Progress Report

Octubre 9-14, 2006 // CONSTRUCTION LOG #105

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.

NOTE: NOW THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT IS ESSENTIALLY FINISHED, THE LOG WILL FOCUS MORE ON THE RIO ORO DEVELOPMENT. IT WILL BE INFORMATIVE TO THOSE PLANNING ON BUILDING, THOSE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO PURCHASE OR TO LEASE, AND FOR THOSE WONDERING WHAT EXPATS DO IN COSTA RICA AND THE LIFESTYLE OF TWO ORDINARY PEOPLE.

The Story: Lita’s quick trip & the finishing details never end...

CONSTRUCTION

Weather: gorgeous mornings with some afternoon rains.

Unit 102: Granite supplier continues to hold up the finishing. The fountain maker has taken a hike and with it, my $300 deposit. The carport which we added at the request of the purchaser is about half done.

Rebuilding Small Rancho Roof: done

Satellite TV: we’re out of this business; our supplier just can’t keep it working. Others claim to be able to. Those wishing satellite TV can use other suppliers and our hardware...

VOIP Phone system: seems to be working now that I changed the phone and tightened a connection.

Garden: We’ve thrown some extra manpower into the garden. While a garden is never finished, it is as close now to what I expect will be the “steady state” as it’s ever likely to be —with the exception of the still non-existent irrigation system. I bought about 200 orchids and distributed them around the property, have relocated still more plants to barren areas or to areas they will prefer —more or less sun— etc.

Rio Oro Development

I’m working on the prospectus and the pro forma. The architect has developed a color coded site plan. Clearing of the land continues. The workers harvested some ripe coffee beans.

OUR LIVES

On Friday night, Lita received word that an elder brother in the Philippines had died. This meant that someone in the family would return. On Saturday morning she decided she wanted to go —she had been talking for a year about returning to see her relatives. I got her a ticket on Air Canada for the 1:30 departure the same day and she was met by her family in Toronto. Direct flight. She was very nervous flying on her on due to her eyesight. She got wheel chaired through the airport maize and was fine —phoned me happy as she could be on her arrival. On Monday she will fly with her sister from Toronto to Manila and beyond to her family home. She’ll return to CR in about a month. One of the reasons we chose CR and this location is exactly because of this— if need be, travel arrangements can usually be made quickly. I’ve never felt isolated from friends or family. It’s going to be a big change for me with her not around but there’s lots happening here so... I now have to take care of the parrot whose neck I’d just a soon ring... maybe a seed will get lodged crosswise in his throat and he’ll...

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

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