Week 7 Villa
|
Our Seventh Week at Sleeping Indian, Jolly
Harbour   
Sunday the 3rd of May. Bear had a bit of a false start this morning when one of the newly purchased egg boxes produced a floater that had to meet the bin and one that had a prior crack and got itself well and truly stuck to the corner of his nest. As is the chefs usual practice, he delivers my heavenly trio, settles to enjoy his and then goes to switch off the half dozen left bubbling that become hard boiled for wraps and salads during the week. Well, looking in the pot we saw what we both thought was an egg event. Spectacular as events go, but once out of water the smell was grim so he joined his friend in the bin. So out of twelve we lost twenty five percent. Mmmm. Not the best start to the day, a very good excuse to pick some heavy tools and do some destructive stuff. Oh dear.
  
In my quest to remove ‘brown’ from the villa I went at the first ballister with a wood saw. Wow. Well I wanted to be the good girl for a minute or two. As it happened just one flimsy nail top and bottom. Ooo time for the crow bar, nothing puts me in a better frame of mind than doing damage at speed. Oh dear yet again, do I need to cover my eyes. No, indeed not Sir. Very soon just the one that we need remained in place, may as well carry on then. The upper turn staircase was denuded of uprights and there was a nice pile for Bear to use in future building projects. That done it was time for a loaded and a planning meeting after a game of backgammon.
Walking back in from the deck, it was amazing to see that the staircase no longer dominates the room however, we had to imagine our way past the chaos of parked air con units and bedroom furniture. May as well take down the upstairs doors so they can wait in line with the downstairs two to go on their ‘olidays (to be sprayed white). Shall I put the tools away now ??? No, on the deck. Oh dear, dear me, I should have guessed.
 
I went at the patio fence. It wanted to resist but after giving it a good wellie, it gave up and looked so much better. So satisfying to see a pile of wood. I guess my job is nail removing ??? Absolutely. We had a lovely chat through video call with Cecily and Martin, all the way from Falmouth not the best signal but smashing to catch up with Cornish goings on.
As a treat for being such a beautiful assistant, I did Bear a worthy Sunday meal - pork chop, apple sauce, roast potatoes, parsnips and pumpkin, boiled cauliflower, with a mix of peas, carrots and mushrooms and of course lashings of gravy. I’m a very happy boy. Showers and a couple of episodes of Lucifer. Quite a productive start to the week, methinks.
  
Monday the 4th. We began by a smooth trot on the printer. Bear needed a label made to send Beez alternator back as it is under warranty. He made a box in readiness and I began sanding the staircase. Bear joined me with his own sander and soon the job seemed more like fun. The boys arrived to finish the outside installation part of the new air con units. Back to our task and needless to say we were soon covered in very dark brown dust and it began to pile up at the foot of the stairs in a satisfying fashion. Adam, Jenny, Fay and William video called, smashing to catch up with them and see William’s birthday presents in action.
Tuesday the 5th. The beaches are now open until curfew at 18:00, only two people together, no sunbathing, just swimming or exercising. Bear went to our old property managers home to see why we have not received Feb, Mar and Apr statements, keys and account money – was due on the the 30th of April. He was told she was at the doctors (strange when the surgeries are all closed......) so he settled on the golf cart outside. Her husband came out and said she really was at the doctors, Bear gave up and came back. We both took our anger out on some more sanding the staircase. Boys arrived with a careful welder who made the necessary joins to the outside air con units. Too late for a swim.
Wednesday the 6th. After breakfast and a five nil pounding at backgammon, Joyce popped in, Bear excused himself to go and face The Alien (old property manager’s new name) a quarter to ten. Gone an hour he returned to say that accounts should be ready ‘later on’. He did get keys and television provider numbers, a tiny step forward. We began a game of Mex Train but I couldn’t settle so at half twelve Bear went back, he returned with Feb and March statements with an explanation that as no payments were made in April (no reason or apology as to why ???) therefore no statement necessary. The shock reason we were nearly cut off was due to non payment of electric, water and ground rent to the tune of two thousand, two hundred and thirty-nine pounds and nine pence. Bearing in mind we had no clients in October and November, the average water and electricity would have to be three hundred and eighty-four pounds a month, I know it’s expensive here but.....I spent until half six with Bear’s help, carefully going over every entry, sum and payment. Urgently need a breakdown of the big bill, emailed Anthea.
Thursday the 7th. Lady Ronnie’s at nine to help me sort out ex’s and discuss all the various packages and expenses of transferring over to her care. Bear moved all the books from resting in the utility room to the under stairs cupboard until the bookcase comes back from its ‘oliday in shiny pale grey to match the television wall.
 
Friday the 8th. CDAL office at nine, no one there but I did get an email from Anthea telling me she will be on the case asap. Richard and Joel came to completely finish the new bedroom air cons (wall repair work went on Bear’s to-do list) and within minutes the upstairs was positively cold, triumph. Richard confirmed we would have to have run three villas with swimming pools to amass the ‘big bill’.
 
I certainly did not feel like riding a proper paint brush, even at a slow trot so I settled to something creative – to brighten up the lady painting that will move from our bedroom to the front bedroom. Bear lowered my work ironing board and we set it up as an easel of sorts, Very comical using gloss instead of water or oil paints.
 
First pass, during and obviously much more to be done.
 
At four we actually went for a swim.....
........our first time on a beach since Madagascar – wonderful.
Saturday the 9th. We had a go on the balcony to remove the excess wood but our combined strength was insufficient for the task – we are trying to do as much of the grunt work before any workmen arrive - but here we clearly need more bodies to provide the necessary oomph. We gave up and Bear decided we should actually have the rest of the weekend off, our first in fact. We played games and lazed about.
We did do one creative job though, Bear cut the wood to make a frame and together we stretched and fitted our African canvas – not sure where the chaps are going to hang but.......
ALL IN ALL A VERY MIXED BAG EXHAUSTION FINALLY SET IN |