“Just a Lil Bit” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

No long preamble or ramblings before I get in to bringing readers up to date with our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize.. Just to ‘say’ that I had a very lazy morning/early afternoon on Saturday watching the Huddersfield Giants v Catalans Dragons Rugby League game followed by a ‘visit’ to Australia to watch Queensland play New South Wales in the State of Origin game. And a brutal game it was too.

As was the weather. Very hot and hardly any breeze. Don’t want you to think that I am complaining though. Just take it as a layman’s weather report.

Knowing that we were going on a Poker Run in the evening Rose and I went to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize earlier than usual and got there around 1.30 pm, not long after the guys had returned from lunch (some of them cycle home for for their meal and then cycle back – doubt that they get much more than thirty minutes to eat).

When we got there it appeared that nearly everyone was on clean-up duty. Brooms and shovels at work in all areas. We did see some signs of progress on our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize though but just a lil bit.

The small walls on the entrance stairs had had the penultimate coat of cement applied and just now need the finishing (smooth) coat before the handrails are fitted.

First flight.

Another view (looking down) of the first flight.

Second flight.

How the walls will look when the finishing coat has been applied.

Inside the house the Sheetrock (plaster board) for the ceiling in the kitchen/dining room areas had been refitted following the successful test of running water through the pipes and they were applying joint tape and joint compound in readiness for the finishing coat of cement.

Shouldn’t be able to see the joins!

In the early evening (it starts at 6.30 pm) Rose and I met up with our friend Frank who had come over from the BATSUB (British Army Training and Support Unit Belize) base at Price Barracks, Ladyville to go on the Poker Run. Frank had brought with him ten young soldiers who are here in Belize for a six week posting. We had a great time (didn’t win, again) but boy can those soldiers drink!

The headline is based on the single released in 2005 by 50 Cent which reached number three in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number ten in the UK Singles Chart.

“Do It Again” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Up around 4 am yesterday morning and really did not do much more until around 10.30 am than just sit on the veranda with my friend the iPad. I know it’s sick but I still like it. One day we all get old and slow and can’t do the things we once did so easily ! Just sorry that it has happened to my iPad a lot sooner than I expected. Could be the way I have treated it because Rose’s operates perfectly?

At 10.30 am we drove our friend Dave (he is serving as a member of BATSUB), his wife Wendy and daughter to the Maya Island Air terminal so that they could catch the 11am flight to Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport.

After dropping them off Rose and I headed to Estel’s. Me for a late breakfast and Rose for an early lunch. Following our meal we did a spot of shopping to buy some vegetables ((we much prefer to buy them on the day we ( don’t know why I used “we”) are going to cook them)) for our dinner and then headed back to the condo we are renting during our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Once ‘home’ I took care of some administrative work – the main thing being to complete the Standard Liability form (for insurance) for the stuff we are shipping from the UK – and then spent some time with my book (only four hundred pages to go).

With the emailing out of the way Rose and I were ready to set off to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and got there shortly after 3 pm and went straight up to the First Floor and on the way there saw that work was underway to finish off the entrance stairs.

Mini wall for the stairs to which railings will be fixed.

Once up on the First Floor we found José and Alfonso fitting Sheetrock (plaster boards for UK readers) for the ceiling in the kitchen area. They had fitted these previously but had to remove them for when they ran water through the pipes to test for leaks. The test was carried out in the morning and no leaks were found so, José and Alfonso, had to do it again.

José pushing the ceiling grid up to the correct position.

Alfonso and José re-fixing a board in to position.

Up above us Rafael (aka The Frog) was applying masonry sealant to the wall for the landing that leads to the Master Bedroom.

The Frog at work!

He had already covered the opposite walls.

Wandering in to the Utility (my) Room we saw how good the windows look now that the protective sheeting has been removed.

And when they are open now the breeze comes through.

Not being able to access the Second Floor because Rafael (aka The Frog) was working close to the scaffolding (oh by the way the guys had removed the ‘duck board steps that I mentioned in yesterday’s edition – so they weren’t there for carrying the sliding windows up) we went back to ground level.

Once down there we could see that they had applied the finishing coat of cement for the walls between the entrance stairs and the Ground Floor.

Just the walls for the entrance stairs and the front of the house is finished.

Around the corner the guys were busy finishing off applying the final coat of cement for the Ground Floor northern exterior wall.

Nicholas working on a cantilever beam.

And the rest of the guys ‘hitting’ the main wall en masse.

On the western (lagoon) side we were able to see how nicely the wall that he guys had finished the previous day was drying out.

Just the stairs to do now.

The headline is based on the Steely Dan single that was released in 1972 and reached number six in the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1973.

“Mother’s Little Helper” for Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Didn’t get up until 7 am yesterday morning. A real lie in! Probably the consequence of going to the Roadkill Bar the previous night and having one (or two) drinks too many!

I awoke with a clear head though. Which was just as well because I had received some draft schedules for a contract from an ex-colleague in the UK that he wanted me to review. So with the essential mug of black coffee made I knuckled down (not until II had read The Times on-line of course) to reviewing the drafts on my iPad on the veranda (I find that it helps me to read something first and make a ‘mental note’ of sections that I believe need some form of amendment).

I had nearly finished my ‘read through’ when the heavens opened up and the rain really came down. The timing of the downpour was nigh on perfect though because it ‘forced’ me indoors to complete the review and ‘mark up’ my comments on my PC and email the revised schedules to the UK.

By then it was noon and time to ‘catch up’ on my In Box where I was pleased to find that we are going to get a rebate from the company we have stored the stuff that we are shipping from the UK with. Prior to departing from the UK I booked storage until the end of August (allowing for overrunning on our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize). With the build going virtually to plan our stuff is being collected by the moving company (Excess International Movers) on the 2nd July. Result!

Next up in my In Box was an email from my nephew Bradley with some photographs of his son Cody. Apparently he is fed up being his mother’s little helper and wants to come to Ambergris Caye and be a member of the team building our house. We would love to see him but doubt that he would do much work. I doubt we would be able to get him away from the huge sandpit that our back garden currently resembles.

“I don’t want to be mother’s little helper. I want to be Bob the Builder’!

It was now well after 1 pm so I rustled up breakfast (more like brunch I suppose), shaved, showered and dressed and by 2.45 pm was ready to ‘hit the road’ and go visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

We got there shortly after 3 pm and after fighting our way through the mosquitos went up the ramp to the Ground Floor where Josê and Alfonso were busily fitting plycem boards for the ceiling.

Only a few boards to fit. Obviously Josê didn’t want his face in the photo! Or was he trying to tell me something?

Hearing the sound of running water I looked to my left to see a ‘tap’ protruding from the external wall of the Pump Room. They had got the pump and filtration system working and can now use water from the forty-five thousand gallon water tank that ‘sits’ beneath the house.

Red arrow ‘marks’ the ‘tap’.

Look at that lovely water.

Pump and filtration system installed. And working!

Walking very quickly through the Ground Floor self-contained apartment we got to the ‘master bedroom’ and looking outside saw that a group of the guys were hard at work applying the finishing coat of cement for the western (lagoon) side exterior wall.

The ‘deadly duo’ of Nicholas (L) and Martin (R) taking care of the section above where the sliding window for the ‘master bedroom’ will be.

Eric , as seems to becoming the norm, taking care of the lower section.

The guy whose name I haven’t found out yet working on the area near a cantilever beam.

Team shot.

Walking around to the southern side of the house we could see that the guys had already finished that exterior wall. Just the northern wall to go now.

Ground Floor southern exterior wall finished.

On the northern Ground Floor exterior wall one guy (I promise I will try and get his name today) was working alone.

Finishing coat of cement around the windows. The main wall next!

More than satisfied with what we had seen at ground level Rose and I went up to the First Floor where we found that the guys had made some additions to the scaffolding. They had added some steps. Angel told us that they had done it so that Rose can access the Second Floor more easily (how sweet you are probably thinking).

Scaffolding with ‘steps’.

I am a bit more cynical though. I think they are there for when the guys carry the sliding windows up to the Second Floor. Time will tell! In the meantime it does make getting up to the Second Floor a lot easier.

The headline for today’s edition is based on the single released in 1966 by The Rolling Stones which reached number eight in the US Billboard Hot 100.

“Beautiful Day” from Ambergris Caye, Belize.

First thing I have to ‘say’ in today’s edition is “Happy birthday”. This message is sent to my little sister Chris (or, if I am serious or want to tell her off or put her ‘in her place’, Christine). Miss you lots Chris and Rose and I cannot wait until you come out here and stay with us. The self-contained apartment in our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize is just waiting for you. Have a beautiful day Chris.

Now on to today’s edition.

Up early yesterday morning at just after 4 am. Obviously went to sleep too early the previous night. So, made a mug of coffee and took the iPad out on to the veranda to knock-out yesterday’s edition and then I settled down to read The Times online.

Then spent a little time trying to get my iPad to accept a download from the SD card from my camera but wasn’t successful. I fear that the iPad may be terminally ill.

During the course of the morning I received a response from Benny’s to the enquiry I had made about fluorescent light fittings (I realised the previous day that we (I) had omitted to choose a light fitting for the store room/garage on the Ground Floor). It didn’t take long to make a choice. Light fitting decisions now finally completed.

Around 1.45 pm Rose and I took a drive to Daniel Camal‘s (our building contractor) wood shop which is located in the DFC area to see what progress had been made on the cabinetry and doors.

Moses (brother of Angel and Nicholas who are working on our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize) showed us around the workshop pointing out the various pieces that they are working on.

All doors are finished and now just need staining and the glass varnish finish applied and they are well on the way to making all of the vanity units and the kitchen cabinetry. Once these have been completed they will start work on making the internal stairs that will link the First and Second Floors.

We were very impressed with the quality of workmanship that we saw and set off to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize in a particularly ebullient mood and got there shortly after 3 pm.

As we walked towards the house we found Josê marking a plycem board for the ceiling for the ‘open’ area on the Ground Floor.

Hearing voices from the Pump Room I wandered over to find that Rolando, assisted by Rafael (aka The Frog), was installing the water filtration system and pump for the forty-five thousand gallon rainwater collection tank that ‘sits’ beneath our house. The plan is to test the pump sometime this week.

Rolando slightly out of shot cutting wires.

Up the stairs to the First Floor and we found Martin and the new guy (still haven’t found out his name) applying the finishing coat to the western (lagoon) side exterior wall.

Martin on the sponge work.

The ‘other’ guy on the high bits!

Just around the corner on the northern side the finish around the clerestory window was being applied.

A few feet away we could see how good the finish was around the kitchen window.

For the sake of this edition I then took my life in my hands and clambered up the scaffolding and walked across the duck board to gain access to the Second Floor.

Through the scaffolding.

And on to the duck board. Balance like a trapeze artist!

Once up there I found Nicholas, Eric and young Miguel applying the finishing coat of cement to the western (lagoon side) wall where the two sliding doors will soon (please Daniel) be fitted.

Miguel and Eric hard at work with the sponge.

Nicholas making sure that the joint between the wall and the ceiling is silky smooth.

Nicholas at close quarters.

The headline for today’s edition is based upon the single released in 2000 by U2 which reached number one in the UK Singles Chart and number nineteen in the US Billboard Hot 100.

“Car(t) Wash in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

After writing and publishing yesterday’s edition of the blog it was around 6 am. Just the right temperature before the heat started to build up so I grabbed the bucket and my new chamois leather. The perfect time for a car(t) wash!

Started with the hose. Then the soap suds, paying special attention (and putting in more effort) on the seats (they just get so dirty) and then a hose down to clear the suds (and remaining dirt). Then it was the turn of the chamois and the ‘cart looked a treat. As I stood there admiring my work the heavens opened up and down the rain came. Sod’s law. If there is ever a shortage of water on the island they just need to get me to wash our ‘cart – ergo, the ‘rainmaker’!

With the ‘cart washed it was time to have a shower ( yes, I did go out before I had a shower), shave and get dressed. Then breakfast. And all the while the rain continued to come down.

Around 10am though I got recompense for the Sod’s law incident when the rain abated and I was able (without getting soaked) to go to Gekko Graphics in Buccaneer Street to get the Application /Booking form that Excess International Movers (the company that we appointed to ship the stuff we have in storage in the UK) printed. Once printed I filled out the form with the required information, had it scanned and filed to the memory stick I took with me and returned to the condo we are renting. Once ‘home’ it was a simple matter of emailing the completed form. Our stuff will now be collected on 2 July and should be delivered to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize around the middle of August.

Around 3 pm we collected Dave, a friend of ours who is serving as a member of BATSUB on the mainland, and his wife Wendy and daughter Laura who are here in Belize to spend a few weeks with him as the end of his tour here draws to a close, to take them to have a look at our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and we got to the site at around 3.20 pm. We parked the ‘cart and very quickly fought (OK a bit dramatic) our way through the mosquitos to the Ground Floor self-contained apartment.

We took a quick tour (quick because it felt like we were being eaten alive -and they appeared to particularly ‘like’ Wendy) of the apartment they will get to stay in if they decide to come and visit us and headed up to the First Floor where we saw that Rolando had been busy in the Utility (laundry or ‘my’) room running the wires for the control box.

A maze of wires.

Not seeing any of the guys but hearing their voices over the background music playing we wandered around to the northern side of the house to see that nearly all of them were applying the final coat of cement to the exterior wall.

Young Miguel and Martin in the foreground.

Miguel stretching to finish the cantilever beam.

Eric taking care of the lower wall.

Not being able to get any closer to the action we decided to take a walk around the back of the house.

Rose showing Wendy the back garden (well it will be a garden one day!).

The mosquitos struck again so we thought it wise to take the scaffolding to show them the Second Floor. On the way though we saw that Josê and Alfonso were busy at work fitting the plycem boards for the ‘exposed’ areas of the Ground Floor.

Coming along nicely.

Once up on the Second Floor we saw that Miguel had been sent up there to help the new guy (I will find out his name today) to finish off ‘making good’ the northern veranda wall that they had been working on the previous day.

Wendy in the background enjoying the ‘mosquito free’ area.

The headline is (loosely) based on the 1976 single by Rose Royce which reached number one in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number nine in the UK Singles Chart.

Apologies if the quality of the photographs is not very good. My iPad is ‘playing up’ (technical term) when I try to upload from the SD card. The challenge is to sort this out today.

“The King of Rock and Roll” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Following our mini-trip to Chetumal Rose and I enjoyed a really lazy day on Sunday. I think the excesses of the Lobsterfest Block Party caught up with me!

We were both back to normal (this is not an invitation to readers from the UK to question my normality) by yesterday though and especially after I had taken breakfast (awfully English expression isn’t it) at Estel’s.

When I got back to the condo we are renting until our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize has been completed I got hold of my book ( The Covenant by James A Michener (yes it is taking a long time to read but it does run to 1,238 pages)) and went to the beach, chose a lounger and enjoyed the book, the climate and, I suppose, the overall ambience.

Looking at the position of the sun (since moving here I have stopped wearing a watch) I realised that it was about time ( OK my stomach sent me a message too) to pack up the reading and go for lunch. So I did. And a loverly chicken soup it was too!

Rested and fed it was time to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and we got there around 3.15 pm, just as the guys had finished their afternoon break. So it was straight up the stairs to the First Floor for us where we found one of the guys (another new one to us) applying the final coat of cement to the ceiling beams near the living room area.

Just outside on the northern veranda Martin was applying the finishing coat of cement around the clerestory window.

With not much else going on we decided to access the Second Floor via the scaffolding (the sensible route to the top floor until out wooden staircase is installed) but climbed carefully because above us we could see Rafael (aka The Frog) working from a duck board.

Rafael (aka The Frog) applying joint compound/sealant to the ceiling above where the staircase will be.

Outside on the veranda Rolando was busy at work marking where the down lights will be fitted.

Just hope that the view of the lagoon didn’t distract him!

He had already marked where the lights will be fitted in the Master Bedroom.

Lines for the lights ‘struck’ on the ceiling. Wiring for fan with light already in place.

Close-up of the lines that Rolando had ‘struck’.These lights will be placed accurately!

Holes cut for the lights either side of where the headboard for the bed will go.

Outside on the northern side of the roof terrace we found young Miguel and another guy (another new one) making good some rough spots on the wall.

Just around the corner Eric was finishing off the low wall ( French navy railings will be fitted to stop Rose and I walking off the terrace).

Since the guys have had a good level of protection from the elements we have noticed that there is an MP3 player (or something similar) playing on every floor. Music everywhere. We like it by the way.

On the way down from the Second Floor we got the opportunity of seeing how the concrete table looks after having the finishing coat of cement applied for the base.

Back down on the First Floor Martin and Nicholas were finishing off the windows on the northern side of the house and, as always, Nicholas was singing along to the music. He is the king of rock and roll on our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize!

As we were leaving the house we popped in to the ‘master bedroom’ on the Ground Floor in the self-contained apartment to find Angel applying the finishing coat of cement around the clerestory window.

Angel trying (not very successfully) to appear as if he is not posing for the photograph.

To his left work was taking place in preparation for the fitting of the sliding window

And just outside were Josê and Alfonso fitting the plycem boards for the ceiling under the First Floor southern veranda.

The headline is based on the single released in 1988 by Prefab Sprout which reached number seven in the UK Singles Chart.

“Day Tripper” from Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Regular readers of this blog may have wondered why there were no editions for the last few days. Very simple reason really. I took some days off because Rose and I went to spend a night in Chetumal, Mexico.

We set off on Thursday morning when we caught the 8 am (well, it didn’t actually depart until 8.30 am) San Pedro Water Jets International service.

We booked a return ticket at BZ$150 a ticket but because we were only staying one night we would travel back to San Pedro via Belize Express Water Taxi. The two companies operate the service on alternative days . Both companies operate the Chetumal to San Pedro route with a scheduled departure of 3 pm and only a slight difference in timing between the two for the San Pedro to Chetumal service with San Pedro Water Jets International scheduled to depart at 8 am and the Belize WaterTaxi service scheduled to depart at 7.30 am.

Both companies work together to cater for customers such as Rose and I who, because of our travel plans, wanted to use both companies’ services for our trip. Nothing could be easier to book a ticket to ride from Ambergris Caye to Chetumal.

In addition to the ticket price -depending upon your status eg visitor, resident, Belizean, “QRP”,etc- you have to pay BZ$10 Belize Port Tax per person for each leg of the journey and may have to pay (status determines this) an Exit Fee Tax of BZ$ 37.50 per person (we didn’t because of our “QRP” status). You also have a fee of BZ$ 55 ($295 Mexican Pesos) per person Mexican Immigration Tax.

It takes around ninety to a hundred minutes to complete the coastal journey.

You need to allow around a further thirty to forty minutes to have your luggage checked (by a sniffer dog) and to pass through Customs. Once clear of Customs it took us only five minutes in a taxi to reach the Los Cocos Hotel where I had booked our one night’s accommodation for the equivalent of BZ$ 114.

It’s a reasonably priced, clean and well appointed hotel that is centrally located so that you never need to spend much more than the equivalent of BZ$ 3/4 wherever you want to go in Cheutmal.

Rose and I dumped our bags (a small back pack each) at the hotel and then headed off to visit the Walmart and Chedraui stores in the Plaza Las Americas. Oh, and the Burger King for lunch. I know how to spoil Rose!

The stores have such a range of goods when compared to Ambergris Caye that it creates the feeling of being a kid in a sweet shop – you want everything! But you can’t.Why? Well because you have to pay tax on it if you take it back to Belize.

In the evening we enjoyed a very pleasant meal (Rose had spaghetti bolognese and I had sirloin steak) which we complimented with a nice bottle of Chilean wine.

The next morning (Friday) after a very filling (and inexpensive) breakfast at the hotel we spent a couple of hours at the Sam’s Club store marvelling at the prices (so low) for the goods on display. So, if you have masochistic leanings and live on Ambergris Caye this is the trip to take!

We took a taxi from the store to the ferry terminal cleared Immigration and Customs in both Chetumal and Ambergris Caye uneventfully and were back in our rented condo by 5.30 pm (we ‘gained’ an hour when we re-entered Belize).

Ambergris Caye to Chetumal. A relatively inexpensive trip to make which Rose and I found to be very enjoyable.

Whilst we were away though we did wonder what was going on at our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize so that when we drove up there yesterday afternoon we did so with a fair amount of excitement and anticipation. Well, we had been away for two days!

On arrival we went straight up the stairs to the First Floor and in to the en-suite bathroom (for Rose’s handicraft room) to find that the guys had applied the finishing coat of cement for the walls of the shower area.

And had finished the recessed shelf too!

On the northern veranda Porfelio had just finished cementing in the windows for the kitchen and the utility room.

At the back (lagoon side) of the house they were just finishing off the floor where the sliding windows will very shortly be fitted.

We just knew though that the real changes to be seen were up on the Second Floor so we clambered up the scaffolding as fast as we could (taking care though of course).

Climbing up the scaffolding there was a paint like smell and as we reached the top we could see that the walls for our bedroom had ‘lost’ the cement colour. They were white! It wasn’t paint though. The guys had started applying the acrylic masonry sealant.

Starting to look like a bedroom now.

Hearing the sound of a roller we took a look in to Rose’s walk-in closet /bathroom where we saw Rafael (aka The Frog) at work.

Vanity unit area nearly finished.

Outside on the veranda/roof terrace one of the guys (one that Rose and I have never seen before) was applying the finishing coat of cement for our table.

Looking more like the finished (OK, nearly) article now.

Only included this one so you can see the view we will get from our seating area just a few steps from our bedroom.

A walk around the roof terrace and we were really pleased to note that aside from the external walls where the sliding windows (western wall) will go all external walls had received their finishing coat of cement.

Southern wall.

Northern wall.

Eastern wall.

So much had been done and we had only been away from our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize for two days. We need to go away again!

Feeling extremely happy with what we had seen Rose and I headed home where we took a shower (separate ones!), got dressed and went for an extremely enjoyable night at the San Pedro 2013 Lobsterfest Block Party. Think(!!)we got home around 12.45 am.

Oh, the headline is based on the 1966 single (released as a double A-side with “We Can Work It Out”) by The Beatles which reached number five in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one in the UK Singles Chart.

“Together Again” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

When I got up yesterday morning it was still raining. And raining quite hard. Managed to sit on the veranda with my ‘wake-up’ mug of coffee and The Times on-line for a while but then the rain started to drift in and hit me and, more importantly, my iPad so the only sensible (and,contrary to what many people might think, I am sensible) thing to do was to move inside. So I did.

Once I had showered, shaved, dressed and had breakfast I set about trying to organise a replacement windscreen (windshield for non UK readers) for the one that had been stolen from our golf cart.

First of I sent an email to Captain Sharks to ask how much they would charge to provide and fit a replacement. I then drove to FC Aluminium to find out what they would charge. I then went back home.

When I got the response from Captain Sharks it was a close run thing but I opted for FC Aluminium so we took the ‘cart there before going to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. They were very efficient, taking slightly longer to get the replacement windscreen(windshield) from the stockroom than they did to fit once they had found it. Hopefully this one – with rivets to secure it to the ‘cart’- will remain in place!

With the ‘cart back to its original state Rose and I headed north and got to our lot just after 3 pm and went straight to the back (lagoon side) of the house to find that Martin had finished cementing around the three windows (two in the living area of the self-contained apartment and one in the Store Room/Garage).

Wall is now ready for the finishing coat of cement.

Up the stairs to the First Floor and we saw that Eric had returned to working on our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and was putting tape around the clerestory window in the bedroom (Rose’s handicraft room) before cementing the window in.

It’s really good to see Eric back. Or is it, it’s good to see the back of Eric!

In the living room area we could see that Rafael (aka The Frog) had finished ‘making good’ around the pipe work for the air conditioning unit.

We also saw that Nicholas and Eric had started applying the finishing coat of cement for the inside of the windows.

Clerestory window in the dining room area.

Kitchen window.

Way, way above us was Rolando running the wiring for the lighting for the ceiling above the stairway on the Second Floor.

“Easy does it Rolando”.

Rolando with the tape measure making sure the down lights will be fitted in the correct positions.

Close to our feet we could see one of the ‘plans’ that Rolando was working to.

Could just as well be written in Chinese as far as I am concerned! Now for Rose that is a different thing entirely.

In to the Utility (laundry) Room where we found that Nicholas (we know it was him because his brother Angel told us) had finished the finishing coat of cement around the windows.

Eastern facing window.

They had also ‘made good’ the floor of the eastern veranda.

Looking tidier.

On the way out we saw that Eric and Angel were putting tape around the clerestory window in the bedroom (Rose’s handicraft room) before Eric applied the finishing coat of cement.

It was really good to see them together again!

The headline is based on the 1997 single by Janet Jackson which reached number one in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number four in the UK Singles Chart.

“Wasting My Time” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Another rainy morning yesterday created no great desire on my part to do much at all. Even attempts to sit in the fresh air on the veranda didn’t last too long before the rain swirled in and I retreated for cover in to the condo. Boy did I get through some pages of the latest book that I am reading though (The Covenant by James A. Michener). Fairly raced through the pages!

As the day progressed the weather started to improve. The downpours became less frequent and slightly lighter and the sun made attempts at showing itself so Rose and I decided to head off to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize to look at progress. With our raincoats with us and the windscreen on our golf cart it didn’t matter if it rained, did it?

Well that is where we were wrong. Why? Well, when we got to the golf cart-parked just outside the condo we are renting- we found it minus the windscreen. Some b@&#*^d had stolen it. We briefly (for all of two minutes) contemplated reporting it to the police but concluded that it would be a pointless exercise and I really didn’t see the sense in wasting my time! Nothing about our windscreen that discerns it from the hundreds and hundreds on the island anyway.

So, feeling well and truly pissed off (angry/irritated for non UK readers) we set off on our journey north and got to our lot shortly after 3 pm (much of the water on the road north of the bridge had gone).

On arrival we saw the effects of the constant and heavy rain.

The further landfill scheduled should (hopefully) prevent this in the future.

Choosing our path carefully to avoid the waterlogged areas we got to the house and went straight up to the First Floor where we were pleased (we needed something to cheer us up) to see that the kitchen window had been fitted.

The window is level. It was the camera that wasn’t.

Outside on the northern veranda Nicholas was covering the windows with tape and protective sheeting in readiness for the application of the finishing coat of cement and for when the painting starts.

Applying the tape for the Utility (laundry) Room window.

And then the plastic sheeting.

Inside the house they were ‘making good’ around the windows at the top of the stairwell on the Second Floor.

Whilst below Rafael (aka The Frog) was ‘making good’ around the pipe work for where the air-conditioning unit for the living room area will be fitted.

In the hallway Rolando was running the wiring for the power sockets.

“Keep that dust away from me Appolito”.

Up on the Second Floor José (taking a break from fixing ceiling boards) was ‘making good’ the exterior wall to my bathroom.

On the way out Rose and I took a walk around the back (lagoon side) of the house where we found Martin applying cement to secure the windows for the living room area of the self-contained apartment.

We also got to see how flooded the land was just east of the septic tank and soak-away.

The headline is based on the 2001 single by Default which reached number thirteen in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number seventy-three in the UK Singles Chart.

“I Can’t Stand the Rain” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

I mentioned in the previous edition that it rained for the greater part of Sunday and right through the night. Well, it didn’t abate and rained just as hard yesterday morning.

A rainy and blustery view from the veranda around 8.30 am.

I had intended to wash the golf cart because the dusty roads, (and especially on the road north of the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize) make it look very dirty. And very quickly. I then was going to spend some ‘quality time’ on the beach with my book. Well the rain put paid to that idea. I can’t stand the rain when it stops me from doing things that I want to do.

With my plan in tatters there was only one sensible form of recourse for me. No, not go back to bed, but to Estel’s for breakfast. What would you have done in the same circumstances? Exactly.

So. I got the raincoat out of the cupboard (haven’t had to wear it for nearly a year) and went for my breakfast and found a nearly empty Estel’s . Very unusual. Just as unusual was that I sat inside. It made sense to do do because even though they had the ‘rain shades’ down the rain was getting through them to hit the tables on the deck.

In the afternoon I made the trip to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize on my own because Rose wasn’t feeling the greatest. The best place for her was in the dry at our rented condo.

The journey there was much the same as usual (OK, a little wet but nothing too much) until I crossed the bridge and then I saw the effect of the rain and the surges of the Caribbean Sea that flooded large sections of the road.

View from the Paradise Theatre looking south.

In front of Reef Village looking south.

In front of Reef Village looking north.

Driving through the water slowly so as to avoid flooding the engine (I passed an abandoned golf cart that had obviously suffered that fate) I eventually arrived at our land and was pleased to see in the distance some of the guys working on the Ground Floor. They had got through on their bikes!

First thing I noticed was that the window for the Ground Floor kitchen had been fitted and Martin was at work applying cement to secure it in position.

Martin nice and dry.

Walking in to the self-contained apartment I saw immediately that the two windows in the living/dining area had been fitted.

Walking in to the apartment I saw that the windows were installed for the smaller of the two bedrooms and for its en-suite.

When I got to the ‘master’ bedroom I could see what a difference the filling had done for the back garden.

One or two puddles but not the waterlogged area it once was.

Looking towards the back (the western side which faces the lagoon) of the house I could see that one of the windows for the Store Room/Garage was in the process of being installed.

Nicholas sheltered from the rain by the First Floor veranda.

Inside the Store Room/Garage Nicholas was being assisted by his elder brother Angel and Porfelio.

Porfelio in the warm and dry!

It wasn’t too long before Nicholas had put in the screws and the window was in place.

As I was well protected from the rain (not only was I wearing a raincoat but had waterproof trousers on too) I stood and watched while the guys fitted the other (southern wall) window for the Store Room/Garage.

Nicholas admiring the view whilst waiting for the window.

Angel and Porfelio ‘presenting’ the window.

Nicholas drilling the holes for the masonry screws.

And another screw goes in!

As I was leaving our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize I noticed that the Pump Room was receiving its final coat of cement.

Sorry but I haven’t a clue who was working in there.

I departed for home feeling really pleased with the progress made on installing the windows.

The headline is based on the 1973 single by Ann Peebles which reached number thirty-eight in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number forty-one in the UK Singles Chart. And according to John Lennon “It’s the best song ever”.

Oh, by the way, as I get ready to publish this edition the rain is still lashing down.

“I Love a Rainy Night” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

With the knowledge that I had a contract and it’s supporting schedules to review for an ex-colleague in the UK during the course of the weekend I decided on Saturday to give my energy levels a boost with a breakfast at Estel’s (regular readers of this log will know that this is my venue of choice for a breakfast).

Suitably “recharged” I returned to the condo Rose and I are renting to tackle the schedules and stuck to the task until I reviewed and made comment upon every one of them. This took me through until 2 pm when I had a light snack for lunch after which Rose and I were ready to set off and visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

We arrived at our lot in Tres Cocos around 3 pm and , seeing no signs of activity at ground level, went straight up the stairs to the First Floor where we could see that José and Alfonso had made exceptionally good progress on fitting the plycem boards for the veranda ceilings.

Southern veranda done.

Northern veranda nearly finished. The red arrow indicates where a small strip needs to be fitted.

Eastern veranda nearly completed. Just a small area (the red arrow indicates the area) above the entrance to be fitted.

When we got around to the western (lagoon) side we saw that they were about to fit the final board.

It’s in!

In the kitchen/dining room area we saw that they had started to fill the hole in the floor that had been created when they removed concrete that had not cured properly.

Just the finishing coat to go.

With our tour of the First Floor completed we climbed the scaffold to find out what was going on up on the Second Floor where we found that Martin and Eduardo – now that the windows had been installed – had started applying the final coat of cement for external walls.

Exterior wall for Rose’s walk-in closet and bathroom.

Eduardo and Martin cleaning up after finishing the exterior wall for my walk-in closet and bathroom.

Whilst up on the Second Floor I had a look around my bathroom area and was pleased to see that all of the ceilings had been fitted with Sheetrock (plasterboard for UK readers).

Vanity unit and toilet section.

Ceiling for walk-in closet.

They had also demolished the shelf in my shower (because it wasn’t level) and created a new one.

That’s better!

Yesterday (Sunday) it rained off and on throughout the day and this undoubtedly helped me to concentrate on reviewing the draft agreement I had been sent. Once I had finished this I settled down for some sport on the TV and was really pleased to find that ESPN was televising the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.

It was still raining when the Spain v Uruguay match finished so I took the book I am reading out on to the veranda where I could listen to the rain but not get wet. I love a rainy night.

The headline is based on the 1980 single by Eddie Rabbitt which reached number one in the US Billboard Hot 100 but only number fifty-three in the UK Singles Chart.

“Superstar” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Keen to get the stuff we have had in storage in the UK since we departed for Ambergris Caye over a year ago (some of it being in storage for far longer than that as we gradually cleared our previous home of possessions) I ‘fired’ off an email to Ismael Gomez the broker we are using in Belize City to ‘smooth the way in’ for our consignment.

He has submitted details of our load to “BTB” (Belize Tourism Board) and we just now need permission to import the stuff without having import duty applied (this being one of the benefits of gaining admittance in to the Qualified Retirement Program (“QRP”).

When we get the O.K. I can contact Excess International Movers in the UK to put our stuff on a boat but it is looking increasingly unlikely that it will arrive (the journey will take between seven to ten weeks) by the time that our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize is completed. Oh well. Best laid plans and all that!

Rose and I spent time in the morning finalising the layout for shelving, drawers and hanging rails for our respective walk-in closets and then Rose laid them out more clearly, and with the exact dimensions that we want, on her computer. We now just need to review one more time to be certain that they will give each of us what we want. Then they will be ready to be handed over to Daniel Camal the building contractor for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Around 2.30 pm we set of for our daily visit to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and on arrival we could hear noise coming from the back of the house. A walk quick walk through the Ground Floor self-contained apartment and we saw what was causing it. Nicholas and Eduardo having a friendly kick-about during their afternoon break.

Eduardo making the save!

The guys finished playing shortly after we arrived and so Rose and I wandered up to the First Floor where the football theme continued.

We had a superstar in our house. David Beckham was hanging from our scaffold!

With the headline for today’s edition sorted out (see immediately above) I can now focus on the serious stuff. The build of our house.

Well, in the kitchen area on the First Floor the guys had found another area of the floor where the concrete hadn’t cured properly so they removed the offending patch and when we got there the first replacement course had been laid.

Looks a bit like a patchwork quilt but the tiles will cover it.

We were really pleased to see that following the remedial work that Nicholas, Angel and Porfelio had carried out yesterday that they had commenced installing the windows.

Bathroom (for Rose’s handicraft room) on the southern side of the First Floor.

Window from inside the bathroom.

Utility Room window fitted, kitchen window to go.

Up to the Second Floor where the finishing touches were being applied in preparation for the sliding windows.

Outside on the veranda we could see that Martin and Eduardo had finished applying the first coat of cement around the windows.

Down below on the Ground Floor Nicholas was preparing the apertures for the windows.

Nicholas working on one of the windows in the living room area of the self-contained apartment.

Above him Alfonso and José were fitting Sheetrock for the ceiling of the First Floor veranda.

Alfonso fixing a board whilst José prepares the next one.

The headline is based on the 1971 single by The Carpenters which reached number two in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number eighteen in the UK Singles Chart.

“Higher Ground” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Suitably ‘armed’ with my passport, a utility (Belize Electricity Limited) bill for our lot in Tres Cocos, a completed application form and BZ$65 I set off at 10.30 am yesterday morning
for the Post Office in Pescador Drive hopeful that my third attempt at renting a P.O. Box would be successful.

On arrival I was ushered straight in to the manager’s office and after he had taken photocopies of the utility bill, the information page in my passport, my “QRP” ID card and my Belize Drivers License he ceremoniously handed me three keys for my P.O Box and issued me with the address for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Whilst with him I took the opportunity of finding out whether C.A. needs to be included within the address or not. He very quickly, and somewhat forcibly, informed me that it is not required. Belize is sufficient – it has it’s own international postal code which is BZ (Emily posted on 8 June that she had heard (correctly) that C.A. is not required within the address fields).

With my one task of the day (OK it did take four visits to the Post Office to accomplish it) successfully completed I returned “home” (our rented condo), grabbed my book and went and spent some quality time lounging on the beach (it’s a hard life!).

After a good read and a short nap (my eyes got tired) I had a bite to eat and then it was time for Rose and I to head off (wondering all the way there how many windows had been fitted) to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and we got there around 2.30 pm.

As we pulled in to the lot Rose was alarmed when she saw form boards around the windows on the front (eastern side) of the house on the First Floor. She (we) had expected to see windows installed and not remodelling work.

When we got up to the First Floor we grabbed hold of (not literally of course) Angel who explained that they have had to apply more cement so that the frames for the windows can be positioned and fitted as they need to be.

Powder Room window.

Utility (laundry) room window.

Kitchen window.

Angel working on the second of the Utility (laundry) Room windows.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom though because they had fitted two of the clerestory windows. Which, by the way, look a lot better than we had thought they would look.

In the dining room area on the First Floor.

Now need to work out how I clean this!

Clerestory window fitted in the First Floor bedroom (Rose’s handicraft room).

Once in to the living/dining area we could see above us that José had fitted Sheetrock (plasterboard for UK readers) for most of the ceiling above the staircase on the Second Floor.

José finishing the last section.

A few feet away we saw that the guys ( and I think it was young Miguel who is going through an informal apprenticeship) had made good the floor in the kitchen/hall areas.

Confident that we had caught up with the progress on the First Floor Rose and I climbed the scaffold (we are both getting to be dab hands at this now) to the Second Floor where we found Alfonso fixing the Sheetrock in Rose’s bathroom.

Around the corner on the southern veranda Martin was applying cement around the window frames.

Note the protective sheeting over the windows and frames.

By the time we were ready to leave the floor Alfonso was taking a late lunch and using our concrete table and seats for it (before we have as well!).

Alfonso sitting comfortably in the distance.

I was interested in seeing Alfonso making good use of our table but was more captivated by the fantastic views we get from the higher ground of the Second Floor. I am definitely going to be spending a lot of time up there when we eventually move in.

Leaving Alfonso to his lunch Rose and I made our way down the scaffold and then down the entrance stairway to ground level where we found Porfelio and Angel (Nicholas was working on the window inside the house) on the northern side of the house installing the third and last clerestory window. This one for the ‘master’ bedroom in the Ground Floor self-contained apartment.

The headline is based on the 1973 single by Stevie Wonder which reached number four in he US Billboard Hot 100 and number twenty-nine in the UK Singles Chart.

“I Can See Clearly Now” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Anxious to see if any of our windows had been fitted and unable to control our curiosity Rose and I set off today to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize a lot earlier than is our normal practice (that is aside from the major concrete pouring days which obviously have now finished) and got there around 10.30 am.

As we drove in to the lot we could see activity on the southern side of the Second Floor – windows were being installed! No time for us to take our usual bottom to top approach. It was up to the First Floor and then up the scaffolding to the Second Floor where we found Nicholas securing the middle of the three windows that will provide daylight for he stairway between the First and Second Floors.

With the three windows installed Nicholas and Angel moved on to start fitting the window above where the toilet in my bathroom will be. Porfelio though was inspecting the work already carried out to ensure that it was correct.

Porfelio on quality control duty!

First job for Nicholas and Angel after ‘presenting’ the window was to grind excess cement from the aperture.

Who needs a ladder when an upturned bucket will do.

And then Nicholas used a hammer and chisel to remove the larger, unwanted, bits of cement.

And then ‘presented’ the window again to see how it fitted.

And then check it with a spirit level.

In the meantime Porfelio was unwrapping the next window frame. The one ‘overlooking’ my shower.

Really, really pleased to see the windows going in Rose and I decided to head home for lunch and on the way out bumped in to José who told us he had just finished fitting the insulation for our bedroom. He did so by cutting out sections of Sheetrock (plasterboard for my UK readers) and ‘threading’ the insulation into the cavity.

Red arrows highlight the ‘cut-outs’.

The roof insulation.

Having had a ‘high’ in the morning Rose and I headed back to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize after we had finished our lunch and got there just after 3 pm, stopping on the way to buy some soft drinks for the guys. They really deserved it after unloading the container the previous day.

As we pulled in we saw immediately that they had fitted the windows on the Second Floor’s eastern side. These being for our respective bathrooms.

We were very keen to see what progress had been made with the windows so it was up the scaffold to the Second Floor for us.

Once up there we were able to take a good look at the windows that had been fitted.

On the southern side the three windows looked good.

As did the window for my bathroom.

Around the corner on the northern side Nicholas, Angel and Porfelio were hard at work installing the last of the windows. This one for Rose’s bathroom.

Nicholas with the grinder whilst Porfelio and Angel wait in readiness. Daniel leans nonchalantly against the wall.

Nicholas at work with the grinder wearing glasses to keep the dust out of his eyes.

And then he removed the glasses (forgive me for this because I know it is bad but I need the link to the headline) and exclaimed “I can see clearly now the dust has gone” ( yes, I know it is bad but …) and started chipping away excess cement with the hammer and chisel.

And then with the assistance of Porfelio on the outside and Angel on the inside he ‘presented’ the window and started drilling the holes for the masonry screws.

Before we left our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize we took a look at the work the guys had been carrying out for the well in the north-east corner of our lot.

Not much to do now.

The headline (yes, a tenuous link I know) is based on the 1972 single by Johnny Nash which reached number one in both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart.

“A House Is Not Home” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Knowing that the windows, tiles and paint were being delivered to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize yesterday, Rose and I really wanted to make an early morning visit but we controlled ourselves. Daniel Camal, our building contractor, and his guys definitely didn’t need us getting in their way. So I focused on other stuff.

Up at 3.45 am (must stop going to sleep in the evening on the couch) and made a cup of instant and straight on to the veranda to read The Times online. Once finished catching up on the news I spent a couple of hours reviewing some schedules for a contract that an ex-colleague in the UK had sent me. After I had sent my comments and suggested amendments to him it was time for a quick shower and shave and then on with the ‘T’ shirt and shorts (it’s so easy choosing what to wear here!) and I set off for the town.

First stop was a visit to Atlantic International Bank Limited‘s branch in Pescador Drive to withdraw some money (again). Unusually for a Tuesday it was quite busy and there was a long queue.

With the money in my pocket I headed off to the Post Office just up the road to find out if the manager had worked out how I could be given a P.O. Box without being able to provide a utility bill. He had! I just need to take a copy of a bill for our lot that Daniel Camal has received (Daniel is responsible for all electricity and water costs until we take possession of our new home). The fact that it will not be in my name doesn’t appear to matter!

Back at the condo we are renting Rose and I found it impossible to exercise any degree of control over our desire to see if our windows had been delivered so we set off for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and got there around 2 pm.

On arrival it was eerily quite. No sound of cement mixers. Where was everybody? We were about to set off to see if anyone was in the house when we heard the sound of an engine behind us. A truck (lorry for my UK readers) was reversing in to our lot. On the bed of the truck we could see packages that obviously contained some of the tiles for our house.

Watch the golf cart!

On speaking with the driver we found out that Daniel and the guys (the mystery was solved) were about half a mile north of our property unloading the container in which our stuff had been barged across from Belize City so we jumped in to the ‘cart and sped off (if you can describe a maximum speed of 15 mph as ‘sped’, that is).

On the way there we saw Daniel and the guys travelling in the opposite direction but with a quick wave we carried on going and found the container parked in front of the build that Daniel is carrying out for Kris (a reader for some time of this blog).

Peering inside we could see Porfelio some distance away guarding the remaining items on board.

Back in the ‘cart we headed back to our build to find Daniel reversing towards the house.

In to the Store Room/Garage for safe keeping.

The sliding windows are seriously heavy and it took seven of the guys to lift and carry each one of them to safety but within minutes they were back on the truck heading off to collect the next load.

You would think that they were setting off for a picnic!

When they had gone Rose and I took a walk around to see what had been delivered.

Some of the sliding windows.

The single hung and clerestory windows.

Roof insulation.

Tile adhesive.

The ‘runners’ for the sliding windows.

And lots of paint and masonry sealant.

Outside we could hear a truck pulling in again so we stopped our walk around and took a look outside.

More tiles.

To join the ever increasing pile.

I know that they say that a house is not a home until there’s someone living there but with the delivery of so much of the materials to finish off our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize it sure started to feel like one. Well, maybe not for us just yet but definitely for the couple of Daniel’s guys that will now sleep at our house to safeguard the stock until it has been fitted/used.

The headline is based on the 1964 single (one of my all time favourites) by Dionne Warwick which surprisingly only reached number seventy-one in the US Billboard Hot 100.

“The Second Time Around” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Having not finished finished reviewing the draft contract for my ex-colleague in the UK on Sunday as I had planned I resumed the review at 4.30 am yesterday morning and completed the task by 7.30 am when, feeling that I deserved it, I showered, dressed and went to (yes, regular readers have guessed it) Estel’s for breakfast.

When I finished at Estel’s I went to see the manager of the Post Office to see if he had come up with a solution so that he could issue me with a P.O Box. I knew as I approached his office that it was not my lucky day. He didn’t look at all pleased to see me. It wasn’t an expression of panic on his face but nor was it a look of welcome!

As I approached his desk he shrugged, hunched his shoulders and pointed to the pile (a rather small pile I might add) of paper on his desk. Being the perceptive type I interpreted his reaction to my entrance in to his office as me being not at all welcome.

Eventually he uttered the words ‘ I didn’t expect you this morning. I thought you would come here in the afternoon”. I amazed him ( and myself for that matter) when I replied that ” I would come back later. No, I will come back tomorrow”. The look on his face was a picture ( well it would have been had I had my camera with me) of happiness. Hopefully my reaction will be rewarded when I return to see him again. I will let you know the outcome of course.

On the way back to the condo we are renting I dropped the golf cart off at Captain Shark’s to see if -once and for all- they could cure the irritating rattling sound from beneath the ‘cart that had developed again. The day, so far, had a certain déjà vu about it. I just hoped that they could fix the problem the second time around.

Got a ‘phone call just after 2 pm from Enrique at Captain Shark’s informing me that they had fixed the problem and the ‘cart was ready for collection so Rose and I assembled our gear and took a stroll down the beach (sure beats the route I used to take when collecting my car after a service back in the UK) and collected the ‘cart (rattle free) and headed off to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and got there just after 3 pm to find that the guys had just finished a game of four-a-side football in the back garden (couldn’t get my camera out to snap a few photos – next time!).

Up the stairs to the First Floor where we found that they had been finishing off the veranda floors by laying cement for the small strips that they used for foot placement when laying the bulk of the floors.

Southern veranda finished.

Western (lagoon side) veranda finished.

Angel using the feather edge on the northern veranda.

Eastern veranda ‘waiting’ for the feather edge.

Up above there was just one small strip (in the south-east corner) of plycem required to complete the fixing of boards for the ceiling.

Small strip required.

Inside the house we found Rafael (aka The Frog) running the wiring for the air conditioning unit for the living room area.

Rafael being observed by Rolando, the plumber/electrician for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Martin was just a short distance away busily removing flooring where the concrete had not cured properly.

Patch removed in hallway/kitchen area.

He had already removed and replaced a section in the living room area.

Being so close to the scaffolding we just had to go up to the Second Floor and when we got there we saw straight away that José and Alfonso had been busy fixing the Sheetrock (plasterboard for UK readers) for the Master Bedroom and ‘his’ and ‘hers’ en-suite bathrooms.

The bedroom.

Rose’s bathroom(apologies for the poor quality of the photo).

Rose’s walk-in closet.

And the guys were busy at work in my bathroom.

I have to assume that Alfonso was assisting José fit the boards in my shower area.

‘Boards waiting to be fitted.

As we were preparing to leave our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize Daniel Camal, our building contractor, arrived and gave us the great news that our windows, tiles and paint will be on-site when we next visit.

Seeing that Porfelio, assisted by young Appolito, was ‘making good’ some rough spots on the entrance stairs we made a hasty exit so as to not get in his way.

Porfelio at work on the entrance stairs.

The headline is based on the 1979 single by Shalamar which reached number eight in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number forty-five in the

“Little by Little” (Part Two) in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Only a quick browse of TheTimes online for me yesterday-more to see if Arsenal had ventured in to the transfer market (they hadn’t!) than to catch up on world news and then I knuckled down to start reviewing a draft contract that an ex-colleague in the UK has asked me to look at.

Now -as most people that I worked with will confirm – I love reading contracts but there is only so much legalise that a person can take in one sitting before clause references become a blur. When that happens, and it did for me yesterday, I find it best to switch to something else. So I did. I resumed my reading of The Covenant by J A Michener. Just switched from one type of fiction to another really!

Knowing that we were going to the Catamaran Beach Bar (based at Caribbean Villas) in the evening for the pig roast to ‘honour’ the plethora of birthdays this week of people we know Rose and I set off to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize around 2 pm.

When we got there we found a much depleted group of guys. There were only eight of them! The reason for this was because Daniel Camal, our building contractor, was pouring the pillars for the house he is building (funnily enough for a reader of this blog) just north of our build. And, as we know, when a pour takes place you need the bodies!

On arrival the first thing we looked at was the well (located just near the road in the north-east corner of our lot). We will use the water from this for toilet flushing so that we can conserve the rainwater collected in the 25,000 gallon tank under the house.

Early stages of our well.

A walk around to the northern side of the house and we could see that the soak-away was taking shape.

Still some work to go but…

We also saw that Eduardo and Nicholas had applied the finishing coat of cement for the underside of the First Floor northern veranda.

Scaffolding left in situ for José and Alfonso to fit the ceiling grids for the plycem boards.

Up on the First Floor José and Alfonso were fixing the ceiling boards for the northern veranda.

José cutting the board.

And the duo fix it in place.

Inside the house Rolando was running the wiring for the kitchen lighting.

Rose and I then used the scaffolding ( oh are we looking forward to the stairs being fitted!)
to gain access to the Second Floor where we ‘found’ Martin and Angel who had just finished laying the floor for the few strips that hadn’t been done near our bench and table.

Looking down at the back garden we saw some upturned buckets and on seeing us looking at them Angel explained that after work the previous day the guys had played a five-a-side football (soccer for readers from the States) match. Yes, the first match at Highbury!

The red arrows highlight one of the goals.

At this stage of the build – whilst waiting for the windows to arrive – it really is a case of little by little.

The headline is based on the ‘B’ side of “Not Fade Away” by The Rolling Stones which was released in 1964. The single reached number three in the UK Singles Chart.

Oh, by the way, the pig roast was fantastic.

“Please Mr Postman” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Yesterday at around 8 am there was the unusual sound of knocking on our front door. Unusual because we rarely get anybody knocking on our front door (not even to pay unpaid bills!). And especially at that time of the day. On opening the door there was Daniel Camal, our building contractor, with six pieces of granite that he had got that closely match the photographs of granite we had sent him a few weeks ago. Rose and I now need to determine if they are what we want and, if so, for which countertops.

He also imparted the great news that our windows have arrived in Belize City and will arrive on the island next Tuesday. At last. Now the finishing work on our house can begin!

After Daniel had departed my first job yesterday morning was a visit to Captain Shark’s to see if they could eradicate the hugely irritating rattling sounds (yes,plural) that we suffer when driving. I left the ‘cart there and then went to the Post Office, armed with what I thought was the necessary paperwork, to rent a P.O. Box.

It was there that I very quickly found out, after being referred to the manager, that a bill from Coral Cable for an Internet service does not qualify as a utility bill (required to prove a current address in Belize). It has to be either a water, electricity or telephone (landline) bill.

I tried to persuade him otherwise but no matter how many times I implored him with”Please Mr Postman” he would not budge. He did tell me though that he will think about my application (and specifically my inability to provide a copy of a utility bill (the ones we pay in respect of the condo we are renting are all in the name of the owner)) and that I should go back to see him on Monday with my passport.

Whilst I was with him I asked about where I get the address for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. From him, he told me. After I had told him where we will be living it turns out that our address will be determined by the distance we are from town. So, our new address is likely to be something along the lines of – P.O. Box 123,Highbury House,1 1/2 miles North, San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize, C.A. Neat, isn’t it.

With my tasks in town completed (not achieved I know, but they were completed) I headed home via the beach and boy was it hot.

Rose and I then had a bite to eat, spent some time looking at the granite samples (making a few decisions as to usage along the way) and then set off to collect the ‘cart ( they had found a spring not fitted properly) to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and got there just before 3 pm. On the way there we were, of course, able to make use of the newly refurbished Sir Barry Bowen Bridge where we (well OK, me) were pleased to see that the centrally placed girder had been removed (has the Mayor been reading my blog?).

On the drive up there quite a few mosquitos ‘joined’ us for the ride but this didn’t prepare us at all for what they were like as we pulled in to our lot. They were everywhere. And they were ferocious ! Jumping out of the ‘cart we fairly well ran to get to a degree of cover up on the First Floor.

Once up there we found that José and Alfonso had finished their work fitting the Sheetrock (plasterboard for my UK readers) in the living/dining room area (they have to return to fit the boards for the kitchen area). Don’t know why they left it unfinished, but they have!

Looking across the dining/kitchen area from north to south.

At the front of the First Floor José and Alfonso were busy fitting boards for the ceiling in front of where the front doors will be.

Alfonso busy with the drill.

It wasn’t long before they were ready to fit the next board so down they went – amongst the mosquitos- to the Ground Floor to bring another one up.

And up it goes!

From the relatively mosquito free zone of the First Floor I could see that at ground level , even though he looked to be being eaten alive, Nicholas was making the acrows that he and Eduardo need to finish off the cement work for the underside of the First Floor northern veranda.

Nicholas, the mosquitos’ human blood bank!

I then took the scaffolding up to the Second Floor to find Martin working on the acrows he needs to apply the finishing coat of cement for the ‘roof’ for the veranda on the western (lagoon) side. Below, at ground level, Angel was cutting the wood to size and sending it up to Martin via the hoist.

Angel making sure it is the right length.

Martin waiting for his delivery.

It’s arrived!

Whilst up on the Second Floor I took the opportunity of taking a photo of our back garden now that the sand covering has been finished.

The next job. What to plant? And where?

The headline is based on the 1961 single by The Marvelettes which reached number one in the US Billboard Hot 100. It reached number one again in 1975 when The Carpenters released it as a single.

“Didn’t Work Out, Did It?” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Following the tome that yesterday’s edition turned out to be I decided that today’s edition would be much, much tighter. After all, you – the people that take the time and have the interest to read my ramblings- are likely to have far less time than me.

So for those of you for whom time is a precious commodity today’s edition is written with being concise in mind.

I spent a little time yesterday reading The Covenant by James A Michener. The reading this time though was from a paperback and not via my Kindle. A really nice change. There’s something about having a book in your hands and turning real pages and not pressing a button. Or is it an age thing?

I picked up the book at BC’s Beach Bar, where they have a corner set aside for people to deposit books that they have finished with. I will return the compliment in a few weeks when Rose and I move to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and clear the bookshelves of the condo we are renting.

With my need to read sated I telephoned Seaboard Marine‘s office to enquire about their shipping services to Belize (this for the goods (TVs, dinnerware, pots and pans, etc)we intend to purchase in Miami for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize). They have a sailing every Friday with an arrival in Belize City on the following Tuesday. And the rates are very competitive when compared to the other companies I have contacted. Looks like we have found our shipping agent.

Shortly after my call I received an email from Ismael (Milyn) Gomez (the broker we are using) in which he advised me that he has submitted the inventory for the goods we want to ship from the UK to the “BTB” (Belize Tourism Board). We just now need approval and our stuff can start making its way to us (it will take between seven to ten weeks to get to Belize City).

With our respective chores taken care of we headed off to our build at around 3 pm and, having parked the golf cart, made our penultimate walk over the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge.

As we approached we could see that the Mayor was making a final inspection of the work.

I think the Mayor saw my camera and turned to pose!

Anyway, enough of local dignitaries and back to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

On arrival at the house we could see that Angel and Martin were making good progress with the finishing coat of cement for the beams in the ‘open’ area of the Ground Floor.

Beams in front of the Pump Room.

It was looking good. But it looked even better when we got up to the First Floor and found José and Alfonso fixing the Sheetrock (plasterboard for my UK readers) for the ceiling in the living/dining/kitchen areas. And it made the room look so different.

View from the front doors (OK, where the front doors will eventually be).

View from the living area through to the dining area.

Rolando (the plumber and electrician) has taken two days off but Rafael (aka The Frog) was at work fitting valves in the Powder Room.

“The Frog” at work.

Cold water valve fitted for the Vanity Unit.

Valve fitted for the toilet.

Before we left the First Floor we went to the western side to see what the ceiling looked like from the lagoon side.

On the way down to ground level we could see that the food and drink cart had arrived and there was a mass exodus by the guys.

She does a roaring trade on the northern side of the bridge.

As we left our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize I took a walk to the north-eastern corner of our lot to see how work was going on the water tank. The area was swarming with mosquitos (I really don’t know how the guys managed to work in there) but i fearlessly managed to get a few photos!

Porfelio supervising operations ably assisted by the youngest members of the team.

Miguel “knocking-up” the cement in the “jungle”!

So what happened with me being concise? Didn’t work out, did it!

STOP PRESS. The Sir Barry Bowen Bridge is open. Hooray!

The headline is based on track three of Don Gibson’s 1959 album “That Gibson Boy” which didn’t make the charts.

“What Can I Do” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

I have been trying since last November to close two savings accounts that I held jointly with my Dad who sadly passed away in December 2011.

I thought the monies held in the accounts would be included within the probate process. I was wrong. When my Dad passed away the accounts became held solely in my name.

Anyway,when I became aware of this late last October (probate takes an age to complete in the UK even when uncontested) I wrote a letter explaining the situation and requested that the accounts be closed and the monies transferred to my UK bank account. With no response I wrote again in January this year and followed up with ‘phone calls and then wrote again late in April. Still no response. Not even an acknowledgement of any of my letters.

Sitting on the veranda on Tuesday morning my thoughts turned to the two accounts again and I thought ‘What can I do?’. Go to the very top I concluded. So I did a search on the Internet and found the managing director’s email address and sent him a note. Within thirty minutes I had a response from his office promising that my complaint would be looked in to.

Yesterday morning I received an email from the company’s Complaints Department which, after I had emailed my mobile number, was followed up by a telephone call. A five minute conversation with a very pleasant and apologetic young lady and the accounts were closed and arrangements made for the monies to be transferred to my bank account. Additionally they will include a payment of £75 ( circa BZ$ 225) as compensation for my time and expense.

Had we still been living in the UK I could have closed the accounts very simply and quickly with a visit to a local branch of the savings company. Not so when you are living thousands of miles away. It’s a situation that has occurred (and will in the future) quite a lot for us since we moved and started our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. You just have to find an alternative. Sit back and consider ‘What can I do?’. More often than not you will come up with a solution.

Reflecting on the fact that I had started trying to close the two accounts around the same time that Daniel Camal, our building contractor, commenced our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize Rose and I set off to view progress feeling very satisfied.

When we parked the golf cart we could see, contrary to views I expressed in a previous edition, that the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge is going to have a girder (centrally positioned) to divide the two ‘lanes’. Bummer. The taxis will still be able to employ their practice of straddling both sides of the bridge!

Below the bridge work had begun on painting. The final stage of the repair work.

When we got to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize just after 3 pm the guys had just finished their afternoon break and , having been rolling around in our sand-pit of a back garden, were washing off in the lagoon.

I knew that the sea wall would come in handy for something!

In to the house and up to the First Floor and we could see that Rolando and Rafael (aka The Frog) had been active running the wiring for the lights.

Utility/laundry room.

For the pendant lights for the stairwell on the Second Floor.

Out on the western (lagoon) side veranda nearly all of the plycem boards had been fitted for the ceiling.

And just around the corner Alfonso was busy at work fitting ‘boards on the northern side.

Down below at ground level young Miguel (difficult at times to believe -given the strength and endurance he shows- that he is only fifteen) was busy clearing dirt from the hole that had been dug for the septic tank/soak-away.

“Be careful not to damage that tree!”.

More useful landfill.

Realising that the ‘action’ was below us Rose and I went downstairs to find that at the back (lagoon side) of the house Nicholas and Eduardo had applied the finishing coat of cement for the cantilever beams.

Turning the corner to the northern side of the house we saw just how much work they had done on the septic tank/soak-away.

Around the front (eastern side) of the house Martin and Angel had started applying the finishing coat for the beams of the ‘open’ area of the Ground Floor.

Having made good progress on the septic tank/soak-away the guys are now turning their attention to the well (progress report on this in tomorrow’s edition) which will be located in the north-west corner of our lot.

Blue arrow indicates where the well will be.

The headline is based on the 1998 single by The Corrs which reached number three in the UK Singles Chart.

“It’s My Lazy Day” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

In readiness for the eventual move to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize Rose has been putting her ‘green fingers’ to work.

Having already nurtured one coconut plant (Marley) so that we were able to repatriate it (him) to our land, Rose is now bringing on some cuttings and seeds for the front and back gardens for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Like a mini nursery!

Didn’t really do a great deal yesterday morning aside from ‘phoning Richard at Benny’s to make sure that I had the right catalogue numbers for the LED conversion socket we need for the recessed lights for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. It’s my lazy day this week!

When you are doing nothing it is sometimes difficult to know where the time goes, but it just does and it was 3.45 pm when Rose and I set off to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

On parking the golf cart just south of the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge we could see that although the repair work is not yet complete (the Mayor announced yesterday on TV that it will be re-opened at 6 am on Friday morning) it was being used for pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

They have still got to remove the old floor plates and paint the underside but it is nearly there and it is so much easier to cross.

Once over the bridge Rose and I enjoyed a brisk walk to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and got there around 4.10 pm and went straight to the Ground Floor where we could see that Rolando, assisted by Rafael (aka The Frog) was running the wiring for the lights in the kitchen/living room area of the self-contained apartment.

Couldn’t get in to the room so the photo was taken through the ‘window’.

Up on the First Floor José and Alfonso had nearly completed fixing the plycem ceiling boards on the southern veranda but had moved to start work fixing the boards on the western (lagoon) veranda.

Southern veranda.

José and Alfonso at work on the western veranda.

José making sure that the measurement is correct.

Around the back (western side) of the house Nicholas and Eduardo were busy erecting scaffolding so that they can apply the finishing coat of cement to the underside of the First Floor veranda.

Does Nicholas think its a climbing frame?

Setting up the scaffolding for the south-western corner.

I think that Nicholas was trying to tell the rest of the guys something with his choice of ‘T’ shirt for the day!

Hope he got the pay rise to go with the ‘T’ shirt!

Work on the stairs from the veranda for the ‘master’ bedroom of the self-contained apartment had also progressed.

Concrete poured.

Just around the corner on the northern side of the house good progress was being made on the septic tank/soak-away.

Form boards for the ‘roof’ of the ‘tank nearly complete.

The headline for today’s edition is based on track two of the 1983 album by Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson entitled “Pancho & Lefty” which reached number one in the US Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number thirty-seven in the US Billboard 200 chart.

“Little by Little” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Up and out on the veranda with my mug of coffee and iPad by 4.15 am yesterday morning. There was a very light rain shower so it was nice and cool.

First job was to organise an online payment to Daniel Camal, our building contractor for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize, via FC Exchange (the company in the UK that I have been using to convert sterling to USD).

With that done I trawled the Internet, looking at nothing in particular, and read The Times on-line before I headed off to Estel’s for breakfast and then went to pay the cable, Internet and water bills. Whilst in town I also popped in to the Post Office to enquire about a P.O. Box (something that we will need for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize) and was pleasantly surprised that they still have some available. For BZ$ 65 we can have the small box for the first year and thereafter it drops to BZ$ 40 (the first year fee includes the cost of BZ$ 25 for two keys). A lot cheaper than I had expected.

Once back at the condo we are renting I set about contacting Customs Brokers to establish what their fees would be for ‘managing’ entry in to Belize for the two shipments we have (one from the UK and one from Miami).

After considering what each had to say I chose Ishmael Gomez (he had been recommended by someone we know on the island) and contacted him again to advise that we want to use his services. I then spent a little time emailing to him the stuff (copy of my “QRP” acceptance letter, “QRP” ID card, inventory for the goods we are shipping from the UK) he needs to ‘get the ball rolling’.

With this information Ishmael can seek approval from the “BTB” (Belize Tourism Board) for us to bring the stuff in absent of import duty. Hopefully approval will be given quickly and I can ‘push the button’ to get our consignment on the way from the UK and then Rose and I can set about deciding what we want to buy in and ship from the States.

There is little doubt that things generally do take longer to get done here in Belize and this is something that in our first year here we have become accustomed to and work with. I have had to temper my impatience (I had previously been used to getting things accomplished in line with the effort I had been willing to expend). Here it really is a case of little by little.

With the administrative stuff out of the way Rose and I spent a little time reviewing the lighting plan we had discussed with Rolando (apologies for incorrectly calling him Orlando in previous editions) and arranged to meet with Daniel Camal, our building contractor, at 3 pm to run through them one last time.

We met Daniel at the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge and, with a ride in his truck, got to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize within minutes. Beats walking!

Rose, Daniel, Rolando and I then took a tour of the house and I am pleased to say ‘signed off’ the decisions we had previously taken. That is apart from one small amendment. We are going to have four recessed lights in the First Floor entrance hallway as opposed to the two that we had previously decided upon.

With the lighting ‘out of the way’ Rose and I then took a quick walk-around the house to see what had been done.

The guys were generally in ‘clean up’ mode with much sweeping of floors going on but around the back of the house the stairs from the ‘master’ bedroom’s veranda are starting to take shape.

Daniel looks on whilst Porfelio puts the forms in place for the steps.

Starting to look like stairs now!

Up above Nicholas and Eduardo were busy at work applying the finishing coat of cement for the underneath of the First Floor veranda.

Eduardo on the left and Nicholas on the right.

A view of Eduardo at work from inside

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And one of Nicholas too, loading the hawk.

On the way out of house we could see that José and Alfonso had nearly finishing fitting the ceiling grids for the Ground Floor exterior area (entrance to the self-contained apartment and Store Room/Garage).

Nearly ready for the plycem boards.

The headline is based on the single released in 1966 by Dusty Springfield which reached number seventeen in the UK Singles Chart. It never made an entry in to the US Billboard Hot 100. Why?

“You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Had a lay-in yesterday morning (after our anniversary celebration the previous night) and did not get up until 6.45 am. It felt really unusual. It was light outside!

After showering, dressing and eating breakfast I popped down to Captain Shark’s to pick up the license plates for our new golf cart and also to see if they could fix the annoying noise coming from the rear flip-flop seat.

Getting the license plates was easy but fixing the seat is another matter. It appears that one of the small pads that ‘cushion’ the back of the rear seat had broken off during transit. A temporary fix was applied until a more permanent one can be fitted when I take the ‘cart in for it’s first service in around four weeks.

Cannot really recall how the rest of the morning ‘disappeared’ but it did and before Rose and I knew it was time to head to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and we got there (thanks to a lift from Rafael (aka The Frog)) in Daniel Camal’s,our building contractor, truck when he picked us up not long after we had walked over the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge. As a consequence we got there around 1.30 pm.

Straight in to the Ground Floor self-contained apartment to find that work had started on finishing off the floor of the veranda to the ‘master’ bedroom.

One small section to go and then the finishing coat.

Peeking my head around the corner to look at the northern side of the house I saw that the guys were hard at it applying cement to the walls of the septic/soak-away tank.

In chamber one was Martin, with Eduardo and Angel in chamber two and Nicholas in chamber three whilst Porfelio looked on.

Wanting to get a better view I walked to the second bedroom to be able to use the better placed window.

Appolito with a delivery of cement and Porfelio pumping out the water on the outside of the ‘tank.

The guys had dug around the outside of the ‘tank so that they will be able to apply cement to the exterior walls.

With no work taking place on the Ground Floor Rose and I went up to the First Floor where straight away we saw that the ceiling boards were being fitted on the verandas.

Rose helpfully pointing out the board. Or is it a gesture?

Just around the corner José and Alfonso were fitting ceiling boards on the southern side.

View from the western side

The (plycem) ceiling board.

Whilst looking up at the boards we noticed that , following our meeting with him the previous day, Rolando (the plumber/electrician) had started on the wiring for the lights and fans.

Wiring for a veranda light on the First Floor western (lagoon) side veranda.

And was really ‘going at it’ in the kitchen/dining room area.

Rolando working on the wiring for the kitchen fan.

Before leaving the First Floor Rose and I had one last look to see how José and Alfonso were doing with the ceiling boards.

Working their way along the veranda.

Before leaving our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize we took a walk around the back (lagoon side) of the house to take a closer look at how the garden was looking after the fill-in work that has been going on.

View from the sea wall. Garden, slowly but surely, taking shape.

On the way home Rose and I stopped off at Mr Chi’s in Chicken House Street (think that is the name of the street anyway) to get the license plates fitted.

Guys at work fitting the ‘plate.

Rear ‘plate fitted.

Now you know my name and you don’t have to look up the number!

The headline is (loosely) based on the B side of The Beatle’s 1970 single “Let It Be” which reached number one in the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart.