Month: April 2023

After the problem with the hydro, I thought I was home-free. But then I found that the water wasn’t heating up so we couldn’t take a shower. After an exhaustive examination (well, I looked at it) I decided to consult Mrs. Google. It seemed as though it needed a new thermostat so on our way to town we stopped off to get one. Sixty bucks later and I had the fix…or so I thought.

The water only heated to lukewarm, so now what? I finally decided it was something to do with the mixer valve. To get to it, I had to cut a hole in the stair riser. I took it apart but it seemed fine. After it was all back together, the water temperature was fine again. Maybe an airlock; I don’t know.

When we reconnected our cell phones it was discovered that we were paying $20 a month more for each one. However, we were getting 6 more gigs of data that we didn’t need. I believe a phone call is needed. I think I mentioned once before that our bill in Canada was $35 plus tax and we get exactly the same usage in Mexico for $15.

The heat pump has turned out to be a great success. We put it on ‘heat only’ for now and it keeps us nice and toasty. The other morning though, the outside breaker popped and I had to get the maintenance guys to reset it for us. Fifteen minutes later it popped again. At this point, I realized why. We had on: the heat pump, the electric fireplace, the fridge, the hot water tank as well as the electric kettle. I switched the hot water tank over to propane and so far no more problems.

Then the Wi-Fi started to act up. When we first got here the signal was off and I did a lot of muttering about Telus for not turning our hub back on. Eventually, I called them. Now that sounds easy, but after having an argument with a computerised answering service that kept telling me they had no ideas what I was talking about, I was ready to explode. I decided to use online chat but it kept referring me to a website that also didn’t know what I was talking about. I did eventually get through and found that we weren’t supposed to get reconnected for a few more days. Oops! my fault!

When it was back on Wi-Fi, the signal was really bad. I kind of expected this as the new roof blocked the antenna. Eventually, we got no signal at all so I had to do something. I waited for the coldest, the rainiest and most miserable day before going outside to tackle the problem. I froze my toosh off but eventialy got the antenna in a place where we could get a better signal. It’s only a temporary fix and I will make it permanent as soon as the weather gets warmer.

Rosalie said I done good

No more problems please, I’m done!! Wait, Rosalie just informed me that there’s water on the bathroom floor. Oy Vey!

This is one of the nicest and most gentle articles I’ve read in a while: no politics, no religion and no racial issues, just food for thought.

You know time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was young and embarking on my new life. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams.

However, here it is the last quarter of my life and it catches me by surprise. How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go? I remember well, seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that I was only on the first quarter, and that the fourth quarter was so far off that I could not visualize it or imagine fully what it would be like.

Yet, here it is…my friends are retired and getting grey. They move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than I am, but I see the great change. They’re not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant. But, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we’d become.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day and taking a nap is not a treat anymore; It’s mandatory because if I don’t of my own free will, I fall asleep where I sit.

And so, now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did. But at least I know that, though I’m in the last quarter and I’m not sure how long it will last, that when it’s over on this earth, it’s over. A new adventure will begin!

Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn’t done; things I should have done but truly there are many things I’m happy to have done. It’s all in a lifetime.

So, if you’re not in the last quarter yet, let me remind you that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life, do it quickly. Don’t put things off too long. Life goes by so quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether you’re in the last quarter or not.

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of life. So, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember – and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the past years.

‘Life’ is a gift to you. Be Happy! Have a great day! Remember, it is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.

You may think:

Going out is good – but coming home is better!

You forget names – but it’s okay because some people forgot they even knew you!

You realize you’re never going to be really good at anything like golf – but you like the outdoors!

The things you used to care to do, you aren’t as interested in anymore – but you really don’t care that you aren’t as interested.

You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV on than in bed – you call it ‘pre-sleep’!

You miss the days when everything worked with just an ‘On’ and ‘Off’ switch!

You tend to use more 4 letter words – ‘what’ and ‘when’

You have lots of clothes in your wardrobe; more than half of which you will never wear – but just in case!

Old is good –
• Old is comfortable
• Old is safe
• Old songs
• Old movies
• and best of all,
• Friends of old!

So, stay well, ‘Old friend!’
Have a fantastic day!
Have an awesome quarter – whichever one you’re in!
Take care

Send this on to other “Old Friends” and let them be smiling in agreement.

It’s not what you gather but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you had.

You know time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was young and embarking on my new life. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams.

However, here it is the last quarter of my life and it catches me by surprise. How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go? I remember well, seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that I was only on the first quarter, and that the fourth quarter was so far off that I could not visualize it or imagine fully what it would be like.

Yet, here it is…my friends are retired and getting grey. They move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than I am, but I see the great change. They’re not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant. But, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we’d become.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day and taking a nap is not a treat anymore; It’s mandatory because if I don’t of my own free will, I fall asleep where I sit.

And so, now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did. But at least I know that, though I’m in the last quarter and I’m not sure how long it will last, that when it’s over on this earth, it’s over. A new adventure will begin!

Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn’t done; things I should have done but truly there are many things I’m happy to have done. It’s all in a lifetime.

So, if you’re not in the last quarter yet, let me remind you that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life, do it quickly. Don’t put things off too long. Life goes by so quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether you’re in the last quarter or not.

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of life. So, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember – and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the past years.

‘Life’ is a gift to you. Be Happy! Have a great day! Remember, it is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.

You may think:

Going out is good – but coming home is better!

You forget names – but it’s okay because some people forgot they even knew you!

You realize you’re never going to be really good at anything like golf – but you like the outdoors!

The things you used to care to do, you aren’t as interested in anymore – but you really don’t care that you aren’t as interested.

You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV on than in bed – you call it ‘pre-sleep’!

You miss the days when everything worked with just an ‘On’ and ‘Off’ switch!

You tend to use more 4 letter words – ‘what’ and ‘when’

You have lots of clothes in your wardrobe; more than half of which you will never wear – but just in case!

Old is good –
• Old is comfortable
• Old is safe
• Old songs
• Old movies
• and best of all,
• Friends of old!

So, stay well, ‘Old friend!’
Have a fantastic day!
Have an awesome quarter – whichever one you’re in!
Take care

Send this on to other “Old Friends” and let them be smiling in agreement.

It’s not what you gather but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you had.

All packed and on our way. 

Ylda was nice enough to pick us up and drive us to La Cabaña for breakfast, after which we dragged our cases across the road to the bus depot. The bus was half an hour late, which is normal as the road from PV is slow and windy.

The bus pulled into Tomatlán for a ten minute break and Rosalie rushed to the baño as she didn’t want a repeat of last years debacle. While I visited the boys’ room, Rosalie got talking to the folks across the aisle. They were from Coombs on the Island. It seems that a lot people who visit Melaque are from Vancouver Island so I wasn’t too surprised.  

I don’t know why we booked our return on Sámana Santa (Easter), but we did. We thought Melaque was busy until we got to PV. Cars everywhere. Even sitting canted into the ditches at the side of the road. After arriving at Al and Cathy’s place we went out for dinner at Victor’s restaurant at the marina. 

The following morning took us to the Flamingo Hotel to book a reservation for September. It was too early to book though so we have to wait until August. When we got back to the condo it was time to change into our ‘winter’ clothes. It was awful. I haven’t worn socks or long pants for six months. Very uncomfortable.

An Uber was arranged to take us to the airport. The fare was double the regular rate as it was very busy and we had a wait to get into the airport.

PVR was packed, but mostly with arrivals so we got through check-in and security fairly quickly. 

We needed something to eat on the plane so lined up for half an hour to get a Subway ‘samich’. After getting a bottle of water we were set to go. The flight was great and I watched two really good movies.

When the plane landed I filled out the Arrive Can. app and it took only 30 minutes from when we landed to when we walked out of the gate after getting our checked luggage.

Then there was the trip to Coquitlam. We had never taken an Uber before so I was a little apprehensive.  The one we got in PV was arranged by Al. When I pressed the button on the app, it said the car would be there in three minutes. The problem was, I wasn’t sure where we had to meet it. We finally got it sorted and the car pulled up. The driver was great and he made it a really nice ride to Jeannine’s home.

Arriving in Nanaimo

The next morning Jeannine drove us to Harbour Air and we flew to Nanaimo where Peter and Sue picked us up. When we got home there was no power on at all. This was quite a problem as we couldn’t turn the furnace on to heat the place up, nor drive the car to get groceries.

All our breakers were on so I got Rosalie to call the maintenance guy. He showed up and used a sniffer to find that we did have power. However, nothing worked. After he left I got out my own hydro sniffer with the same result. After a lot of head-scratching, then I had an idea. I went to the main power plug and sure enough it was loose. I re-plugged it and all was well.

I decided Peter and I needed a shot of that tequila we brought back, to calm us back down. So the day ended well.

It’s that time of year again when we have to start packing up to leave. It’s more than just packing, I have to take down all the shade cloths; it seems as though we only put them up last week. All the tables have to be put away and some moved up to the roof just in case it floods. Anyway, it’s slowly getting taken care of.

My biggest fear is when we start to pack our cases, I have to tell Rosalie what she can’t take. I don’t know if the tears in her eyes or the look I get are worse. Anyway, I will try to get as much as I can in. It shouldn’t be a problem as we usually only have carry-ons, but this time we have one checked bag. However, even if we had a storage container Rosalie would somehow manage to fill it.

Last week there was a problem with the water supply. All our water for washing-up showering etc. comes from a well in the laundry room. I started to water the plants but there was no pressure. Okay! Now what!

I checked the tinaco on the roof and it was only a third full. When I turned the pump on there was hardly any pressure. After thinking it over it was decided to call Castulo. He finally showed up but needed to call in the professionals. Two guys arrived and after lots of discussion, Castulo called Blanca and explained the situation. He then handed the phone to Rosalie so that she could tell us in English what was going on.

It appeared that the bottom of the well was clogged with mud and a new well had to be dug. This involved pulling down part of the building to get at it. Blanca said she would see us in a few days to sort the whole thing out.

In the meantime, I had to start the pump, let it run for about ten minutes until it ran dry, and then turn it off for an hour until it recovered. After several times of doing this, I turned the pump on and went to see the pressure in the tinaco. Well heck, the darn thing was operating at full pressure. We contacted Blanca, to set her mind at ease, and she was most grateful but not impressed with the “experts” opinion.

There are a few social dates to finish up and we found ourselves at a karaoke night. It was Neil’s 70th birthday and Diane had arranged a party for him. But first, we had a really great meal at the Kraken restaurant.

The usual crowd at Karaoke.

We don’t usually like karaoke as some people tend to get really stupid. This one was different as all but one of the acts were really good. There was a fair amount of free tequila going around and as the evening went on the singing got better. Anyway, we had a great time and that’s one more date off our list.