Progress Report
July 11-17 , 2005 // CONSTRUCTION LOG #40
Contact phone numbers
Internet Phone:
New York 315-279-6711 // Toronto 416-907-5758
Costa Rica:
Cell 506-305-3965 // Land 506-282-0910
Pictures: 2 pictures of 107; interior pictures don't
turn out all that well.
CONSTRUCTION
Permit: All documents have been submitted to SETENA
including the commitment from the Municipality of
Santa Ana that they will continue to pick up the
garbage. Now we wait. How long?????? We don't know
but I'm advised that this is vacation time so they are
not at full staff. My guess is that it will be
between one to two weeks.
New Construction: On the triplex (114, 115, 116)
we've started working on finishing the grey coat on
the walls and around the windows and doors.
Roadways: The curbs are now complete except for that
area in front of 106. Now we have to sink absorption
holes for the rainwater runoff. This will be a messy
job and not one we will not do for a while.
Unit 107: The primer coat of paint is on and the
ceramic floor tile is mostly finished. The kitchen is
installed and some of the other cabinetry is also
mostly installed. Some lights are installed. Windows
are yet to be finished; the subcontractor is a bit
slow on this; we've spoken to him -he has until
Wednesday to finish. Doors will begin to be installed
on Tuesday. The front landscaping is mostly
completed; some finishing remains. Targeted
completion for construction and decorating is the end
of July.
Unit 106: This unit is now dismantled -the slab is all
that remains. A back hoe will be on site Monday morning and the concrete slab will be removed and all
evidence of the original 106 will be gone. We expect
to begin excavation work for the footings and slab for
106. We have salvaged the steel which we will reuse.
Those items which were useful to our employees (and
not to us) were given to them. Some plants have been
relocated; others will be removed and reserved until
such time as the construction has advanced elsewhere
that they can be safely replanted.
Problems: (1) We've been frustrated periodically by
electrical timers for night lighting, pool
waterfalls, etc. which stop timing. We've found a
different timer and are going to give it a try.
(2)
While we haven't had any problems recently, the entry
gate communications system we purchased 2 years ago
was not what I was told -it ended up being a bait and
switch deal. We've used it and have made it work but
it was always a weak link waiting to fail. In
addition, it could not be expanded to accommodate all
the houses we have. We have identified an excellent
system with far greater capability than we require but
the price is right. We are in the process of
upgrading to this new system.
Compost: We harvested our first batch of compost this
week. Not only was it good compost, but the gardener
has now seen the complete cycle and I think is
committed to it. Our next batch should be ready in
about another month.
Marketing: It appears we have sold 115 and 113. In
addition, we hosted a lady and her daughter this week
and have another person scheduled for this coming
week. The Tico Times ad will appear next edition.
OUR LIVES
Hugo: the little guy was so traumatized by being
alone while we were away that he won't leave our sides
or lap if he can manage it. He follows me everywhere
and has become even more affectionate than before.
Vicka: When not singing, Lita spends hours and hours
playing with her. Yesterday she climbed on to the
roof and Lita couldn't entice her to come down. When
it started to rain, the little bugger couldn't get
onto the pole that Lita was holding out for her fast
enough.
Lita has returned to her exercise routine and
continues to make progress one pound a at a time -the
dinner parties notwithstanding...
Tom and Susan, long time occupants of 106, are now
nicely relocated in one of the new units. They had us
and a few others over for dinner -course after course
of delicious things -stuffed mushrooms, Bolivian
empanadas (to die for), lasagna, and tiramisu all
washed down with appropriate beverages... Aside from
the delicious meal, it was the first time I had been
into the unit since it had been finished and
furnished.
I spent half the week showing my partner decorating
and finishing options for his unit which are
available. He was blown away by the variety of
different and interesting things he has to choose
from -just as many options but yet different than he
finds in Toronto. His problem, like so many others,
is not the case of finding what you like but in
choosing from amongst so many choices. In addition,
finishes and architectural details which you couldn't
afford in N. Am. can be had here because the labor
rate is so much lower. It was interesting to see a
person who did $65 million of construction in one year
so enthusiastic.
On Thursday night, I took a walk around the property
and viewed the garden lighting (not complete but
substantially advanced). I then made for the hammock
with cigar and rum. My first reflection time for over
a month. I aggravated the bursitis in my right arm
by patting myself on the back. Towards the end of the
rum, I solved the decorating problem I was having with
107 and went for a deep sleep. (In the morning I
again rejected my end-of-glass decorating solution but
came up with what I think works well and that's what
we gone with.)
Weather: It's rained a couple times in the past week
but nothing that caused us grief or lost us much
construction time.
It sure is GREAT having high speed internet and the
wireless feature is an added bonus.
Brian, Lita, Hugo and irreverent Vicka, the pigeon
toed parrot.
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