“Magical Mystery Tour” ( Part 1) from San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Today’s (normal) edition strays quite a bit off subject ie it is not almost exclusively about our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize..

Why? Well on Tuesday Rose and I took a trip to the mainland to spend a bit of time with our friend Dave who is a serving member of BATSUB (British Army Training and Support Unit Belize) before his posting comes to an end and he returns to the UK.

Knowing that we wanted to get there around 12.30 hours (this twenty-four hour clock seems more appropriate for a visit to a military base doesn’t it) we chose the 11.00 hours service of the Caulker Water Taxi (we had the other options, of course, of Belize Express Water Taxi or San Pedro Water Jets Express). Before you make a booking do take the time to find out what the prices are because from time to time the different companies offer discounts off normal rates. So far we have found that San Pedro Water Jets Express tend to be the more expensive. As they say, “it can pay to shop around”.

We set off just after 10.00 hours so that I could drop Rose off at the terminal and then take the golf cart to Carlo and Ernie’s Runway Bar & Grill for safe parking (they have a security guard there during the night). So a big thank you to Carlo and Ernie for this favour.

By the time (within ten minutes of leaving her because Ernie gave me a lift) I got back to the terminal Rose had bought the two BZ$ 45 return tickets.

Caye Caulker Water Taxi terminal, San Pedro.

We had an uneventful journey (pleased about this because Rose sometimes is not ‘good’ on boats (or planes for that matter)) with lots of room (the boats can sometimes be very crowded) and arrived in Belize City around 12.30 hours.

Caye Caulker Water Taxi terminal, Belize City (near the swing bridge).

We hadn’t been there long when Dave , dressed in uniform (didn’t we feel special), arrived to pick us up and after a short journey of around ten miles we arrived at the BATSUB base in Ladyville for the start of our magical mystery tour.

After passing through the entry gate barrier manned by BDF (Belize Defence Force) personnel we were immediately struck by just how big the camp is. And how orderly (should we have expected anything else?).

Past security and we are in!

No-one we spoke to could say how many buildings are on the camp but I reckon there must be a couple of hundred. Some in use (classified as GREEN), some that can be made ready for use (AMBER) and some that need substantial work (and money) to make them fit for use (RED).

This place really must have been something in its heyday (pre 1994) when the permanent number of serving personal exceeded two hundred and the soldiers were accompanied by their wives and children. And when troops visited for training the number could swell by between six to seven hundred. A little town in itself. And on our visit we were able to imagine how it must have been.

Nice three/four bedroom family home (this one is a “GREEN”).

Tree lined roads.

There are though (not unexpectedly) constant reminders of where you are.

Anti-aircraft gun.

Satellite dish (for communications) in front of the Officer in Command’s quarters.

Containers transported in with equipment for the training manoeuvres.

Old fashioned British telephone boxes.

One of the seventeen four tonne trucks given to the BDF by BATSUB last month.

Old tennis court. Now a five a-side football (soccer for non UK readers) pitch.

Map of the base.

I will provide more photos and some narrative in the next edition and will give an insight in to our visit to Mirab’s Furniture Gallery on the Western Highway but will now jump forward a day to Wednesday afternoon after Rose and I had returned from Belize City and went to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize..

We got there around 16.00 hours (a bit later than normal but understandable really given that we had travelled back from Belize City) and took a quick walk around.

Floor tiles laid in the bedroom (Rose’s handicraft room) on the First Floor.

Tiles nearly laid in the closet in the hallway on the First Floor.

Angel (top photo) and Alfredo applying the second (and final) coat of masonry sealant (this also ‘doubles up’ as primer/undercoat).

Doors delivered. Now just need to be fitted.

Floor tiles for the Powder Room (on the First Floor) starting to be laid.

Work continuing in my bathroom. Walls nearly tiled in the shower cubicle.

The headline is based on the album released in 1967 by The Beatles which reached number one in the US Billboard Hot 200 chart.

“What Can I Do” in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize ?

With the completion of our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize drawing ever closer I have been giving thought as to what to do with this blog (this is NOT an invitation to tell me where to stuff it!).

Long time readers will probably know that it’s raison d’être was as a relatively easy way for Rose and I to document the build of our new home in Ambergris Caye, Belize and share the experience with our family and friends in the UK without having to send a multitude of emails. It has, as the number of you that follow it will know, morphed in to much, much more than this.

I have to admit that although on some days I have found “knocking” an edition out has been a bit of a pain I have overall thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I like the discipline it requires and I like the routine. It’s also extremely rewarding to “feel” the sense of involvement that so ( i come from the world of newspapers so may be guilty of a little exaggeration here) many people have had in our adventure (OK it is only a build but it has been an adventure in to the unknown for us).

Uncertain as to whether to keep it going or not I am using this edition to find out what your views are. Obviously with the build finished the subject matter of the blog would need to be different. Do you think I should keep it going? If so, what would interest you? Obviously it must be something that I can do relatively easily AND find interesting. They are the only caveats. So please do not suggest something like geophysics!

So, a simple question really, what can I do? Please do let me know.

Anyway, enough of my thoughts for the future. Lets move to the present. Well, the past actually -yesterday.

Got up around 05.00 hours and after making the obligatory mug of black coffee it was straight on to the veranda for some Internet time (yes this included The Times on-line and no Arsenal have not bought anyone (of note) yet).

Knowing that Rose and I had lots that we wanted to accomplish (designing the bed that we want Daniel Camal, our building contractor, to make for us; making our final purchasing decisions for the stuff we are going to have shipped from America; making the first moves to sell the condo at Banana Beach Resort that we bought shortly after visiting Ambergris Caye the first time over fifteen years ago) I decided that I needed (deserved in fact) a hearty breakfast so I went to (yes, you’ve guessed it) Estel’s (stopping off first at Atlantic International Bank Limited to make a withdrawal and pay some bills) and got there shortly after 08.00 hours.

Responding to the request made by Louise I include (see how expediently I respond to requests) in today’s edition a few of the photos I took whilst there.

Whoops, wrong folder.

The real view from my table. Matches Salma Hayek any day of the week (apart from Tuesdays obviously because Estel’s is closed!) !

My breakfast. Not the healthiest choice but…

When I got back to the condo we are renting during our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize I took care of some administrative stuff and then eventually Rose and I set about working out the measurements for our bed. With this information Rose then drew a sketch of what we want. This along with a photograph of the type of bed we want will hopefully be enough for Daniel.

That was as far on our list of things to do as we got because before we knew it the time had come to head off to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. Robert Burns put it so well “The best laid schemes of mice and men…”

We got there around 15.30 hours and as we pulled in to our lot could see Moses, who is in charge of Daniel’s wood shop, with two of his colleagues carrying the sink unit frame up the stairs.

And through the entrance to the house.

They then set about bringing in the door jambs (think that is what they are called).

Sink unit, breakfast bar and door jambs ready for installation.

The excitement didn’t end there though because it appeared that lots of things were going on!

Christopher laying tiles in the First Floor bedroom (Rose’s handicraft room).

From the hallway in to the bedroom.

Up on the Second Floor Ernesto was still at work fixing the tiles in my bathroom but had moved in to the shower “cubicle”.

Saving the seat and floor until last.

A few feet away Alfredo was applying the final coat of emulsion to the walls of the walk-in closet.

A walk out on to the roof terrace and we saw that Rolando had been at work fitting the spotlights for the northern and southern walls.

As we were about to leave the floor and head home my attention was caught by a sailing boat with a name that says it all, “Caye Dreams”. Even though we live here now we still have them!

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

“Beautiful” San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Given that I no longer work for a living Saturdays (and Sundays for that matter) really shouldn’t be different to any other day of the week. It shouldn’t , should it? For me though it is. Don’t know why but it just is.

Might be that subconsciously I hold a strong recall of it being that way. Not having to (contractually that is – because I did use to work most Saturdays (and Sundays if you talk to Rose)) work made it different. Different clothes (no suits). No deadlines (apart from those I set for myself). Plenty of sport to go to watch or see on TV.

What’s the point of this interior monologue? Nothing much really. A rather long-winded way of explaining (or is it justifying?) the fact that I generally do not do much that could be described as productive or energetic on a Saturday. It’s a lazy day for me and that is exactly what I had yesterday until it was time to go visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize..

We set off around15.00 hours and, to make a change, used Barrier Reef Drive (front street) for part of our route. I was struck by the fact (and given that it is hurricane season) somewhat concerned when I saw that the windows of NEMO’s (National Emergency Management Organisation) offices were boarded up.

Is there something they should be telling us?

When we got to our build we saw that Daniel Camal, our building contractor, was up on the First Floor so we went up there first to see him because we had noticed that three of the small tiles (3″x3″) on the floor of the shower cubicle for the en-suite (to Rose’s handicraft room) on the First Floor are slightly out-of-line. Daniel agreed with us and marked them to be removed and replaced (we are trying to pick-up on as many of the snagging items as soon as we see them rather than wait until the end of our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize).

We then proceeded to have a look around and went first to the living/dining/kitchen area where we could see that Christopher had finished laying all of the floor tiles for the kitchen.

Looking good.

And he had laid all of the tiles for the hallway. We are assuming that he will now move in to the bedroom (Rose’s handicraft room) because we are using the same floor tiles in there. Once this has been completed the guys can install the sliding window (door).

Hallway finished.

Out on the western (lagoon) veranda José had switched to Vinyl Spackling (apparently it doesn’t stretch) to fill the joints between the plycem boards on the ceiling.

On speaking with José he was confident that this change in material had “done the trick”.

Just needs to harden and it can be sanded.

We then proceeded (via the scaffolding) up to the Second Floor to see how work on our respective bathrooms had progressed.

Shelves (useful for toilet rolls) near toilet completed.

Where the vanity unit will be.

Happy with what we had seen we then went down to the Ground Floor self-contained apartment to see how the floor tile laying for the ‘master’ bedroom was going.

Me fearlessly (!!!) balancing on the duck board.

Once down in the self-contained apartment we found that not only had Rene finished the bedroom but had started laying the floor tiles for the kitchen/living area.

Bedroom finished.

Moving in to the kitchen/living room.

On the way out of our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize we noticed (couldn’t help but see it) that the galvanised piping for our veranda and stairway railings had been delivered. The welder will start working on this next week.

Once assembled the piping will be painted French Navy.

On the way home Rose and I popped in to Carlo and Ernie’s Runway Bar & Grill for a couple of well deserved (well we thought we deserved them) Belikins.

Sitting at the bar looking out over the airstrip I was struck by how beautiful the sky looked (opportunity for a couple of photos and the link for the headline!).

The headline for today’s edition is based on the single released in 2002 by Christina Aguilera which reached number two in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one in the UK Singles Chart.

“I Heard it Through the Grapevine” in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Up and out on the veranda yesterday morning just after 05.00 hours. With no photo shoot to take care of I just concentrated on The Times on-line. Don’t know why though because Arsenal still have not entered the transfer market.

I had intended to have breakfast at home but when Rose said she fancied going out (she rarely joins me for breakfast out) I got the opportunity of going to Estel’s two days running (not much running after breakfast though!).

As we were walking along the beach I was reminded of a rumour I had heard a week or so ago I don’t know how true it is but as Mark Twain said ” Never let the truth stand in the way of a good story …”.

I had been told that Exotic Caye Beach Resort is going to be pulled down in around eighteen months time and replaced with high end condos. Don’t know how true this is – I heard it through the grapevine.

Exotic Caye Beach Resort as it looks now. What will it look like in two years time ?

Will Crazy Canuck’s Beach Bar survive?

With our enjoyable breakfast finished Rose and I went to The Greenhouse in Pescador Drive to buy some ingredients for the prawn on puri that she was going to cook for dinner. Shopping over we took a leisurely walk back along the beach to the condo we are renting.

Once there I diced the tomatoes, onions and chillies and retreated to the beach with my book to leave Rose undisturbed to “work the magic”.

Following a light snack for lunch (after a breakfast at Estel’s I rarely need much more) we headed off to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. On the way there our attention was attracted by an arresting sight (terrible pun I know). A police vehicle had broken down at the junction of Coconut Drive.

Now that’s what you call a road block!

Anyway enough of that. We got to the house around 15.00 hours and went straight in to the larger of the two bedrooms of the Ground Floor self-contained apartment where Rene was making tremendous progress on laying the floor tiles.

Nearly reached the door.

Up to the First Floor where we saw immediately that Christopher had laid all of the full tiles for the hallway.

We found him just around the corner laying the final tiles for the kitchen area.

Out on the veranda were obvious signs that Rolando (the electrician/plumber) had been at work.

Plycem cut-out.

Hole for ceiling down light cut.

Holes cut for western (lagoon) side veranda.

For the southern veranda.

José was out on the western veranda trying to fill the joints of the plycem. Apparently the heat build up (making the boards expand) is making this more difficult than usual. He told me that he will apply more filler today.

“Who needs a step ladder”.

Around the front (eastern side) of the house Angel and Alfredo were applying a coat of emulsion to the walls in the bedroom and bathroom (Rose’s handicraft room).

An unusually camera shy Alfredo out of shot.

Climbing up the scaffolding to the Second Floor we saw that Rolando had got there before us.

Lights fitted above the landing.

Lights for our bedroom fitted. Just the fan (with light) to go.

In my bathroom Ernesto was busy fixing tiles for the recessed shelving near the toilet in my bathroom.

Lots of small jobs going on but as each one gets completed the house is starting to take shape.

On the way home we saw evidence of the redevelopment (beautification) of the Boca Del Rio Park.

Framework for the new palapas going up.

Didn’t stop the kids nearby enjoying their swim though.

The headline for today’s edition is based on the single released in 1968 by Marvin Gaye (it had been released previously by Gladys Knight & the Pips) which reached number one in both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart.

“Staring at the Sun” in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Up slightly before 05.00 hours yesterday morning and out on the veranda shortly afterwards with my mug of black coffee. The difference though was that I didn’t just sit there going through The Times on-line. I decided that I would respond to Don’s suggestion and include in the blog the occasional photo of something other than our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. So knowing that it wouldn’t be long before the sun rose I went up to the roof of the building of the condo we are renting.

I got up there around (cannot be precise because I don’t wear a watch anymore) 05.20 hours – just before sunrise.

Looking south.

Looking in a north-easterly direction.

I’d probably been there around ten minutes when I found myself staring at the sun as it rose for the day.

With the early morning photo session completed I got ready and then took a walk along the beach to Estel’s for an early morning breakfast. I love this time of day. Not many people about. A time of contemplation for me. Or, just take in and appreciate the views.

At this time of the day the “action” on the beach is predominantly clean up time when seagrass and litter are removed.

Clean-up of beach in front of Ramon’s Village Resort nearly complete.

And the beachfront near Hurricane’s and BC’s too.

I got to Estel’s just before 07.00 hours and after scoffing (as usual) a hearty breakfast enjoyed my walk back to the condo we are renting during our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Don’t really know (well if I thought about it hard enough I would) where the rest of the day went but before we knew it the time had come to go take a look at progress on our house and we got there around 15.45 hours.

Starting on the Ground Floor (seems logical doesn’t it) we saw that Martin had virtually completed applying the finishing coat of cement for the Store Room/Garage.

Southern wall the last to be done.

Western and northern walls finished the previous day.

In to the self-contained apartment where we found Rene (for the last week or so he has been rubbing down the ceilings ) laying the floor tiles in the ‘master’ bedroom.

If you look closely you can see Rose doing her horizontal bunny impression. Don’t know why but…

View from the back garden.

A walk in to the smaller of the two bedrooms and we saw that the en-suite is being put to good use.

Improvised washing line!

Up on the First Floor Christopher was still laying floor tiles but had now moved in to the hallway.

View from the front entrance.

View from the “living room”.

Looking around the area we could see that Christopher had laid nearly all of the floor tiles for the kitchen area. Nearly because one is required for the south-eastern corner.

The red arrow “marks” the spot.

We were about to head up to the Second Floor when we saw that Rolando had started work on fitting the lights. The first of the down lights had been installed.

Loads more to be fitted but…

Up on the Second Floor Ernesto was still “ploughing away” in my bathroom fixing tiles to the walls.

Wall around entrance to walk-in closet completed.

On the way out of our lot we noticed (really don’t know why we didn’t spot it on the way in) that Angel and Alfredo had applied the first coat of masonry sealant to the eastern (front) wall on the First Floor.

Really looking forward to when it is all white.

Just as we were about to leave the “drinks wagon” turned up and the guys rushed to get their afternoon beaker of horchata.

Queuing in an orderly fashion.

The headline for today’s edition is based on the single released in 1997 by U2 which reached number three in the UK Singles Chart and number twenty-six in the US Billboard Hot 100.

“Top of the World” in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Up and out on the veranda yesterday morning around 05.15 hours. And the Internet was fine so I got my daily dose of The Times on-line. No purchases by Arsenal though but we have got rid of Andre “Who ate all the pies” Santos but to do so we had to let him go on a free transfer. Not a bad bit of business – we only paid £6.8m for him two years ago ((sarcasm intended). Oh and it looks like we are about to off-load Gervinho too. At least the wage bill will go down.

Sated with my ‘feed’ of news I grabbed the bucket, brush, cloths and chamois and went and spent a fairly energetic hour washing the golf cart. Try as I may though I haven’t found any effective way yet of how to get the seats really clean. Knew we shouldn’t have gone for white! So if any of you out there in the blogosphere have any ideas please let me have them. Normally willing to try (most) things at least once.

With the ‘cart in a gleaming condition (aside from the seats that is) I showered, shaved, dressed and had breakfast and then went to the Belize Brewing Company Limited depot to get a five gallon bottle of water. On the way there I passed the new church being built at the corner of Blake Street and Seagrape Drive.

Looks like the main entrance is going to be in Blake Street.

With the steeple in place the building is now starting to look like a church.

When I got the water I was informed that the price has increased from BZ$ 3.50 to BZ$ 3.60. An increase of just under three percent. Not too bad.

Home with the water I then went – with my book – to sit on the jetty in front of the condo we are renting during our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize for some quality lounging time.

Around 15.00 hours Rose and I headed off to view progress on our house and I made the journey reflecting, or perhaps ruminating is a better description) on a comment that Don ( a follower of this blog from California) had posted. The result of my rumination is that I decided that I would act upon Don’s request/suggestion.

So with this decision made when Rose and I got to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize I didn’t “waste” any time before headung up the scaffolding to reach the Second Floor and then used the step ladder up there to get up on to the roof of the house. Once there I felt like I was on top of the world! The views in general from our house are good but up there they are great and in today’s edition I am sharing (courtesy of Don’s suggestion) some of them with you.

Looking south-west over our near neighbour Jason’s house, Pirate Villas (this is available for holiday rental).

Looking north-west is Bertand’s (another neighbour) the Bamboo House (this is also available for holiday rental).

Should add that I am not on commission. Just being neighbourly!

Looking south-west.

View looking east.

I could have stayed up there until the sun set but I had left Rose on her own long enough so I went back down to the the Second Floor to join her and have a look at progress on my bathroom where we found Ernesto busy at work.

Ernesto (out of shot) with the next tile.

And up it goes.

While we were in my bathroom Angel (who had taken a break from painting (more later)) came in to ask us exactly where we wanted our mirrors to be fitted. We described exactly where we want them and Angel, with tape measure and pencil at the ready, marked the exact positions on the walls of our respective bathrooms.

With these ‘executive’ decisions taken we took the scaffold down to the First Floor where Christopher was continuing to lay the floor tiles and by now was in the final stages of tiling the kitchen area.

Christopher applying the adhesive.

Kitchen area nearly done.

By now Angel had returned to the First Floor and along with Alfredo was applying the first coat of masonry sealant to the external wall on the northern side of our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Alfredo “cutting in” around the clerestory window.

Bringing today’s edition to a close I’ll leave you with another photo I took from the roof.

Top of the world looking down on our back garden.

The headline for today is based on the song by The Carpenters which reached number one in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number five in the UK Singles Chart in 1973.

“Money’s Too Tight ( to Mention” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Haven’t a clue what the Internet was like on the rest of Ambergris Caye yesterday morning but for me it was absolutely horrible. No service at all when I got up at 04.30 hours and it stayed that ways for hours even though I tried rebooting numerous times.

The lack of service was really irritating and severely delayed the publication of the previous edition of this blog. I don’t impose a strict deadline but I do aim to get it ‘out there’ at a reasonable time. So apologies to those of you who may like to read it before you go to work.

The absence of Internet also meant that I didn’t get my early morning “fix” of The Times on-line. Still no need to worry about not picking up on an Arsenal foray in to the transfer market. There wasn’t one!

I did eventually get a stable return of service around 11.00 hours and then was able to pick up on emails – that was after publishing yesterday’s edition – and with that out of the way Rose and I turned our attention to discussing fencing for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

With the build of our house nearing completion we will very soon have to decide what type of fence we want around it. It’s not a case of money’s too tight to mention but we definitely do not want to spend a fortune on it.

We have a couple of options from different people and we now need to decide which we are going to opt for and then get in to serious price negotiation mode. In preparation for this I have started trying to get price comparison information from people that have had similar fences constructed.

With the other stuff taken care of Rose and I headed to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and got there slightly later than normal at around 16.00 hours. Once there we went straight up to the First Floor where we found that Christopher had moved to laying the floor tiles for the kitchen area.

View from the southern (living “room” area) side.

View from the hallway.

Making our way carefully (didn’t want to step on any newly laid tiles) out onto the veranda we found that the western (lagoon facing) wall had received its first coat of masonry sealant.

Even though it is only one coat it makes the whole wall look completely different. I like the colour of cement but…

Just around the corner Angel and Alfredo were busy with the rollers applying masonry sealant to the southern exterior wall.

If you look hard you can see my silhouette ( not professional class photography I know).

Up the scaffolding to the Second Floor where I was pleased to see that work has begun on fixing the wall tiles for my bathroom.

Wall to which my vanity unit will be fixed.

And another tile goes up.

In Rose’s bathroom (a much bigger bathroom than mine!) Omar had made really good progress and was now working on the odd tile shape areas (I am sure that there is a more correct description for this but…) and was down at ground level cutting the tiles to the required sizes.

“This one will do.”

On to the cutter.

And another one cut to size!

Before leaving our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize we took a walk in to the back garden to see how the house looked with the latest covering of some of the cement.

The house doesn’t slope to the right. Just really poor posture on my part.

Today’s headline is based on the single by Simply Red which reached number thirteen in the UK Singles Chart and number twenty-eight in the US Billboard Hot 100.

“My Kind of Town” (San Pedro is) in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Up and out on the veranda with my black coffee and the iPad just after 05.00 hours yesterday morning and straight in to The Times online to find (disappointingly) that Arsenal have still to make a major signing. Getting worried now that Arsene Wenger is not going to bring in any one of real quality before the season starts.

I then finished of the ‘change of address’ letters for various institutions in the UK that I have to notify of our imminent move to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

With the letters finished I showered, shaved and dressed and went (yes, regular readers, you’ve guessed it) to Estel’s for breakfast to ‘kill’ the time (any excuse I know) until Gekko Graphics opened and I could get the letters printed (when we move in to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize we will get our own printer (and bang goes one of my reasons (excuses)) for breakfast at Estel’s!) but until then any printing requires a visit to Gekko Graphics (and Estel’s!).

By the time I had got home (well the temporary home that the condo we are renting is) I had received an email from Fabro’s Glass Limited providing a quotation for the mirrors we want for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. A quick ‘phone call for a bit of price negotiation and we had a deal and I placed an order. The mirrors should be with us on 2 August.

Once “home” I put the letters in envelopes and took a drive to take them to Robert, a “Brit” on the island who is headed to the UK with his partner for a short visit. They will post them for us when they get there. Thanks Carolyn and Robert.

As soon as I got “home” it was time for Rose and I to head off to Pedro’s Hotel for lunch. And a really enjoyable lunch it was too. Roast lamb and chicken with a full range of vegetables all exquisitely cooked. Too busy eating what was on my plate to stop and take photos so just believe me. The meal was good. Really good.

With our belly’s fit to burst we left Pedro’s Hotel around 14.30 hours and, because we were a little early, decided to take a little detour en route to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

First we went to look at the road that had been laid in Trigger Fish Street. The road has been paved but is not open or traffic yet.

Much nicer parking spot if you are going to El Fogon!

Nearby Chicken House Street had been levelled. I presume in advance of laying slabs for the road.

Better already for pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

Leaving the area we then took time to look at what progress had been made on Sunset Boardwalk (we had last looked really closely back in December).

Looking north-west.

Two buildings up close. They have just finished putting the roofs on.

Taking time out like this to have a little wander reaffirmed for me what I have known for years. San Pedro is my kind of town.

With out detour over we headed north and got to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize around 15.15 hours where we could see immediately that they had finished laying the penultimate coat of cement for the floor between the two entrance stairways.

Stairs to the Ground Floor to the left and the stairs to the First Floor to the right.

Ariel view.

Inside the Ground Floor self-contained apartment José was applying sealant to the ceiling in the living/kitchen room whilst, not too far away, a colleague was applying the finishing coat of cement to one of the columns.

Nearly ready for painting!

In the smaller of the two bedrooms we found that they had made good the area of floor that they had taken up a few days ago.

We then went (stepping carefully over the newly laid area) up to the First Floor and went straight to the bedroom (Rose’s handicraft room) where we saw that the tiling for the bathroom was getting close to being finished.

Recessed shelf tiled.

Out in the main room (kitchen/living/dining) a recently new guy on our build was tidying up around the “southern” sliding window (door).

Nearby Christopher was continuing to the lay the floor with tiles.

From south to north.

We got there just as he had reached one of the columns and was preparing to lay the tile.

Measuring the floor.

Measuring and marking the tile.

Taking the tie to the tile cutter.

Cutting the tile.

Done!

And back up the stairs with it. Lighter though!

Up on the Second Floor Angel and Alfredo were applying the first coat of emulsion to the inside of the southern veranda wall.

Alfredo taking care of the final section.

Today’s headline is based on the song, written by Jimmy Van Heusen (music) and Sammy Cahn (lyrics) that was released in 1964 by Frank Sinatra.

“Steamy Windows” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Just got to (actually I haven’t got to, but I do want to – and I can because this is my blog!) start off today’s edition by saying how good the fish cakes were. Could have eaten (at least) another one. Probably two at a stretch (of my stomach that is).

When Rose and I were at our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize on Thursday we spent some time re -measuring the widths of the areas for where the vanity units for the five bathrooms will be fitted. Armed with this information I was able on Friday to send an email to Fabro’s Glass Limited (based in Victoria Street, Belize City) detailing what we want. I now await a response advising what the cost will be and how long it will take to produce them. Hopefully they will be able to get them to us in just over a week.

With that out of the way I took the golf cart to Captain Shark’s. The reason for this return visit is that since collecting it after its service last week there have been creaking/groaning noises emanating from the front (note my obviously mechanically knowledgable description (sic)) whenever turning the steering wheel. At times it has sounded as if the axel was going to snap.

After dropping off the cart I took a leisurely walk along the beach back to the condo we are renting -sure beats taking the car for a service in the UK- and got there shortly after 10.30 hours when I grabbed my book and headed with it to the beach for some ‘quality time’.

Regrettably I did not get a call from Captain Shark’s to let me know the ‘cart was ready until around 16.15 hours which put the kibosh on any visit by Rose and I to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. As to the cart, well apparently the spacers for the king pins were incorrectly set and there was a problem with the brakes. Both had been fixed and the noise had disappeared. Hooray.

Yesterday morning I enjoyed couch time watching The Open Championship and was really pleased at the end of play to see Lee Westwood at the top of the Leaderboard. With the day’s play over I had a light lunch and then Rose and I set off (in our now creak-free ‘cart) for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

As we approached our lot we were pleasantly surprised to see that the two depressions in the road in front of our lot had been filled with hardcore. Had Mayor “Danny” Guerrero been up there and decided to do something to make the entrance and exit to/from our new home smoother?

Whether Mayor “Danny” had a hand it to not it definitely made for a less bumpy ride in to our property. So, thank you whoever is responsible.

Once we had parked the ‘cart we took a walk around at ground level and saw that some of the new guys that Daniel Camal, our building contractor, has drafted in had removed some of the concrete floor in the ‘master’ bedroom in the Ground Floor self-contained apartment. Obviously the mix had been wrong.

Not good enough for the floor but good landfill!

First replacement course of cement laid.

In the Store Room/Garage we saw that the lights had arrived and were stored ready for installing.

Out front of the house the guys had ‘knocked up’ the last mix of cement for the day for the ‘master’ bedroom of the Ground Floor self-contained apartment.

Cement loaded in to the wheelbarrow.

Up the stairs and in to the First Floor and we found that work was continuing in the bathroom for the bedroom (Rose’s handicraft room).

“Not much to do now”.

Out on the western (lagoon) side veranda Martin was “making good” the cement around the middle sliding window (door).

And inside the house Christopher was continuing to lay the tiles for the living/dining/kitchen area.

A close-up of the tiles.

Clambering up the scaffolding (oh I do look forward to the day when the staircase is in!) I was met by what looked like extremely steamy windows but as I reached the top could see that they were covered with plastic sheeting. Walking outside onto the veranda we could see why. The western (lagoon side) wall had received its first coat of masonry sealant and the windows had been sheeted-up to protect them.

View from the back garden.

And in the north-west corner Angel and Alfredo were applying the first coat of emulsion for the table.

The headline (OK its a tenuous link) is based on the 1990 single by Tina Turner which reached number thirty-nine in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number thirteen in the UK Singles Chart.

“At Last” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

In recent weeks I have displayed a sloppiness in some editions when describing the time at which I have done something. A pm used when it should have been am. So from today abelizehomeforus will be using the twenty-four hour clock.

Not much of note as far as yesterday’s day-to-day stuff is concerned to inform (bore) you of (with). I did go to FC Aluminium (managing to get caught in the heavy downpour of rain in the process) to get a new holder for the fold-down windscreen (windshield for non UK readers) of our golf cart fitted. One of the two holders for the upper section of the windscreen (windshield) had either fallen off (unlikely in my opinion) or had been ‘helped’ off.

They didn’t sell them in ‘singles’ so I had to buy a pair and then had it and the remaining one riveted to the roof/body frame. While they were at it I also got them to put a rivet in to the plate that holds the lower section of the windscreen (windshield) to the frame. They are not going to ‘fall off’ now!

When I got home (well to the condo that Rose and I have been renting during our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize) it was time for lunch and then after that I helped (there may be a contrary view to this) Rose prepare our dinner of salmon fish cakes.

With the chores out of the way -and ‘armed’ with our raincoats we set off to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and got there around 15.30 hours (seems more precise doesn’t it!).

On the way there we had passed Daniel Camal’s (our building contractor) truck with what was obviously a door for one of our sliding windows in the back being held securely by four of the guys and not long after we had parked the ‘cart they arrived.

Our door arrives.

Angel, Alfredo, Alfonso and Appolito holding it safely.

Seeing the door safely stored in the Ground Floor self-contained apartment we entered the house where we saw that at last the three sliding windows (doors) for the living/dining room area had been fitted.

View from the outside.

View from the inside.

Outside Martin was at work ‘making good’ around the frame for the middle of the three sliding windows (doors).

“We’re watching you Martin”.

Inside the house Christopher, undistracted by what was going on around him, was continuing with his task of laying the floor tiles.

Around the front (eastern or road side) of the house steady progress was being made on fitting the tiles for the en-suite for the bedroom (Rose’s handicraft room).

There is a lot of tile cutting required and the three guys fitting the tiles were making frequent use of the power cutter in the front garden.

Cutting the tiles for the en-suite on the First Floor.

And for Rose’s bathroom on the Second Floor.

Although they haven’t started laying the tiles for the shower tray in my bathroom yet I did notice that they have started to cut the tiles to size.

Negro tiles that will be laid either side of the mosaic strip in the centre of my shower tray.

Down below on the Ground Floor the guys had finished laying the final section of the floor outside the self-contained apartment and Store Room/Garage.

Before we left our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize we took a walk around the back of the house to see how the sliding windows (doors) looked.

Five of the six sliding windows (doors) for the back of the house now installed. One to go!

Today’s headline is based on the single released in 1961 by Etta James which reached number forty-seven in the US Billboard Hot 100. A rendition which I think was full of passion. A song which,whenever I hear it, makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

“Never Gonna Give You Up” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Wanting to make sure that we get the tiles how we want them in our bathrooms I sent an email yesterday to Daniel Camal, our building contractor, asking if it was possible to meet him at our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. It wasn’t too long before he replied and we had the meeting set up for 11.30 am at our house (no better place to describe what we want). With the meeting organised I headed off for breakfast, yes long time readers, at Estel’s.

With breakfast completed I then went to Atlantic International Bank‘s branch in Pescador Drive to withdraw some money (don’t you just hate having to do this) and then headed home to prepare for our meeting.

With a stop off at Gekko Graphics to get a print out showing which tiles we had chosen for which room we got to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize shortly after 11.30 am where Daniel was waiting for us and we proceeded to “tour” the house specifying in what room we want which tile. And the direction we want the tiles to ‘run’ in.

The meeting lasted just over an hour and we then set off to visit Daniel’s wood shop in the DFC (Development Finance Corporation) area and got there shortly after 1.15 pm where Moses (brother of Angel and Nicholas) showed us the work that has been carried out so far. All thirteen doors have been made and most have been stained and varnished. All are red mahogany. And, all look very good.

Good progress has also been made on the cabinetry (kitchens and bathrooms) and work has recently started on the pantry. We knew it was big (obviously because we gave the specifications/design to Daniel) but we didn’t realise just how big. Are we ever going to have enough stuff to fill it up (I hope not).

On the way out of the wood shop as we were saying goodbye to Moses Rose saw a head sticking out of a truck. She immediately rushed to it and turned to Moses to ask if she could have it. Moses nodded in the affirmative and Rose grabbed it. I groaned and said “You don’t want that” and Rose, turning towards what I then realised was a dummy, said “Never gonna give you up” and placed it in our golf cart.

All three of us (by now the dummy had been named Dolly) then went home and we (Rose and I that is) had lunch.

“Dolly”. Needs a clean up but…

In all seriousness Rose is a very keen and (in my opinion) a very good seamstress and when we left the UK she jettisoned her dressmaker’s dummy. She now has a replacement that will take pride of place in the bedroom (Rose’s handicraft room) on the First Floor of our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

With lunch over we headed back (gluttons for punishment) to our house to have a look at progress (for the build watchers here’s where today’s edition really starts for you) and got there around 3.45 pm.

At Ground Floor level they were making great progress laying the second coat of cement for the floor in front of the self-contained apartment.

One section to go and then the finishing coat.

Not far away Martin was working on the last section of the steps.

Again, nearly ready for the finishing coat.

Up the stairs to the First Floor where we were ‘greeted’ by the very pleasing sight of the sliding windows (doors) leant against the wall in the hallway. Yea, they are going to be fitted – and soon!

Our PGT WinGuard windows.

As we walked in to the house we saw straight away that two of the frames had already been fitted.

Northern frame fitted (apologies for poor quality of the photo).

Centre frame in place.

And work was underway grinding and chiseling away excess cement for the third frame.

Inside the house Christopher was still at work laying the tiles for the dining/living room areas.

Slowly but surely covering the floor.

In the Utility Room the boards for the ceiling had been fitted and the screws were being covered with filler.

Outside on the northern veranda José was applying joint compound for the ceiling having already covered the screws with filler.

Thirty screws are used to fit each board. Imagine how many indentations José has filled. And rubbed down.

Before climbing the scaffold to the Second Floor we popped in to the bedroom (Rose’s handicraft room) to find that work on tiling the shower ‘tray’ had virtually been completed.

Up on the Second Floor much of the ‘action’ was painting. Alfonso was applying the first coat of emulsion for the inside of the eastern veranda wall .

Loading the roller.

Cutting in.

And around the corner on the northern side of the house I ‘found’ Alfredo applying the second, and final, coat of emulsion to the wall.

Really bright now.

Before leaving the floor I had a look in my bathroom to see if they had started on laying the tiles for my shower ‘tray’. They hadn’t but had started preparing for it by marking out where the mosaic accent tiles will be laid.

The mosaic tiles for my shower ‘tray’.

Really, really pleased with progress Rose and headed off home both looking forward to the sliding windows (being fitted) by the time we make our next visit.

Today’s headline in based on the single released by Rick Astley which in 1988 reached number one in the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100.

“Communication” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

No lengthy preamble today from me as was the case in yesterday’s edition. Got up, spent a little time on the veranda with my iPad, showered, dressed and had breakfast. Then spent a little time exchanging emails with Excess International Movers (the company we are using to ship our “stuff” from the UK) to see if they have worked out how much it will add to the cost to ship one item (a table) which they couldn’t fit in to the planned number of crates. Hopefully today I will find out.

Knowing that Belize’s final group game versus Cuba in the CONCACAF Gold Cup was kicking off at 3.30 pm (our time) we set off to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize around 1.45 pm and got there just after 2 pm.

On arrival we saw that Martin was working on finishing off the steps to the Ground Floor self-contained apartment.

Martin ‘knocking up’ the cement.

Forms in place for the steps at the top.

Behind him was a guy striking the lines for the floor area in front of the self-contained apartment.

Floor laying next.

Not too far away another guy was getting the ceiling boards in place ready for fitting in the Store Room/Garage.

Taking a walk around to the back of the house (western or lagoon side) we saw that the guys had finished fitting the last of the plycem boards under the First Floor veranda.

Now just needs filler and joint compound. Oh, and rubbing down.

Finished with our ‘tour’ of the Ground Floor we headed up the stairs to the First Floor where we found “Wat” (actually his name is Christopher and he is young Appolito’s father) laying the first line of floor tiles in the dining/living area (north to south).

Tiles laid for the dining room area.

Christopher laying tiles in the living room area.

Applying adhesive for the next tile to be laid.

Before heading up to the Second Floor we took a look in the Utility Room (my room) where we saw that Rolando had finished wiring the control box.

The room might be mine but the control box definitely ‘belongs’ to Rose!

Once up on the Second Floor (once again the guys very quickly moved duck boards for Rose) we saw that the first coat of masonry sealant had been applied for the concrete table (and base).

Looking north.

Looking west.

Whilst up there we spent some time talking with Porfelio and Angel (with Angel operating as the interpreter) about the wall tiles for our bathrooms. The guys had thought that wall tiles (from floor to ceiling) were only required in the shower cubicles whereas we want them throughout our bathrooms. Looks like a case of less than clear communication on our part (the first case of this we have had throughout the entire process for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize). So, it looks like we (or to be precise, Daniel Camal, our building contractor) are going to hurriedly have to order some additional tiles for our respective bathrooms. Hope that this doesn’t delay things.

The headline for today’s edition is based on the 1985 single by The Power Station which reached number thirty-four in the US Billboard Hot 100 and seventy-five in the UK Singles Chart.

Because of the discussion about wall tiles my planning to be able to watch the Belize game after the visit to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize went awry. We missed the first fifteen minutes. Regrettably Belize lost by four goals to nil and with this defeat exited the competition. Just being there has been a great experience and Rose and I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing (and hearing) how supportive of their team the people of Belize have been. Just like in England (not!).

“Get Down on It” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Problems with the Internet persisted yesterday. On Ambergris Caye it’s always slow when compared to what we took for granted in the UK but this wasn’t just slow. It wasn’t even pedestrian at times. It was crawl speed. Made me think of the idiom “you don’t know what you’ve got until its gone”.

You just don’t realise how much you use (and depend upon) the Internet until it is not readily available. Well, it was available but just so (frustratingly) ponderously slow.

Becoming ever more frustrated with the speed (or, to be precise, the lack of it) yesterday morning I headed to Estel’s for breakfast. If I had to wait for a search to be completed at least I had something to do- eat!

The speed did improve shortly after 11 am but still not as good as before the problem showed itself so I was glad when noon came and it was time for us to get ready and head off to Pedro’s Hotel for lunch which was generously ‘donated’ by Ian Ritchie of Captain Shark’s.

We spent a very enjoyable couple of hours in great company feasting on a really well cooked meal of chicken and a wide selection of vegetables. No photos of the food. You will just have to trust me (or not) that it was truly good. I could do with one of those lunches every day!

With the meal over and full in belly Rose and I set off to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize (about time I ‘hear’ those you not interested in what I do with my morning) and got there just before 3 pm.

Starting off on the Ground Floor in the self-contained apartment we found that the guys had finished laying the final coat of cement for the remaining section in the living/kitchen room.

Now ready for joint compound to be applied to the ceiling. And then sanded smooth of course.

In the smaller of the two bedrooms , with the floor laid, plastic sheeting had been put down in readiness for masonry sealant to be applied.

At the back of the house (western or lagoon side) Alfonso and a relatively new guy working on our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize were fixing plycem boards for the last section of the house.

The final section. South-western corner.

“New” guy measuring the plycem board for cutting to size.

Alfonso getting the acrows ready.

Around on the southern side of the house José was sanding down the joint compound that he applied a few days ago.

We then went to the front (eastern or roadside) of the house to watch Martin and another new guy finishing off the entrance staircase. Being careful not to disturb them we went up the stairs for a better vantage point.

Martin dousing his section with water.

And the other guy does the same for his section.

Apply the cement.

From another angle.

Time for the float.

And it’s nearly finished.

Our timing of going in to the house was just perfect. We have been waiting for the tiles to be laid for the floor for it to start looking finished and we got there just in time to see “Wat” get down on it to start the tile laying.

Tile positioned (not fixed yet) in the south-western corner. Note the spirit level.

“Wat” spreading the adhesive in the north-western corner. Tiles at the ready leaning against the wall.

First tile down.

“Wat” then went down to ground level to mix some more adhesive.

Like mixing for a cake! I would imagine (never done it myself).

When “Wat” was down there the drinks lady turned up helped by her two daughters and most of the guys rushed down to her to buy a refreshing glass of horchata (think I have spelled this correctly) which is made from ground rice. Very sweet but very refreshing.

Angel at the mobile drinks dispenser

Alfredo with his horchata.

On the way home from our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize Rose and I saw another case of how golf carts are used so much to move various objects around the island. Although we have been living here for over a year now it still amazes ( and amuses) me.

Photograph courtesy of Rose (I was driving!).

The headline for today’s edition is based on the single released in 1981 by Kool & The Gang which reached number ten in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number nineteen in the UK Singles Chart.

“Don’t Worry Baby” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

It was a very grey day on Ambergris Caye On Saturday. An overcast sky. Sounds of thunder. Occasional flashes of lightning. Then the rain. And did it rain and just as I was on my way back from town too!

I had the windscreen (windshield for non UK readers) up. I was wearing a rainproof jacket. But when the rain came down just as I approached Denny’s Donuts & Truck Stop in Coconut Drive I got drenched. And I mean DRENCHED. By the time I got home I felt and looked like a drowned rat (“friends”(or anyone else for that matter) in the UK please do not see this as an invitation to comment!).

After I had changed my clothes Rose and I had lunch and waited for the weather to hopefully clear so that we could go visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize but by 2.45 pm it had shown no sign of abating so we decided to set off anyway.

Rainwear on we stopped off first at Pedro’s Hotel to collect Dave, our friend who is a serving member BATSUB) who had come to Ambergris Caye for the weekend, so that he could see what progress had been made since his last visit.

We were able to provide Dave with a poncho (courtesy of Larry, a reader of this blog) to keep him dry on the back seat of the ‘cart. With Dave suitably attired we set off and got to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize around 3.15 pm.

We headed straight in to the Ground Floor self-contained apartment to find that the guys had made a great start on laying the final coat of cement for the floor in the kitchen/living room area.

Western (living room area) side of the room.

Eastern (kitchen room area) side of the room.

Section in the middle of the room to do.

The guys had also laid the cement for the floor for the hallway between the two bedrooms.

Hallway.

With the floor for the hallway down we were able to access the smaller of the two bedrooms and found that they had finished the recessed shelving in the en-suite.

Plenty of space for soap and shampoo!

When leaving the apartment we saw that the guys were making good use of the completed Pump Room as a dry storage area.

Tile adhesive stored in the dry.

Once up the stairs we saw Martin applying the finishing coat of cement to the section of wall above the entrance having already finished the section inside the house.

Ready for a coat of masonry sealant.

Inside the house Alfredo was ‘cutting in’ with masonry sealant for the base of the walls in the kitchen area.

“Keep a steady hand Alfredo. We’re watching you!”

Wanting to show Dave the work that had been done on our bedroom and bathrooms (and the sliding windows (doors)) Rose looked dismayed when she saw that the scaffolding had been moved. The new positioning left too big a gap between the scaffold and the Second Floor landing for Rose to safely traverse. Seeing Alfredo and Alfonso moving towards us I was able to say ” Don’t worry baby” (OK, I didn’t really say this but I need a link for the headline!) as the guys moved the scaffolding closer.

Having given Dave a tour of the Second Floor we departed from our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and went straight to Carlo and Ernie’s Runway Bar & Grill to watch Belize play Costa Rica in the group match for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

When we got there the place was already filling up.

Car(t) park filling up.

With the game underway all eyes were on one of the four screens in the bar and the noise level rose whenever a Belize player got the ball.

Unfortunately the Belize players, although putting up a really spirited performance, were not able to hold out for a draw and lost one nil to an own goal by Dalton Eiley. A great effort though and one which was appreciated by everyone in the bar.

The headline for today’s edition is based on the 1964 single by The Beach Boys which was the B-side of “I Get Around” which reached number one in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number seven in the UK Singles Chart. The song reached number twenty-four in the US Billboard Hot 100 in its own right.

Apologies for the late publication of this edition but we have been suffering problems with DSL (apparently equipment has been damaged by the rain). Hopefully BTL will resolve this today. PLEASE.

“One Piece at a Time” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Had a bit of a lie-in yesterday and didn’t get up until just before 6 am. This late get-up for me was caused in no small part by Jason Stalham and Jet Li. Why them you may well ask. Well, because I inexplicably sat up until nearly 2 am watching a film that they appeared in called War. Crap storyline but I am an absolute glutton (some may say a cretin) for films with violence in and especially martial arts ( I just love the choreography).

Even though I had got up so ‘late’ I still went through my usual routine. Coffee on the veranda with my iPad and The Times on-line for in depth reporting on the current Ashes match (for non UK readers this is a historical cricket test match series played between Australia and England which started in 1882).

After showering, dressing and having breakfast I still wasn’t inclined to do a great deal (one of the pluses of being retired) so I took my book (even though it is an enjoyable read I am determined to finish the damn thing now) to the beach in front of the condo we are renting whilst our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize is taking place and enjoyed some leisure time.

When it got to just after 1 pm I went in for a light snack and it was then time for Rose and I to head off to view progress on our house and we got there just after 2 pm and started off our “tour” in the Ground Floor self-contained apartment where we found some of the guys applying the final coat of cement for the floor.

Floor laid in the smaller of the two bedrooms.

Floor being laid in the kitchen/living room.

In the back garden two of the guys (brought in by Daniel Camal, our building contractor, specifically for this job) were applying the finishing coat for the sea wall.

Northern wall finished.

Long western wall finished. Nice and smooth!

Guys finishing the southern wall.

Around the front of the house work had started to finish the Store Room/Garage where a coat of cement for the door lintel had been applied and they were rubbing down the walls in preparation for the penultimate coat of cement.

Forms in place for the door lintel.

With the tour of the Ground Floor finished we headed up the stairs to the First Floor where we found Martin applying the finishing coat of cement around the front entrance.

Not the greatest photo but believe me, that is Martin.

In the bedroom (Rose’s handicraft room) the first coat of masonry sealant had been applied to the walls.

View from hallway.

With not much else changed on the First Floor we headed up to the Second Floor where we found that “Wat” had finished laying the tiles for my walk-in closet and bathroom.

View from the bedroom.

View from the shower area.

Where toilet will go.

Out on the roof terrace we once again found Alfredo applying masonry sealant in what appears to be a one piece at a time approach. On this occasion he was draped over the northern wall.

Application of the first coat of masonry sealant for the Second Floor’s northern wall nearly completed.

The headline for today’s edition is based on the 1976 single by Johnny Cash which reached number one in the US Hot Country Singles chart , number twenty-nine in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number thirty-two in the UK Singles Chart.

“Superstition” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

First job of the day yesterday (well after catching up with the news via my The Times on-line subscription) was to take our golf cart to Captain Shark’s for its first service.

I dropped the cart off just after 8 am and then walked the short distance to Estel’s for a hearty breakfast and a bit of ‘quality’ time on the iPad. With breakfast finished I went straight to Atlantic International Bank to pay the electricity bill and then straight on to The Greenhouse to get some of the ingredients for the chicken curry that Rose is making for dinner. I do love Rose’s curries ( that compliment ( a sincere one at that) will hopefully guarantee that she cooks another one very soon).

Having done the shopping I took a leisurely walk along the beach back to the condo we are renting during our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

After peeling the onions (my one culinary duty in the preparation for dinner) I read for a while (still haven’t finished the book yet) whilst Rose made the curry and after she had finished we took the road route and collected the ‘cart from Captain Shark’s and set off immediately to see what progress had been made on our home and got there around 2 pm.

With the ‘cart parked we took a short walk to the north-east corner of our front garden to have a look at the well and were pleased to see that the guys had finished it.

Tank hatch in place.

Compartment for the water pump finished.

In front of the house Porfelio was cutting tiles on an electric tile cutter (Daniel Camal, our building contractor, had brought the ‘serious’ equipment in).

Filling it with water.

Ready to cut the tiles for my bathroom floor to size.

Not wishing to be in Porfelio’s way (especially when he was cutting MY tiles) we went up the stairs to the First Floor and went in to the bedroom (Rose’s handicraft room). Nothing going on in there but we did see what I think (courtesy of Google) was a Black Witch moth (Ascalapha odorata) in the bathroom.

Probably had a wingspan of 14 cm.

It’s a good job that neither Rose or I are great believers in superstition. Why? Well, in certain counties the ‘visit’ of a Black Witch moth to your home is considered a harbinger of death. Apparently if there is someone sick in a house when the moth enters then death very soon follows. In other countries the moth has to visit all four corners of the house before the death occurs . As I have already ‘said’, we don’t suffer from superstition but I am pleased now that we shooed the visitor out of our house!

With our lepidoptery session over we went to the main area of the floor to find Angel and Alfredo busily applying the first coat of emulsion to the walls in the dining/kitchen area.

Alfredo at work on the northern wall.

Angel replenishing the roller.

Alfredo stopped working to proudly tell us that they had applied the second coat of emulsion for the ceiling.

Before starting on the emulsion the guys had applied a coat of masonry sealant to the walls in the hallway and the closet.

Hallway.

Closet.

We then took the scaffolding up to the Second Floor where we found Martin applying the finishing coat of cement around the sliding window (door) on the landing.

Shot taken with me bravely (sic) balancing on the duck board!

Once up there it was straight in to the bedroom to see how the tiling for my bathroom was progressing. And things were progressing very well. “Wat” had laid most of the tiles for the closet section and had started on the toilet/vanity unit area.

Walking outside onto the veranda we saw that silicone had been applied all around the sliding window (door) for our bedroom and the section above the frame had been ‘made good’ with cement.

Down below in the back garden the guys had finished applying the second coat of cement for the northern section of the sea wall and were finishing off the southern section.

Northern section of sea wall.

Southern section of the sea wall.

Nearly finished.

Oh, what about the curry? Well, we had it for dinner at it was scrumptious (been waiting an age to use this word).

The headline for today’s edition is based on the single released in 1972 by Stevie Wonder which reached number one in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number eleven in the UK Singles Chart.

“Innocent Man” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

When Rose and I were at our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize the day the guys installed the first of the sliding windows (doors) I was quite taken by the motto on the back of the ‘T’ shirt that young Appolito was wearing. A few words that encapsulate the opinion that we have formed about the guys that Daniel Camal, our building contractor, has had working on our house.

If you can’t see the motto clearly it is ” Excellence is not a skill, it’s an attitude”

Well the guys that we have had working on our build undoubtedly have attitude. And the right attitude at that.

Didn’t really do too much at all yesterday morning/early afternoon because it was a grey day with intermittent rainy periods. Just one of those days that you accept that you will get during the rainy season. We need the rain anyway to fill the 45,000 gallon water tank that we have under the house that we are building (or, to be more precise, having built).

Around 2.30 pm the rain took a break for a while so Rose and I donned our rainwear and set off to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

On arrival we went straight to the First Floor in the hope that the guys had started installing the sliding windows (doors) but as we entered the floor we could see that wasn’t the case. What we did see though was a much brighter area. They had applied the first coat of masonry sealant to the walls and ceiling.

Kitchen/dining area.

It looks very empty at the moment but obviously the sink, cabinetry and appliances need to be installed along with the kitchen island and the breakfast bar. Or, am I jumping too far ahead?

The blue arrow indicates where the breakfast bar will be.

Out on the western (lagoon side) veranda we found José hard at work covering the screws used to secure the plycem ceiling boards.

Next job is the joint compound and then sanding it down.

We then ascended the scaffolding (the guys positioned a duck board for Rose first to provide easier access) to the Second Floor where we found Nicholas applying the finishing coat of cement around the sliding window (door) in our bedroom.

Window covered with protective sheeting to avoid any damage to the frames.

Talking about damage, eagle-eyed Rose spotted a small mark on the door handle and brought this to Nicholas’ attention. Nicholas looked concerned and responded that he was an innocent man because the handle had arrived like that.

We immediately put Nicholas at ease (well I think that we did) when we complimented him on his work. The angles were absolutely perfect. I just know that my Dad, who was a plasterer, would have said the same.

The photo doesn’t do the quality of the work justice but believe me it is seriously good.

Having finished laying the tiles for our bedroom “Wat” had moved to my bathroom and had started laying tiles in there. I have chosen a black tile for the floors ( with a mosaic of black and grey shades for an accent in the shower area) and white tiles for the walls.

Next tile ready to be laid.

Walking outside (with the sheeting up to cover the windows it was quite warm) for a breath of fresh air my attention was taken by a catamaran in the distance.

No real reason for including it in today’s edition other than I like it.

Back inside the house we could see that “Wat” had finished tiling the landing between our bedroom and where the stairs will be.

Looking out in to the back garden we saw that the guys were applying the finishing coat of cement for the top of the sea wall.

The long walk with the cement.

The pour.

Levelling it off.

As we prepared to leave our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize Nicholas was cleaning the area where he had been working.

House trained just like me! (fully expect Rose to post a comment in respect of this comparison)

And the guys were making the last pour for the top of the western section of the sea wall.

Nearly finished.

Today’s headline is based on the song released as a single in 1983 by Billy Joel which reached number ten in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number eight in the UK Singles Chart.

“Up the Ladder to the Roof” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Spent far too much time yesterday morning pulling yesterday’s edition together. I took so many photos of the windows (doors) being fitted that it took an absolute age to decide which to include and which to discard. Decisions, decisions.

With the edition published (love ‘saying’ that because it makes me feel like Rupert Murdoch – OK, on a much,much smaller scale and nowhere near as wealthy. I am younger than him though!) it was time for Rose to cut my hair. It was well overdue and had just got too long and I was actually starting to sweat a lot more than I usually do.

A quick shower and I was ready (I did get dressed as well) to hit the shops with Rose to buy the household stuff we needed. With the shopping done we had lunch and headed off to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and arrived shortly after 2 pm having stopped on the way to buy sixteen bottles of soft drinks for the guys ( I ‘phoned Angel prior to setting off to find out how many bottles were needed).

We didn’t waste time looking around the Ground Floor or the First Floor for that matter. There was only one place to be so it was up the ladder to the roof ( OK, up the scaffolding to the Second Floor – some creative license here because I need a headline!) to see if the guys had fitted the other sliding window (door).

Not only had they fitted it but by the time we got there the door ‘furniture’ had been fitted and Nicholas was busy applying silicone around the frame.

Not too far from Nicholas was “Wat” (I have nicknamed him this in honour of Wat Tyler who led the Peasants’ Revolt in England in 1381) who was coming to the final stages of laying the tiles for our bedroom.

He was cutting the tiles for the area closest to where the door will ‘go’ for my bathroom.

With masonry sealant on the walls and the tiles nearly laid the bedroom looked a lot bigger.

View from the landing.

View from my bathroom door (OK, where the door will be fitted).

Outside on the veranda/roof terrace Alfredo was busy with the roller applying masonry sealant to the northern wall in the western corner near our seating area.

He had already done this section by the time we got there.

Not that far away Rafael (aka The Frog) was applying the first coat of emulsion to the external wall (northern) to Rose’s bathroom.

Starting to look really clean and bright now.

At the end of the garden work continued on the sea wall with the guys applying cement to southern side of the sea wall.

Really pleased with what we had seen we went to the First Floor where Alfredo (having finished applying masonry sealant to the wall on the Second Floor), Porfelio and Appolito were giving the floor a clean-up in advance of sealing the walls.

Alfredo getting the dust out of the corners.

Appolito cleaning the hallway.

At the front of the house José was finishing off rubbing down the ceiling (removing excess joint compound) in the bedroom (Rose’s handicraft room).

José posing for the picture.

At ground level Martin was applying the finishing coat of cement for the walls of the steps from the self-contained apartment’s ‘master’ bedroom and Alfonso was fitting plycem boards under the First Floor’s western veranda.

As we left our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize we saw that Martin had made the hatches for the septic tank.

A ‘close-up and personal’ with one of the hatches.

On the way to the ‘cart we took a slight detour and went to the north-east corner of our lot to see the guys working on the well.

Guys laying the ‘blocks for the section (32″ high) where the pump will be installed).

Rear view of the house with two sliding windows (doors) in. Only five (four at the back and one at the front) to go!

In the evening Rose and I went to Carlo and Ernie’s Runway Bar & Grill to watch Belize play USA in its first ever game in the CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) Gold Cup. Belize lost 6-1 but put up a very spirited performance against a team with vastly more experience. They did Belize proud.

If you haven’t been to the bar yet it has a great atmosphere and a serves really good food (I love the fish fingers and chips (fries for non UK readers).

The menu.

Today’s headline is based on the single released in 1970 by The Supremes (minus Diana Ross) which reached number six in the UK Singles Chart and number ten in the US Billboard Hot 100.

“It’s Getting Better All the Time” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Up ridiculously early yesterday morning at 3.40 am. Must have dozed too much the previous day!

After reading the pages and pages of coverage for Andy Murray’s triumph at Wimbledon in The Times (online version) I checked my In Box for emails and was disappointed, but not overly surprised, to find that the banks I use in the UK and Jersey will not act upon the change of address (for security reasons) detail I sent them last week. So I now have to write letters to both. Oh well, it will give me something to do!

Feeling a little in need of sustenance I showered, shaved, dressed and grabbed the iPad and headed off to Estel’s for a well deserved breakfast ( I don’t set particularly hard targets for myself so they are easy to achieve!). For example just waking up in the morning is my first target of the day. See what I mean.

Anyway, breakfast was good- as it always is – and I got time to do a little Googling to see what colour stains are available for cement for our build in Ambergris Cate, Belize. I think I may have mentioned previously that although we are having the entrance stairs and the First Floor veranda tiled, the Ground Floor ‘open’ area and the Second Floor veranda and roof terrace will have a cement finish. I came up with a few colours but the question now is whether they are readily available in Belize. My next task (with the invaluable help of Daniel Camal, our building contractor, of course) is to find if they are.

When I got back to the condo we are renting Rose and I took care of some household chores which took a couple of hours and headed off to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize around 2 pm.

When we got there we saw straight away that some of the sliding windows (doors) were ‘missing’ from the Store Room/Garage. So we rushed in to the Ground Floor self-contained apartment to see if one had been fitted for the ‘master’ bedroom. It hadn’t! So we went straight up to the First Floor. None (there are three to be fitted) there either. Realising that the action must be up on the Second Floor we ascended via the scaffolding in double quick time.

As I got to the top I saw it.

Once up there we had to carefully avoid the tiles that were being laid to step out on to the veranda to get a good look at of one of the PGT Winguard sliding windows (doors) fitted. Or was it?

We hadn’t been up there long when the guys started to remove it. They had put the wrong one in first.

“So how are we going to do it?”

“Lift Nicholas.”

“It’s out.”

Nicholas then screwed in the runner and they were ready to put in the correct window (door).

“Up a bit your end.”

“Easy does it.”

“It’s in.”

“And secure.”

With the first one in they very quickly set about getting the second one in and did so fairly quickly. Before they did so though Angel cut the window strip

and Nicholas ‘snapped’ it in place.

And then they were ready to install the second window (door).

Window (door) in.

“Phew. Glad that’s over.”

Nicholas immediately started filling in around the window frame with silicone whilst some of the guys stared to read the instructions to see how the handles and locks have to be fitted.

Nicholas at work with the silicone gun.

Alfredo, having helped to lift the windows (doors) in to position, resumed applying the second coat of masonry sealant to the northern wall.

Oh, and down below in the back garden the guys were applying the penultimate coat of cement to the water facing side of the sea wall.

The long walk with water.

Knocking the cement up.

And spread it on the wall.

Around the corner on the southern side Rafael (aka The Frog) had started applying the first coat of matt emulsion.

And down below at ground level Martin was applying the finishing coat to the western wall of the septic tank.

Finished.

Before we left our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize we went to the back garden to see how the windows (doors) looked from down there.

Rose and I left there thinking it’s getting better all the time!

The headline is based on the single released in 2004 by Brooks & Dunn which reached number one in the US Billboard Country Songs and number fifty-six in the US Billboard Hot 100.

“Give Me Just a Little More Time” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Late with publishing today’s edition today because I watched the 2013 Wimbledon Men’s Final between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray (fortunately it was televised on ESPN here).

A fantastic effort by Andy Murray to win the game in straight sets and become the first champion from Britain in seventy-seven years.

Yesterday Rose and I got to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize around 3.20 pm – around forty minutes before the guys pack up for the week (they finish early on a Saturday unless there is a concrete pour).

We got there fully thinking that at least one (hopefully more) of the sliding windows would be fitted. We thought this because the previous day Nicholas had told us that this was the plan.

As we walked towards the house after parking the ‘cart we knew that the plan had not been executed. Why? Well, we could clearly see all seven of the sliding windows standing in the Store Room/Garage.

Disappointed but undeterred we went into the self-contained apartment on the Ground Floor and could hear voices. Not seeing anyone I peaked my head out of the window of the smallest of the two bedrooms to find Martin, Angel, Porfelio and Nicholas just finishing applying the final coat of cement for the top of the septic tank.

Seeing Nicholas there I immediately asked him if he had heard of Pinocchio. He nodded that he did but seemed puzzled as to why I should ask this question. I then told him that we knew that none of the sliding windows had been fitted and he immediately got the connection (for readers from the UK ‘the penny dropped’). He looked embarrassed and quickly said “Give me just a little more time” and explained that they had got the frames positioned for installation and that a sliding window would be fitted on Monday.

Leaving Nicholas to some ribbing from the rest of the guys Rose and I went to the back garden where the guys working on the sea wall were just packing up for the weekend.

We could see though that they had applied the penultimate coat of cement for the eastern side of the sea wall. All three internal sides done now with the just the top to go before the finishing coat can be applied.

On the way back to the house we walked around the northern side so that we could get a better look at the septic tank (and give Nicholas a bit more ribbing).

Looks good enough to be a garden table. If you didn’t know what it is that is!

Whilst around that side of the house we could see Alfonso and a new guy fitting the ceiling grids underneath the northern First Floor veranda.

Not too many plycem boards to be fitted now.

We went straight up to the First Floor where José was working alone sanding the ceiling joint compound.

(The two photos above were taken when we were in the back garden).

There was nobody else working on the First Floor (something that José had said?) but we did see the frames for the sliding windows as Nicholas said we would. Maybe he’s not Pinocchio after all!

Three frames ready to be fitted.

Wanting to see how the tiling was going in our bedroom we went up the scaffolding (it’s positioning had been altered so Rose could get up there – nice lads aren’t they) to the Second Floor.

Bedroom nearly done.

In the south-western corner of the veranda were the two frames for the sliding windows.

And around the corner on the northern side Alfredo had just finished applying the first coat of masonry sealant to the external wall for Rose’s bathroom.

External wall of the bedroom to do.

On the western side we were able to take a closer look at the wall that has had it’s two coats of masonry sealant.

Ready for painting.

The headline is based on the single released in 1969 by Chairmen of the Board which reached number three in the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1970.

“If Only I Could” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

After the last few days of rainy and thundery weather yesterday was a wonderful change. Bright and sunny with a lovely breeze but hot nonetheless.

I spent a little time sending emails to inform various organisations (banks, pension administrators, credit companies) in the UK of our change of address. I know that it will be a little while before we move to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize but the PO Box that we are renting is operational now and mail can take around six weeks to get here from the UK.

It was too glorious a day though to be cooped up indoors so after a light lunch I grabbed my book (still haven’t managed to finish it yet) and headed down to the beach in front of the condo that we are renting for some ‘quality time’ (basically not doing too much!).

I read for around ninety minutes (OK I might have had a little snooze too) and got back to the condo shortly after 2.30 pm so that Rose and I could head off to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

We got there shortly after 3 pm and heard a sound that we hadn’t heard for a while. A concrete mixer. It’s a sound for us that is now synonymous with something significant happening for our build and this time was no different. The guys were pouring the top for our well (the water from this will be used for flushing our toilets and watering the plants).

Bucket brigade ‘feeding’ the ‘mixer.

Angel emptying his bucket.

Buckets at the ready for the concrete.

Angel with concrete in the wheelbarrow heading towards the well (situated in the north-east corner of our lot).

Porfelio with the feather edge levelling off the concrete.

Leaving the guys to finish off the pour Rose and I headed towards the house but on the way stopped to admire the work of Rafael (aka The Frog) and Alfredo who were applying masonry sealant to the eastern wall of the Second Floor.

Alfredo on the left and Rafael (aka The Frog) on the right.

Close up of the guys in action.

After the quiet day of a few days ago we were very pleased with what we had seen so far so hurried to the house (exciting, isn’t it!) where we found Alfonso fitting ceiling boards in the smaller of the bedrooms of the self-contained apartment on the Ground Floor.

Alfonso at the end of the hallway that connects the two bedrooms.

It seemed like there was action everywhere. Could it get any better? It did when Alfonso told us that floor tiles were being laid on the Second Floor. So we went straight there. Well I did but unfortunately the scaffolding was placed in such a way that it was too dangerous for Rose ( I can virtually hear your sighs of disappointment for her).

Once up there I could see that they had made a good start on our bedroom.

Getting the adhesive for the next tile.

Adhesive down.

And now some for the tile.

I was momentarily distracted when I looked across and saw a very dejected Rose. Her face said it all “If only I could”.

Her forlorn look very quickly disappeared when we saw the tile being laid.

Feeling very happy with what we had seen we decided to set off for home but not before we saw that Rafael (aka The Frog) and Alfredo had virtually finished applying the masonry sealant to the wall.

Rafael (aka The Frog) cutting in around the window and Alfredo starting on the northern wall.

We also took a quick look to see how work on the well was going.

And it was time for the float.

The headline for today’s edition is based on the 1989 single released by Sydney Youngblood which reached number three on the UK Singles Chart.

“Change” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Yesterday, as I mentioned in the previous edition, we experienced a very wet morning on the island. Streets, and even those that are paved, for a while could not cope with the extremely heavy rain and some were flooded. As the rain eased off though the water dispersed and the roads became more easily navigable.

Apparently the flooding was caused by drains that had been clogged by sand from the previous tropical depression.

Coconut Drive underwater in front of the Tropic Air terminal. (Photo courtesy of the San Pedro Town Council Facebook page).

With no drains on the land around our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize we knew that there would be areas where it was heavily underwater and that was exactly the case when we got there around 3.30 pm.

.

Front of the house on the north-eastern side.

It’s not good to see so much of our garden underwater but it is letting us know where we need to direct our efforts (and money) for additional landfill.

Having parked the ‘cart in a dry(ish) area we went straight to the Ground Floor self-contained apartment where we found the brothers, Nicholas and Angel, fixing ceiling boards in the living/dining/kitchen area.

Nicholas with the drill whilst Angel goes to get the next board.

Through to the bedrooms and we saw that the lines had been struck to lay the final course of cement for the floors.

Lines struck for the floor of the hallway between the two bedrooms.

Lines struck for the floor of the smaller of the two bedrooms.

And for the en-suite bathroom.

Outside Martin was finishing the final coat of cement for the sides of the steps that lead to the back garden from the ‘master’ bedroom.

Martin at work with the float.

And then with the sponge for the smooth finish.

Just around the corner (on the northern side) we could see that Martin had finished applying a coat of cement for the outside walls of the septic tank

Needs a finishing coat obviously.

Just as we were about to head up the stairs Daniel Camal, our building contractor, arrived and asked us to go up to the Second Floor with him because decisions were required on how we wanted the doors to the walk-in closets/en-suite bathrooms fitted. So we quickly went up to the First Floor and then accessed the Second Floor via the scaffolding.

Once up there we saw Rafael (aka The Frog) balanced on a duck board applying the second coat of masonry sealant to the walls. All of the walls, inside and out, will have two coats of sealant before the paint is applied. This should prevent moisture coming through from the cement and the paint finish should look better and for a lot longer.

Walls starting to look a lot brighter.

We then spent a little time discussing with Daniel where the doors would be fitted and, after he had explained the options to us, we elected to disregard the placement that our architect has signified on the plans and have them fitted a little further back.

Blue arrow indicates placement as per the architectural plans and the red arrow shows where they will now be fitted.

It’s good to make a change.

The headline is based on the 2009 single by Daniel Merriweather which reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart.

“Rub It In” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

A sad start to today’s edition. On Tuesday evening Rose and I heard the sad news that “Drummer Dan” (Dan Van Patten) had sadly passed away earlier in the day.

Those readers of this blog that either live on Ambergris Caye or visit it will have undoubtedly come across “Drummer Dan” during his many years (he relocated here in 1997) on this island playing music in most, if not all, the bars.

Rose and I do not profess to have known Dan that well, more like nodding acquaintances, but we always found him to be a quiet and somewhat reserved man. A gentle man.

For those of you not aware, Dan was a founding member of the group Berlin.

Rest in peace Dan.

Belize is currently in the midst of a tropical depression ( no this is not something that is caused when I have just finished washing the golf cart and the rain pours down) and on my way (gave up trying to write this edition on the veranda because I was getting soaked) to Estel’s for breakfast (the only one there as I write this) the drainage was struggling to cope with the heavy rain and puddles (!!) were heading to over six inches deep (even in front of the Tropic Air terminal).

It did rain yesterday as well and Rose and I waited until there was some respite before we headed off to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and didn’t get there as a consequence until nearly 4 pm.

Once there we found a rather depleted team. There were only six of the guys there. Looks like Daniel Camal, our building contractor, had moved them to some or all of the other projects he is working on currently. Or had he sent them home to build up their strength for fitting the sliding windows?

At ground level Martin had finished working at the back (western or lagoon side) of the house on the steps that lead from/to the ‘master bedroom’ (of the self-contained apartment) to the garden.

Looking down from the bedroom veranda.

Looking up from the garden.

Having finished the steps Martin was putting the form boards in place around the septic tank so that he could apply another coat of cement.

Septic tank on the northern side of the house.

Up on the First Floor José was being assisted by a new guy in applying joint compound to the ceiling boards.

Joint compound and spreader “ready to go”.

Compound applied for some of the bedroom (Rose’s handicraft room) ceiling.

Out in the hallway José’s newest assistant was applying compound to the ceiling.

The new guy at work.

Hearing a grinding sound I went to the northern veranda where I found Alfredo busy at work on the wall removing the rough bits of cement before the masonry sealant is applied. He really does know how to use that stone. He knows how to rub it in!

The other side of Alfredo!

The sound of an electric saw got me scuttling up the scaffold to the Second Floor where Angel was cutting wood to support the bathtub for Rose’s bathroom.

The temporary wood shop!

Before we left our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize we popped in to the Ground Floor self-contained apartment and found that they had finished applying the finishing coat of cement for the en-suite for the smaller of the two bedrooms

Not the greatest picture quality but believe me the finish looks good.

And they had finished the two recessed shelves in the shower area.

The headline for today’s edition is in response to a suggestion yesterday by long-time reader of the blog,Wes Wilt, and is based upon the single by Layng Martine (produced by Ray Stevens) which was released in 1971 and reached number sixty-five in the US Billboard Hot 100. Billy “Crash”Craddock covered the song in 1974 and his version did better in the charts, reaching number sixteen in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one in the US Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Thanks for the suggestion Wes.

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

Up around 4 am yesterday morning and after reading The Times online and taking care of a few emails I decided that I would go wash the ‘Cart and started the task just after 6 am (nice and cool at that time of day).

Around 7.20 am I had just finished wiping it down and applying the chamois when – yes you’ve guessed it – there was the sound of thunder and the rain came down. It was still clean but… At least when our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize is finished I will be able to wash the ‘cart undercover and it will remain clean and shiny for a while!

At 9 am I received an email from Excess International Movers (the company that is handling shipping for us) advising that, as scheduled, the goods we have had in storage in the UK since we moved to Ambergris Caye, Belize, had been collected from the storage unit on the Isle of Dogs in East London. It’s now time to move it on over and hopefully some time next week they will be put on a boat and then around six to seven weeks after that they should be with us. I am sure it will be a bit like Christmas with loads of parcels to open.

I really don’t know where the rest of the day went but it just did and Rose and I didn’t set off to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize until nearly 4 pm but it is only a relatively short journey (unless the roads are particularly bad, which they weren’t).

Once there we took our customary walk-around to see what had been done and what the guys were working on. First thing we noticed was that Angel had applied the finishing coat of cement to the western wall for the first flight of the entrance stairs.

Won’t be long before the masonry sealant goes on . And then the paint!

A few steps away we could see that the western wall of the Pump Room had also been finished.

External walls for the Pump Room now finished.

Just around the corner on the northern side of the house they had started applying cement to the exterior walls of the septic tank.

As we reached the top of the stairs on the First Floor we found Alfredo hard at work rubbing the veranda wall down to remove any excess cement. He was using a small piece of a concrete block to do this.

Alfredo’s rubbing ‘stone’.

Alfredo at work with his ‘stone’.

Inside the house José was applying joint compound for the ceiling in the living room area.

José applying the compound.

Across the room we could see that they had ‘made good’ around the pipes for the kitchen sink.

Needs the finishing coat now.

Out on the western (lagoon side) veranda was young Appolito rubbing the wall down.

“Put your back in to it Appolito”.

Looking down we could see Martin working on the steps that lead from the ‘master bedroom’ in the Ground Floor self-contained apartment to the back garden so we went down to take a closer look.

Martin loading his hawk with cement.

The steps starting to take shape.

Looking up we could see that the guys had now started rubbing down the walls outside the living/dining room area (western side of the house).

Rafael (aka The Frog) on the left and Appolito on the right.

Back (facing the lagoon) of the house.

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

“A Whiter Shade of Pale” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Spent a bit of time yesterday morning trawling the Internet in the hope of finding that Arsène Wenger , the Arsenal manger, has started making some marquee signings for next season. No such luck. Plenty of speculation ( and much of it, I am sure, created by journalists just to fill space) but no actual announcements. Looks like this could be another pre-season when our transfer activity will be a conducted ‘at the last minute’.

Feeling a little disappointed , and quite frustrated, I then turned my attention to thinking about what key performance indicators (KPIs) should/could reside within the contract I have been reviewing for an ex-colleague in the UK. With a brain that wasn’t functioning as well as I would like (opportunity here for my friends and ex-colleagues in the UK to post some ‘humorous’ comments) I ‘took’ myself off to Estel’s for a breakfast that I hoped would get the creative juices flowing. And it did. Just now need to draft the wording for the KPIs.

I can sense that many of you are now starting to say “Enough of what you do in the morning, what about your build in Ambergris Caye, Belize?” So …

Rose and I got to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize a bit later than usual at around 3.45 pm and as we parked the ‘cart saw the very pleasing sight of white exterior walls. The guys had started applying masonry sealant.

There was only one place for Rose and I to go, straight up to the Second Floor.

Once up there we found Rafael (aka The Frog) and Alfredo (he has returned to working on our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize after a holiday in El Salvador visiting his mother and a couple of weeks working at Grand Baymen which Daniel Camal, our building contractor, has a contract for) were busy applying ‘sealant with rollers.

“Come on Rafael, put your back in to it!”

“That’s better”.

They had already covered the exterior wall for my bathroom and although it wasn’t a brilliant white, more a whiter shade of pale, it sure looked good.

Exterior wall for my walk-in closet and bathroom.

Feeling pleased with what we had seen on the top floor we went down to the First Floor where José and Alfonso were fitting Sheetrock (plaster board for UK readers) for the ceilings.

The bedroom (Rose’s handicraft room) ceiling fitted. Now needs the joint tape and joint compound to be applied.

Ceiling in for the en-suite bathroom.

Down to the Ground Floor where we saw that Angel had applied the penultimate coat of cement for the lower flight for the entrance stairs.

Inside the self-contained apartment work was underway on finishing off the walls in the bathrooms.

Bathroom for the smaller of the two bedrooms.

Recessed shelving finished for the bathroom for the ‘master bedroom’.

The guys have made real progress on ceilings and walls and it can’t be long now before the sliding windows get fitted. Please!

The headline is based on the 1967 single by Procol Harum which reached number one in the UK Singles Chart and number six in the US Billboard Hot 100.