I am, again, Connected to the World

I have an internet connection once again. BTL came out today and reset the modem and put a new modular end on the ethernet cable to see if that would resolve our connection issues. We had a few problems along the way, but they think they have solved the problem. Only time will tell (and the next power outage). I can now update the blog with new pictures.

Construction continues on the retaining wall, pool and cistern. It's really starting to show some progress.

But, before they can begin work on the structural beams, I need to make changes to the 2nd floor Master bathroom. Even though we won't begin work on that for a year or two, we need to have all the plumbing in the right location so everything will be there later when we do build. I also need to decide the final placement of the electrical outlets, fans, track lighting, wall sconces and outside lights. And other considerations are for phone/internet, satellite TV and speaker placement. I've had most of these on the original drawings but have decided to scale back some lighting and fans. We just won't need as much as I had originally planned. I also need to plan for the satellite dish placement. With the equator so close, the satellites are more spaced apart than they would be in the States, even though they are in a geosynchronous orbit. It just means that I need to have a full view of the southern skies from wherever I decide to put the dish on the roof. Another item to consider for the future is the satellite TV provider. Not everything is legal down here and it requires permits to import satellite dishes. Most providers don't want to provide service outside the US or Canada probably due to copyright laws.

Will I be Connected?

It's Sunday and it's a beautiful day here in Belize. The wind was almost non-existant today making the temperatures a little warm. So I packed up and headed for the beach... the beach in front of our lot. It's not much, but it's ours, and with the temps so high, it was nice and comfortable by the water.






I'm still waiting for an internet connection, but I do get a stray signal now and then. It allows me to update the blog, but with few pictures. BTL is due out tomorrow, but we'll see how that goes. Until then I have to keep it short and sweet.



I see lightning off in the distance. Maybe we'll get rain tonight. This area sure needs it. The rainy season starts in about two weeks. It's been tempting us by raining in Chetumal and in Corozal, but here on the Consejo point, we just watch the clouds roll by.

Still No Internet and the Blog Suffers

It has been almost a week with VERY limited internet access. With all of the power interuptions, it has taken its' toll on the modem. BTL, the local telephone monopoly, said they would be out Thursday, by noon, to fix the problem, but this is Belize. Thursday came and went with no BTL technician in sight. A call to BTL was of no help, as they said they were quite busy and they might be out Friday. Well, Friday has come and gone and again, no BTL technician. They are closed on the weekends, so, no internet until at least Monday.

The building on the lot is progressing and we hope to start pouring the support beams sometime late next week. They are just finishing up work on the cistern, pool and retaining wall. It's beginning to look like something instead of a big hole in the ground that just sucks up money. John has got a great crew working on our house and they have all but finished on Pip and Jason's house. Work on our place should start to move at a good clip from here.

John has picked up all the jobs he is going to do for the rest of the year and into the first part of next year. He's smart in not getting stretched too thin, as that is the problem that has confronted other builders here in Belize. John seems to be the only builder with a backlog of home builds while others here are idle. He's trying to build a good reputation and seems to be doing a good job of that. It's getting to the point where he's going to need office space in town to handle all of the things going on. He has sold the house he is currently residing in and is clearing the lot for his new home. He has a new architect, Dan, that will help design homes for people looking to build in the future. He is currently working on John's new home design and will probably have a good challenge working on new layouts based on living in the tropics.

The weather here has just been wonderful, now that the winds have died down. The last couple of nights I have spent time lying in the hammock, listening to some Jazz music and looking up at the stars. It is such a different sky than we have in Camarillo, with a whole new set of stars and constellations above and a much darker sky. I'm looking forward to bringing down my telescope so I can begin to explore.