Progress Report

March 27 - April 1, 2006 // CONSTRUCTION LOG #77

Contact phone numbers

Internet Phone:
New York: 315-279-6711
Toronto: 416-907-5758 // 416-461-2203

Costa Rica:
Cell: 506-305-3965
Land: 506-282-4142 Ext. 101

NOTE: the New York and Toronto numbers are "local calls" for people in the area codes; calls from outside the area code will be billed at the normal rate from the caller's area code to either the "315" or the "416" area code.

Pictures: 101/2 and the lockers, mosaic mural

CONSTRUCTION

Weather: mixture of calm / sunny / and some overcast and light rain

Units 101 / 102: It continues to progress. Concrete for footings will be poured on Monday. Block is on site and will begin being laid Tuesday.

The workers have been working full Saturdays for the past month so they can have the entire week of Semana Santa off. I expect we will still have a few around but for the most part, we'll be closed down, like the rest of the country for that week.

Lockers and Locker House: Blocks are being laid and all the ground floor lockers should be roughed in by mid next week. This will be followed by framing and pouring the reinforcing columns and the collar tie. Despite specific questions and reassurances from the architect, the staircase as designed will not work. We will redesign it.

Units: 120, Only final cleaning remains.

Landscaping: we've continued making refinements.

Electrical System Upgrade: the remaining installation should begin next week. It looks like this long ordeal is coming to a conclusion.

Mosaic Mural: we've decided to make a mural of broken tiles on the front wall near gate 2. One of our employees is an artisan and he's doing it. He's having a lot of fun with it and is proud; he should be; see the picture.

Garden walkways: we've virtually completed those areas which are not still used as construction pathways. Grouting and trimming will be done by Tuesday.

Transition: This still continues but we are beginning to see some benefits. Next week, we will have passed the 51% ownership of shares and will proceed to call for an election of shareholders to form the new board of directors for Doneste S.A.

The bank account is, after three weeks, finally set up. The folder at the bank is about 1" thick. The documents lost by them were finally found in the courier's bag. . Dog: The resident guard dog, Canuk continues to ail. We've purchased a new dog , partially trained, and he will be on site next week. There will continue to be a training period until he is a fully trained guard dog and knows what his job is at Los Jardines. Canuk will help train him and then will pass into history and be remembered as smart, attentive, and dedicated to his job.

Marketing: Unit 113 closed and next week we expect 121 / 122 / and 123 to close. We've continued to be frustrated by words and unrealized assurances on 120 / and the resale of 108. When actions don't support words, one is left with a mystery; mysteries take time to solve.

As residents have left or have received their furnishings, we've been reconsolidating surplus furnishings and sorting through to make a complete set for a furnished unit.

One of our recent guests has a large courier company in Toronto. He agreed to take back a number of brochures and will distribute them to his clients. We should get some exposure.

Next Project: No progress on this. We've focused on finishing off this project and digesting our appetite for the next.

Note: Santa Ana and Pozos de Santa Ana continues it's rapid development. Two new lots along the main road are being prepared for construction. Midweek, all construction on the new Forum office buildings ceased. Why? I don't know. A new Texaco gas station on the east side of the road (finally) is nearing completion. In Santa Ana, a new commercial mall and a multiple condominium building project is nearing completion.

OUR LIVES

We've spent the past week saying good-bye to friends-old and new-as they return to their principal residence for the summer season or until they tidy up their affairs and are able to make the final move to CR. It's hard to say good-bye but in all cases we know it's only an interlude and they will all return, and probably for longer periods of time.

My schedule looks like it has the potential of winding down to a comfortable level. I have a large backlog of personal things to deal with. Perhaps this next week I can begin to deal with some of them.

Today is April 1-the anniversary date 4 years ago of our purchase of his property and our commitment to a new life. (At the time, I thought it poetic to conclude a decision on this date. While the story is not yet over, for me the purchase date of April 1 was just another day.) In the four years, we've accomplished a tremendous amount, undergone incredible personal changes, faced uncertainties galore, taken huge risks in a foreign culture and country, and are the wonder, envy as well as curiosity of many of our friends, Our life has unfolded much as I had envisioned- probably due to luck and some good decisions. We have another 4 months of construction before our home is finished and we can begin to complete the settling in of our life here.

Lita is still adjusting-she is caught in a warp of the Philippines, Canada, and Costa Rica. The first one makes no sense (but she has to find that out) and Canada doesn't really either but she has to sort her way through that as well. She has the additional element (and so do I) of her eyesight. The latter I anticipated and from a design and lifestyle perspective I've done all I can do; now, it's up to her and to us.

Brian, Lita, Hugo and irreverent Vicka, the pigeon toed parrot

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