unsurprisingly find the guys busy laying the finishing coat of cement for the floors.

Hallway for the First Floor entrance.

From another angle.

A walk-around the house using the veranda and we could see that they had started to strike the lines on the northern veranda.

And once we got around to the western (lagoon) side we could see that they had nearly finished laying the floor for the kitchen/dining room areas.

We spent a little time talking to Nicholas about the next stages of the build and during the course of our chat we found out that his baby boy Nathan Nicholas) is due to be born next Monday. Looks like Nicholas might be missing for a day or two next week!

We then took (OK we climbed) the scaffold up to the Second Floor and saw that they had made a good start on laying the floor for the Master Bedroom).

And had also made a good start on Rose’s bathroom.

Where the toilet will go.

Vanity unit area.

Down on the Ground Floor Jose had started work on creating shelving in the shower area for the larger of the (for the ‘master bedroom’) two en-suite bathrooms in the self-contained apartment.

Blue arrow indicates where another shelf will be created and the blue arrow shows where a recessed shelf will be made.

Whilst we were down on the Ground Floor Daniel Camal, our building contractor, arrived and we were able to tell him that we would like a set of steps built from the veranda for the ‘master bedroom’ to ground level. It’s a change that Rose and I had been debating for a number of weeks and one that we feel we just have to make to provide ease off access to the garden.

The red arrow indicates where the stairs will be built.

As we left we could see that Alfredo had virtually finished laying the blocks to fill in the gap between the first flight of the entrance stairway.

The headline is based on the 2003 single by Beyonce (featuring Sean Paul) which reached number one in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number two in the UK Singles Chart.

It’s All in the Game” in Ambergris Caye, Bellize.

Rose and I knuckled down this morning to use the tile and wood samples we have to make our final selections for the granite surfaces (kitchens and bathrooms) we want Daniel Camal, our building contractor, to try and match for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. We don’t expect exact replicas but do want them to be as close as possible. For the granite choices we once again made use of the very good 1000 Granite Colours website.

With these selections out of the way we now need to finalise the wardrobe and walk-in closets and the internal light positioning and the decisions we have to make are competed. Getting there, slowly but surely.

With the day’s house related tasks out of the way I took the Kindle down to the beach in front of the condo we are renting for a spot of reading and basically not doing a great deal. Very enjoyable.

Just before noon Rose and I set off to drop the golf cart we have been renting in for a service and then walked the short distance to Pedro’s Inn for the lunch he had organised for the all important (well if you are an Arsenal or Tottenham fan that is) Arsenal versus Wigan Premiership game.

It was a nail biting game until Arsenal went in to a two, one lead and then scored two further goals in quick succession to win the game easily. It’s all in the game on Sunday versus Newcastle United now. Arsenal win it and it doesn’t matter what Tottenham do.

Feeling buoyed by the result Rose and I said our goodbyes to everyone, collected the golf cart and headed to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and got there around 3.15 pm.

As we pulled in to the lot we saw the ceiling grids stacked on the Ground Floor.

And inside the living/kitchen room of the self-contained apartment the Sheetrock (plasterboard) had been stored ready for use.

Up the stairs to the First Floor where we saw that the guys had started striking the lines for the floors.

Martin at work on the southern veranda.

Nicholas finishing off the line on the eastern veranda.

The lines had already been ‘struck’ in the bedroom (Rose’s handicraft room).

And the western veranda.

A climb up the scaffold and I found Porfelio and Eduardo just finishing laying the floor for the landing that leads to the Master Bedroom.

Porfelio looking for any blemishes.

And having spotted some he set about correcting them.

And then got Eduardo at work with the feather edge.

Finished.

In Rose’s bathroom Sam and Angel were laying the floor.

Sam at work.

Sam joined by Angel.

By the time I returned to the First Floor Nicholas was busy in the Utility Room.

And he finished the room off with the help of Eduardo who had come down from the Second Floor.

As we were leaving Porfelio and Miguel were preparing the next area for floor laying (the kitchen).

Miguel scraping off loose bits of concrete.

Joined by Porfelio with the broom.

The headline is based on the 1958 single by Tommy Edwards which reached number one in the US Billboard Hot 100. This is the only number one single co-written by a Vice President of the United States or winner of the Nobel Peace Prize (Charles G Dawes).

“Lessons in Love” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Spent a bit of time yesterday pulling together the required supporting documentation for the importation of our golf cart (absent of import tax) to Ambergris Caye.

This required copies of the following : Belize drivers license, “QRP” ID card (I also included a copy of the “acceptance in to the ‘Program” letter I received for good measure), photograph of the off-street parking I have at the accommodation we are renting, photograph of the off-street parking we will have when we move to our build in Ambergris Cate, Belize, a copy of the Title for our land and, just to be sure, a copy of the letter we received from the San Pedro Town Council approving the build for our new home.

After a visit to Gekko Graphics in Buccaneer Street to get photocopies of everything I went straight to Captain Shark’s to hand over the documentation – along with the application form and the fee of BZ$ 100 – so that they can now provide the Belize Tourism Board with a copy of the purchase order so that approval can be granted to import the golf cart without having import duty applied.

Whilst at Captain Shark’s Enrique told me that our ‘cart was ‘on its way’ and could be with us in two or three weeks. Then it will just be a matter of getting the permit ( and having the registration plate fitted) from the San Pedro Town Council at a cost of BZ$ 335 and getting insurance (I am only going to ‘go’ for third party).

When I returned to the condo we are renting I found that I had received an email from Benny’s detailing the prices of the appliances we are considering buying (as opposed to buying them in the States and having them shipped here). Rose and I set about carrying out a cost comparison and then sent an email to Benny’s asking for prices for the items we need for the Ground Floor self-contained apartment.

Based on the comparison so far it looks as if we will be purchasing from Benny’s. Cost wise (price of goods,shipping cost, trip to the States for selection purposes) it’s very close but by purchasing locally we should have far more control over the delivery date and the guarantees/warranties will be easier to exercise if needs be (hopefully not but …).

I then sent an email to Jesus (no the sun hasn’t got to me) at The Tile & Stone Center asking if he could send samples of the tiles we have chosen over on the water taxi service so that we can use them to make our final selections for the granite surfaces. As has been the case throughout the whole experience with Jesus he responded very quickly and informed me that they would be sent on the 10.30 am service from Belize City (as it transpired (after three visits by me to the Cargo Office) they actually came over on the 4.30 pm service.). Thank you Jesus.

With all of our administrative chores taken care of it was time for Rose and I to head to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and we got there just after 3 pm to find a delivery of cement in progress. Cement for the floors that will very shortly be laid.

Lorry (truck for non UK readers) being unloaded.

Automation on the build for the first time to unload and stack the cement.

The cement and the Sheetrock (plasterboard for UK readers) and ceiling grids had been delivered from the mainland and were being collected from the barge landing just up the road from us near the Kama Lounge.

Truck (lorry) departing from the barge with another load of cement.

Remaining cement waiting to be collected for delivery.

Ceiling grids and Sheetrock (plasterboard) under the plastic sheeting.

At the build itself the guys were busy at work on a general clean-up and had started striking the lines for the final coat of cement for the floors.

Lines struck for the floor from the dining room area to the kitchen.

One line struck in the hallway.

Utility Room finished.

Nicholas applying the finishing touches in the dining room area.

Down below on the Ground Floor Angel, Martin and Alfredo were beavering away applying the final coat of cement for the “master bedroom”.

Many hands make light work!

The three guys took their afternoon break while I was there and Alfredo (ably assisted by Angel) took the opportunity to help me with my attempts to improve my Spanish. He chose though to try to teach me some phrases that I could use when trying out my ‘skills’ on Rose. Phrases of an amorous nature. What you might call ‘lessons in love’. Need to be word perfect though before I try them out!

The headline is based on the 1986 single by Level 42 which reached number three in the UK Singles Chart and number twelve in the US Billboard Hot 100.

“When There’s No One Around” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Had a very lazy day yesterday. An early start on the veranda where I knocked out an email to Benny’s detailing the electrical appliances that Rose and I want for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. We now await the response that will detail the price for each of them so that I can carry out a cost comparison versus purchasing them in the States and having them shipped here.

With that done I moved indoors for a sports fest. This started with the Aston Villa v Chelsea match. Swiftly followed by the Huddersfield Giants versus Leeds Rhinos Rugby League Challenge Cup match which led me nicely to the FA Cup Final between Manchester City against Wigan Athletic which I was thoroughly pleased to see Wigan deservedly win.

After lunch I spent some time looking at granite colours on line via a neat web site that lets you see how various granites with different wood finishes look.

Before we knew it the time had nearly reached 4 pm and we decided it was time to go visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize so we got in the golf cart and headed north to Tres Cocos.

When we got to the site all of the guys had left because on Saturday they finish at 4 pm so we had the freedom of walking around the house without worrying if we are getting in the way of someone. We really enjoying seeing the guys at work on our house but it is nice to go there when there’s no one around.

The first thing we noticed was that they had started to lay the concrete blocks under the first flight of the entrance stairs. This is something that is ‘out of plan’ that we asked Daniel Camal, our building contractor, to do really for aesthetics.

We went straight in to the self-contained apartment on the Ground Floor and saw that Eduardo had completed the living/kitchen area with a final coat of cement for the remaining wall.

Wall that leads in to the two en-suite bedrooms.

In the ‘master bedroom’ Jose had done what was required to make the aperture for the clerestory window fit for purpose.

In to the smaller of the two bedrooms which we were pleased to find had also had the final coat of cement applied.

And they had started on the hallway between the two bedrooms.

Once up on the First Floor we went straight to the bedroom (Rose’s handicraft room) to find that all walls had had the final cement coat.

The southern wall.

Wall leading to the bathroom.

Entrance/exit to the bedroom.

They now just need to ‘plaster’ the en-suite bathroom.

Across the hallway Edson had applied the final coat for the Powder Room.

And all walls in the Utility Room were complete.

When we got in to the living area we saw that they had moved the pipe for the air conditioning because the previous placement would have placed the unit under the stairs.

Red arrow signifies the original placement and the blue arrow shows the correct positioning.

What really both amused and pleased us though was that before they had left for the weekend they had secured the scaffolding so that Rose could access the Second Floor more easily and confidently.

Once up on the Second Floor we could see that nothing had changed but it did give us the opportunity of trying out our new seating area.

Not a bad view!

On the way home we heard music as we were approaching Carlo & Ernie’s Runway Bar & Grill so we popped in for a couple and were entertained by The 3D Band. And very good they were too.

The 3D Band in full swing.

The headline is based on track eleven of “Sevens” the album released in 1997 by Garth Brooks which reached number one in the US Billboard 200.

“I’m Your Man” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Up bright and early this morning (well it was dark actually) on the veranda with my mug of coffee and the iPad catching up with what is going on in the world.

First off was checking my In Box where I was pleasantly surprised to find an application for a job on our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. It was from our great nephew Cody who, having seen his photo in a previous edition quite likes the idea of coming out here to start his working life.

“I’m your man”. Cody tooled up and ready for action!

Also in the In Box were some emails from Daniel Camal, our building contractor, with some photographs of the frames for some of the vanity units his team are making based on the designs that Rose supplied a few days ago.

For the bathroom for the smaller of the two bedrooms in the Ground Floor self-contained apartment.

And for the bathroom for the ‘master bedroom’ on the Ground Floor.

Rose and I spent some time drawing up a list of appliances (refrigerator, oven, microwave, washer, dryer) that I will ask Benny’s to provide prices for. When we have received these I can carry out a cost comparison versus buying them in the States and having them shipped to Ambergris Caye.

By the time we had finished this it was time for a late lunch after which we set off to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and we got there around 2.45 pm and went straight to the self-contained apartment on the Ground Floor where we found that they had started creating the base for the shower for the ‘master bedroom’.

And in the bedroom itself Sam and Eduardo were applying the finishing coat of cement for where the built in wardrobe will go.

Up the First Floor the electrician assisted by Rafael (aka The Frog) had started the wiring for the lighting and power points.

Rafael (aka The Frog) running the wires for a power point in the living room area).

Wiring run for the light for the Utility Room.

And the power points for the dining room area.

At the front of the house Martin and Nicholas were focusing on applying the finishing coat of cement for the bedroom (Rose’s handicraft room).

Wall leading to the en-suite bathroom finished.

Wall where the built in wardrobe will go.

“Finished”.

And they then started on the final wall in the room.

Dampen the wall first.

As we made our way to the scaffold (Porfelio had arranged for it to be reassembled in be living room area so that Rose can access the Second Floor) we saw that Edson was in the powder room applying the finishing coat.

Last wall to go.

Once up on the Second Floor we saw that they had struck the lines for laying the finishing coat for the floors.

Lines struck in the bedroom.

A close up.

In my bathroom they had applied the finishing coat for where the toilet will go and had finished the shelves in the recess.

And had had finished the shelf in my shower are

The walls for the walk-in closet (leading in to my bathroom) had also been finished.

Left side going in to the bathroom.

Right side leading in to the bathroom.

And the walls around where the toilet will go had also been finished.

The headline is based on the song released by Wham in 1985 which reached number one in the UK Singles Chart and number three in the US Billboard Hot 100.

“With a Little Help from My Friends” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

With the choice of tiles for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize completed Rose and I focused on the stuff that needs to be done for the importation of our golf cart.

First off was to get the Application Form ‘signed off’ and stamped by a doctor. This was very easily achieved with a visit in the morning to Doctor Miguel Allison in Trigger Fish Street (don’t you just love the street names) with a cost of BZ$ 30 per ‘Form.

After lunch Rose and I made a visit to Gekko Graphics in Buccaneer Street to get photocopies of my UK driving license and “QRP” I.D card.

With the paperwork complete it was straight around the corner to the San Pedro Town Council offices in Barrier Reef Drive. After a short wait in the Transport Department queue the Application Form was stamped for me to go pay the BZ$ 60 fee and then get my photograph taken and be issued with my Belize drivers license. The whole thing only took twenty minutes. And whilst I was getting my license Rose paid this year’s property tax!

Feeling quite pleased with ourselves Rose and I went up to see what was going on at our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and to meet Carolyn and Robert (who live on the island and who we have become acquainted with through this blog) to let them have a look at our ever evolving house.

We got there just after 3 pm and they were already there so without much ado we started the tour in the Ground Floor self-contained apartment where we found Eduardo at work applying the finishing coat of cement to the living/kitchen area.

In the ‘master bedroom’ Jose was at work on the clerestory window but aside from that there wasn’t much going on so we made our way up to the First Floor to immediately see that the finishing coat of cement was being applied in the hallway.

Martin and Angel hard at work. Nicholas just lamping*.

* Learnt a new expression today. Lamping is the word the guys use to describe when one of the team is lazing around / doing nothing.

We couldn’t gain access to the interior via the hallway so we walked around the southern veranda and entered the house via the western (lagoon) side and by then Nicholas had responded to the ‘calls’ (I have put this politely) to return to work and had also been joined by Edson.

What really caught our attention though was that they had finished applying the final coat of cement in the dining and kitchen areas.

Dining room looking in to the kitchen.

Kitchen wall where the refrigerator and the pantry will go. Oh, and the water dispenser.

In the living room area Portfelio was at work marking out on the walls where the wooden staircase will go.

If you look hard you can just see the markings for each of the steps for the first flight.

Maybe a little bit easier to see in this photo.

Porfelio at work making the markings for the second flight. Knew that pipe would come in handy for something!

Not being able to access the Second Floor it was time for the tour to come to an end and as we were leaving we could see that Edson and Nicholas (he had totally stopped his lamping by this time) were finishing off the hallway wall.

Carolyn and Robert live very close to the bridge and have very kindly offered us a parking space for our golf cart when the bridge closes for repair next Wednesday. So the trip to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize during the bridge closure will not be as bad with a little help from my friends.

The headline is based on the Lennon & McCartney song which was written in 1967 and released on The Beatles “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album. It was made famous though by Joe Cocker’s version of it which reached number one in the UK Singles Chart in 1968.

“I Like Chinese” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Spent the early part (well around 8 am so not that early) of yesterday morning sending an email to Benny’s to establish if they will supply us with electrical appliances e.g. ovens (ranges for non UK readers), microwaves, a washer, dryer, TVs absent import tax (because of my acceptance in to the “QRP”). They were very quick in responding to my enquiry and confirmed that any goods supplied – provided I prove proof of entry in to the programme – would be supplied without applying the tax. They also supplied links so that Rose and I can see what is available.

We now need to make selections, obtain prices and do a cost comparison against the cost of buying in the States and shipping to Ambergris Caye. Next job on the ‘to do’ list which I will start tackling today.

Whilst I was focusing on the appliances Rose spent time deliberating over the choice of tile for her bathroom and having made her decision made the entry on the spreadsheet she has prepared (detailing the tiles we have chosen by room – name, dimensions, reference number and price per square foot) that we will now send to Daniel Camal, our building contractor.

We then had a frantic rush to get to Pedro’s Inn by noon for lunch in advance of the Chelsea v Tottenham Premiership game that could prove to be pivotal in Arsenal’s efforts to achieve Champions League football next season.

This time Pedro (aka Peter) had organised lunch with a difference – a Chinese meal prepared by Chon Saan Palace (Kelly Street, Belize City) and flown over to Ambergris Caye on a Tropic Air flight. Shades of David Beckham and his pie and mash being flown from London to Los Angeles! OK, not quite!

The meal, which comprised a couple of beef dishes, shrimp dumplings, chicken, vegetable rolls and rice, was absolutely delicious. A perfect lunch for me because I like Chinese. As far as the football was concerned Tottenham came back twice to secure a two, two draw with Chelsea. Not quite what I was hoping for (Tottenham to lose) but it is now in Arsenal’s own ‘hands’. Win their remaining two games and it’s Champions League next season.

With lunch finished Rose and I headed off to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and got there around 3 pm to find a couple of the guys taking their afternoon break (a fifteen minute rest period) on the entrance stairs so we headed to the back (lagoon side) of the house and on looking up saw Nicholas about to start finishing off the final coat of cement on the exterior of the First Floor veranda wall.

Getting the tools and ancillary equipment assembled.

Nearly ready.

We then went around to the front of the house where Porfelio and Edson, having finished their break, had resumed work applying the final coat of cement to the exterior of the First Floor veranda wall.

Up the ramp to the Ground Floor self-contained apartment to find that Jose had started working on the clerestory window in the ‘master bedroom’.

That’s Jose on the left of the photo ‘supporting’ the wall!

Around the Ground Floor there was evidence that the electrician had been busy at work running the wiring.

“Master bedroom”.

With our walk around the Ground Floor completed we headed up the stairs to the First Floor to find that Porfelio and Edson had finished.

Once inside we could see that the electrician had been at work there too.

Control box in the Utility Room.

Nicholas, having finished the exterior wall was now busy starting on the low veranda wall.

Removing excess cement.

Sweeping it clear.

With the float.

And the sponge.

No access to the Second Floor again. Looks like I am going to have to climb the scaffolding on the exterior of the house!

The headline is based on the song by Monty Python which is track six on side one of the album entitled “Monty Python’s Contractual Obligation Album” which was released in 1980. To my certain knowledge it never made the charts.

“Jeans On” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Over to Belize City yesterday morning to visit The Dental Center to see Doctor Hernandez – on his monthly visit from Guatamala City – for him to hopefully form an opinion as to why one of the implants he had installed did not work.

With a trip to the ‘big city’ I dispensed with the normal attire of shorts and put my jeans on. Funny but wearing jeans I just feel that I get bothered less by the pedlars and people looking for a handout. Must look less like a tourist!

Anyway, I took the 8.30 am Belize Express Water Taxi over which got me there in good enough time to pop in to Brodies for a spot of shopping (mostly toiletries) and then onto The Tile & Stone Center to pick up the samples that Rose wanted to have a closer look at before making the final choice for her bathroom.

The visit to meet Doctor Hernandez proved to be somewhat uneventful. He explained the things that could have caused the problem. Explained that he wants to leave it a few months to see how the bone in my jaw reacts and sent me to the Belize Diagnostic Centre for a panoramic X-ray (at a cost of BZ$ 160) after which I caught the 1.30 pm Caye Caulker Water Taxi back to Ambergris Caye where Rose was waiting for me so we could run ‘home’ to drop off the stuff I had bought.

It didn’t take long to put my purchases away and we were ready to ‘hit the road’ and go visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and we got there around 3.45 pm.

On arrival we saw straight away that Angel and Edson , with young Miguel supplying the material, were applying the finishing coat of cement to the exterior of the Second Floor veranda wall.

Angel on the right and Edson on the left with Miguel at the water butt.

Angel applying the finishing touches.

A walk in to the Ground Floor self-contained apartment where we saw that the pipe work for the drain in the shower had been installed for the en-suite of the smaller of the two bedrooms.

Starting to look a bit more like a bathroom now. Still a long way to go but…

Up to the First Floor and straight in to the en-suite to the only bedroom (Rose’s handicraft room) on this floor to find that they had started work on the shower base (tray).

And the recessed shelf too.

When we got to the dining/living room area we saw that the scaffolding to the Second Floor had been removed (they were using it at the front of the house) so no access for us today! What it did provide though was a clear open space allowing us to start consider where we will place various items.

From north to south (dining area to living room area).

We also got a view of the light that will come in to the living room area in the late afternoon from the three clerestory windows on the Second Floor.

With our tour of the inside of the house complete we went outside to find Jose working on the window for the bathroom of the ‘master bedroom’ on the Ground Floor.

Only the clerestory window (‘master bedroom’ on the Ground Floor) and the two windows in the Pump Room to go now!

Around the back of the house (western/lagoon side) Nicholas and Sam were applying the finishing coat of cement to the veranda wall of the Second Floor.

Sam on the left, Nicholas on the right.

Nicholas at close quarters.

Whilst below them Edson was busy at work dismantling the scaffolding.

“That’s how it’s done.”

On the way home we popped in to Carlo & Ernie’s Runway Bar & Grill for a much deserved Belikin and were there to see the sun setting.

The headline is inspired (!!) by the 1976 single by (Lord) David Dundas which reached number three in the UK Singles Chart and number seventeen in the US Billboard Hot 100.

“Out of Touch” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Started my day yesterday just before 4 am (got to bed early the previous night) with a mug of coffee on the veranda reviewing a Heads of Agreement for a friend in the UK. It was the early May bank holiday in the UK and he wanted my comments for his return to work on Tuesday.

Think I may have mentioned before that I do not miss working (well not too much) and took to being retired a lot easier than I had thought I would but I do enjoy the opportunity to review the occasional contract for the business (national newspapers) that I spent my working life in. It’s good not to get out of touch!

When I had finished the review and typed up my comments on the draft and sent them to my friend I turned my attention to my In Box where I was really pleased to find an email from my nephew Bradley which was accompanied by a load of photos that he had taken of his son Cody and his cousins. He does this from time to time so we are not out of touch with how they are growing up. No real reason for including these photos in today’s edition other than I like them.

Had a viewing of the condo we are renting (it is up for sale) at 10 am so I made a hasty retreat and ‘disappeared’ to Estel’s for breakfast leaving Rose to deal with the potential purchasers. Fair division of labour I think!

The rest of the morning and early afternoon was spent taking care of general household chores until it was time for Rose and I to go to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. On the way there though we stopped off at the Belize Tourism Board office in Barrier Reef Drive to collect our Qualified Retirement Programme ID cards.

Yes, I know, a real ‘mug’ shot.

When we got to the site we first saw Alfredo who was busily clearing the area under the first flight of stairs.

On the second flight Angel and Edson were applying the second coat of cement for the low wall on which the handrails will be fixed.

And they had finished applying the second coat of cement for the low veranda wall in front of the entrance to the house on the First Floor.

South-east corner.

There wasn’t much action inside the house on the First Floor aside from a general clean up

Porfelio (with the shovel) taking the quickest route for rubbish clearance

so I climbed the scaffold to gain access to the Second Floor where the focus was on applying the finishing coat of cement to the inside of the roof terrace walls.

Northern wall running east to west.

Martin, Rafael (aka The Frog) and Eric working in close proximity of each other in the north-western corner.

On the other side of the house Nicholas had been finishing the southern wall.

Zapeda reviewing Nicholas’ work in the south-west corner.

Not much had been done inside the house on the Second Floor but they had fitted the shower valve in Rose’s bathroom.

On my way to the scaffold I could see that they had nearly finished the northern wall.

Do you think they were trying to tell me something?

Off to The Dental Center in Belize City later this morning to meet with Doctor Hernandez to see what can be done for the implant that did not ‘take’. Taking the 8.30 Belize Express Water Taxi Service which should get me to Belize City around 10 am which will give me enough time to do at bit of grocery shopping at Brodies and pick up some tile samples from The Tile & Stone Center before my 11 am appointment.

The headline is based on the single released in 1984 by Hall & Oates which reached number one in the US Billboard Hot 100.

“Good Times” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Up slightly later yesterday morning at 5.15 am. The ‘penalty’ for going to Pedro’s Inn last night to see and hear the Midtown Violets. We are really pleased that we did. Two very talented girls playing a mix of the ‘classics’ and their own stuff (which, by the way, was very good).

After a couple of mugs of black coffee I felt that I had rejoined the land of the living and headed off to Estel’s for a much needed breakfast before the very important QPR v Arsenal game which kicked off at 10.30 am here. Whilst at Estel’s though I kept in touch with the Spurs v Southampton game (rooting, of course, for Southampton) which unfortunately Spurs won with a goal perilously close to the end of the game.

Rushed back to the condo we are renting for the Arsenal game and got slightly delayed because a water main burst and lifted up the cobble stones in Coconut Drive. Got home in time though to watch Arsenal secure the three points with an early goal by Theo Walcott. Just need to win the remaining two games now and I’ve got Champions League football to look forward to next season.

I watched a bit of rugby league, a snack for lunch and it was time to head to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize taking a detour because of the burst water main.

On arrival we went straight to the Ground Floor where Porfelio had created a temporary (we will have an aluminium permanent one) hatch cover for the water tank because Daniel Camal, our building contractor, wants to start storing rain water now (initially for system testing but ultimately for our use when we move in).

And a close up.

In to the Ground Floor self-contained apartment to find that they had started running the wiring for electric.

En-suite for the smaller of the two bedrooms.

And had fitted the pipe work for the shower head .

Up to the First Floor where Nicholas was applying the finishing coat of cement to the column in the living room area.

Above Nicholas to the right Edson was applying the finishing coat of cement to the exposed beam where the stair landing for the Second Floor will go.

The other sections of the walls in the living room area had been finished and looked really good.

Out on the roof terrace the final coat of cement had been applied for the table.

Now the table base needs finishing. Along with the seats.

In Rose’s bathroom the shower was taking shape.

On the way out of the house we could see that they had started work on finishing off the first flight of stairs.

On the way home we saw that Carlo & Ernie’s Runway Bar & Grill had opened for business.

Cart park filling up.

After going home to have dinner and freshen up Rose and I went to the bar to watch the Mayweather/ Guerrero fight and the place was absolutely heaving. It must be the most successful bar opening on the island. Definitely the place to go if you want to have good times.

The headline is based on the 1967 song by Eric Burdon & The Animals which reached number twenty in the UK Singles Chart.

“Keeps Gettin’ Better” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Spent yesterday morning taking care of paying bills and helping Rose to finish off the spreadsheets detailing the wood colours we want and the tiles that we have chosen for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize that now need to be ordered from The Tile & Stone Center in Belize City.

We hadn’t been finished too long when Daniel Camal, our building contractor, contacted us to let us know that they had made a door to the design we had asked for and it was ready to look at. So, we left the condo, got in the golf cart and went to Daniel’s workshop to find that the door exactly replicated what we want.

Obviously in a ‘virgin’ state, it, along with the others that will now be made, will be stained to our chosen colour.

After ‘signing off’ the door Rose and I headed straight to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and got there around 2.30 pm to be greeted by Porfelio sifting sand at the entrance to our lot.

Porfelio making sure he got every grain of sand.

A walk around to the back (lagoon side) of the house and we saw that Martin and Nicholas were fixing the forms in place to be able to start applying the last coat of cement for the underside of the First Floor veranda.

And looking through the scaffolding we could see that below them there was Jose (who we now know is Daniel’s brother) working on the sliding door window aperture for the master bedroom of the Ground Floor self-contained apartment.

A walk inside the self-contained apartment and we saw that the hole around the shower valve and pipe work in the en-suite for the master bedroom had been ‘made good’.

Climbing the stairs at the front of the house Edson was applying the final coat of cement to the underside of the Second Floor veranda.

In to the living room area on the First Floor and at the top of the scaffold were Eduardo and Sam applying the finishing coat of cement to the stairwell where it meets the Second Floor.

They had already finished the opposite wall.

After dexterously ascending the scaffold we could see the pair of them at work at close quarters.

A walk outside onto the veranda and we could see that the table that was poured the previous afternoon now just needs the final coat of cement.

It looked so inviting it made us want to sit down and have a couple of beers!

Inside the house we saw that Zapeda had started laying the floor for the shower cubicle in Rose’s en-suite bathroom.

And had removed the forms for the shelf (at the end of Rose’s bath) that he started to construct the previous day.

In to my bathroom where Eric had started on creating the shelves that I want.

Recessed shelf in the shower area.

He had also applied the finishing coat of cement in the walk-in closet.

And had started on the recessed shelves near where the toilet will go.

Somewhere to keep the toilet paper!

Every time we go to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize it keeps getting better.

The headline is based on the title track of the 2008 album by Christina Aguilera. The track was released as a single and reached number seven in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number fourteen in the UK Singles Chart.

STOP PRESS:
For those of you on Ambergris Caye don’t forget that today at 4 pm heralds the opening of Carlo and Ernie’s Runway Bar & Grill.

“Umbrella” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

It was a holiday for most people on Wedneday but once Rose got up we got down to selecting the tiles we want for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. After a couple of hours (but it seemed much longer) we had made nearly all of the decisions. Only a few areas to go now!

We then turned our attention to the light fittings which were a lot easier and quicker to decide upon.

Once this was done Rose created a spreadsheet detailing the light fitting by type and by area of the house and this is now ready to send to Daniel Camal,the building contractor for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Needing a breath of fresh air we then took a drive to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize to act as a catalyst for producing an ‘agenda’for the meeting we had scheduled with Daniel Camal for Thursday at 10 am. It’s a lot easier to walk around the house when nobody else is there. That done we went home and produced a twenty-one point ‘agenda’ which I sent to Daniel yesterday morning. I must have been a real shit when I was younger because as they say, “there’s no rest for the wicked”!

We were slightly late for our meeting with Daniel yesterday because traffic along Coconut Drive was particularly heavy but once at our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize we whistled through the ‘agenda’ (items ranging from placement of recessed shelves in the shower areas to the making of concrete planters and a hole in the concrete table for an umbrella) and had completed the meeting in just over an hour and Rose and I then headed home for lunch.

We returned to the build around 3.30 pm to see how the guys were progressing.

Second coat of cement applied to underside of First Floor ‘front of house’ (eastern side) of house.

And for the southern side.

Up the stairs to the First Floor where Edson was fitting the forms so that he can start applying the second coat of cement to the underside of the Second Floor veranda.

Around the back of the house work continued on preparatory work for the sliding glass doors which will provide a good view of the lagoon (western side).

A few yards away Martin was applying the second coat of cement to the small veranda wall ( handrails will be fitted eventually).

We then climbed the scaffolding to gain access to the Second Floor.

The temporary ‘stairs’.

Once up there we could see that good progress had been made in applying the finishing coat of cement for my walk-in closet and bathroom.

Where my vanity unit will ‘go’.

In Rose’s bathroom they had started to finish off the seat in her shower.

And had started work on creating a shelf at the end of her bath which we had asked Daniel to install when we met him in the morning. A fantastic response time from request to fulfilment.

Out on the roof terrace Porfelio, ably assisted by young Miguel, was busy at work on the concrete table in the north-west corner.

A joint effort by Alfredo and Nicolas to ‘deliver’ the concrete to the Second Floor.

Miguel unhitches the bucket.

And pours it in to the form work.

Where Porfelio levelled it off.

The table will have a hole for an umbrella to slot in to and so that there is not a build up of trapped rain the table has been fitted with a pipe to take this away.

The red arrow indicates the hole for the umbrella and the blue arrow signposts the drain away.

Just as we , and the guys for that matter, were getting ready to pack up for the day the rain started to fall lightly so plastic sheeting was used to cover our new concrete table.

It really needed the umbrella!

Before leaving though we had time to take a rest on the concrete seat and admire the view.

The headline is based on the song released in 2007 by Rihanna which enjoyed worldwide success. It reached number one in both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart.