another tough day at work

We came to the beach for the sun and the sea, but we got some things done as well.

the real reason

Apparently the Civil Protection or some such agency came around to inspect gas tanks and ours was tagged as too rusty and needing paint. I’m glad they are checking, I just hadn’t heard of them doing it before. Also, I couldn’t believe our tank was in that bad a shape as I thought we’d just bought it last year. Well, my time sense is off, it was actually 2 years ago. When I went down the side of the building and took a look at it, it was pretty bad. The salt air is amazing, it eats metal like a kid eats cheerios.

I had a hard time convincing Mimi that she didn’t want to do the job herself. We brought sand paper and rustoleum primer and paint but I finally got her to let us hire a guy to do the work. The tank looks great now, all safe and legal and pristine white. I’m not taking any bets on how long it will stay that way though, I hope the inspectors come back soon to check it off.

Rod creating a part for the door

It was much better that she and our friend Rod spent the day fixing our screen doors. It was a big job, they needed lots of tools and they had to modify parts and do all sorts of other stuff. I didn’t really pay much attention but the result is very nice. Our screen doors have been sticking for years, apparently they are so old the parts are no longer sold. Well, they slide like air now, in fact the breeze off the ocean kind of moves them back and forth.

Raui helping with the new screen

Mimi and Rod still working on the doors

It took them all afternoon and into the night. We barely made it to the Buena Vida for dinner before the kitchen closed. It must have been a tough job.

What was I doing? Oh, laying in the sun, swimming in the sea, reading – important stuff. I did go down and pay our bill with the management company and we went down the road and got 3 free mangrove plants for the ponds in Mérida. Our friend Jamie who owns the Buena Vida bar/restaurant here has opened a free nursery with starts for lots of native plants that he gives to any residents. He told me to go and sign up and get some when I asked about mangrove. It’s a great service to encourage people to plant natives that will hold the beaches and do well in this climate.