Cuenca Updates: Thursday Jan 5/12 update

I have been up since 4:30am trying to get this Blog to do what we want and to make it easier to follow so we have made some major adjustments.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Good news for those of you who prefer to get these blogs via email. You can now just fill in your email address in the slot above and it will apparently arrive in your email much as before. It is tough to please everyone so we hope this will solve most of those issues. We certainly do appreciate the comments from those of you that enjoy receiving our news. It makes the effort worthwhile.

This is Thursday so it is book exchange day for Bella. I also finished my book so I swapped mine for Tom Clancy’s “Executive Orders” which is so thick it could be a spare pillow. That should take me a month or more to get through that puppy. Bella reads almost her every waking moment so she goes through books like mad. It is a good thing she has 1500 books on her Sony Reader too.

Bella then headed home while I criss-crossed my way to the Kywi store near the airport trying to find a cat door for the boys but had no luck. Bella had found one at a vet's office for $50 so we are trying to find one more reasonable. I lucked onto another bicycle shop near the Rotary Market and they had a small bicycle pump to attach to the bike for $5. I also located a lightweight expandable backpack for $10, so my biking paraphernalia is almost complete.

At Kywi I was shocked to see that the Bosch on-demand water heater was now $429 when it was $350 last week! We had been warned that construction materials were going up this year but we thought it would take a while to happen. We better get our renovations done quickly. It is a good thing that this did not affect our house price. I grabbed the Bosch, and 40 feet of hose for the gas to reach the stove, a regulator, and 3 bathroom vanities (I goofed, I only needed two).

I also grabbed a minimum meter of the screen that I want to show Jorge so I can get all the windows screened to keep the boys inside but still allow for air flow. We have arranged a meeting at the house tomorrow at 3:00 with Jorge and Michael. Jorge is to provide a matching upstairs window for the terrace so we can later arrange to put a roof over it all. He is also going to arrange the construction of our pantry and breakfast island. We may do some minor work tomorrow like removing the two windows between the dining room and the garage/new dining room. We probably will have to contract Enrique to make the removable wall inside the gate. Oh well, it will all start coming together soon.

I caught a cab and took a route around the north east side of the airport to get to the new house and it was quick and only $2. I then mapped out with masking tape on the tile floor exactly where we want the pantry and island as it is easier to visualize where everything will be. I am starting to get excited to get it all done.

I felt OK so decided to walk again towards home along the river and spotted some pretty flowers, guavas and gum trees so there are a couple of pictures attached. The sky was threatening to the south so I didn’t want to dawdle too much.

I stopped to pick up my bike at the bike mechanic’s and was amazed at the beautiful job he did welding some small painted rebar from my seat bolt to securely brace the basket. We then bolted on the small air pump behind the front wheel and I installed the green cable lock holster below the handlebars. I again almost fell over when the bill was a whopping $4. What a guy! I asked him how much to repaint the bike because I had seen him do that a couple of times. I must admit I was taken aback when he said $30. That can wait…

Bella has arranged a bridge game for tomorrow afternoon while I meet with Jorge and Michael. Bella and I will meet for supper at the California Kitchen around 6-6:30. I am hoping to find out where the Parade Of the Innocents will be happening tomorrow. Last year it was on Huyana Capac, about eight blocks away.

That was today’s excitement. Hugs to all.