Update!

Going to fetch sand and cement is now off the agenda for the time being, the place will just have to continue cracking!!

We received an announcement two days ago that water restrictions would be starting as from 15th, up to ten hours a day, four in the day and six at night…It didn\’t take long for that to go out of the window, they started them at 9.30 last night, and it didn\’t come back on until I was getting up at 5.30am this morning, which in my calculation is eight hours! We have had to contact them, because the water pressure was not enough to kick start the gas boiler, fortunately they have now increased it enough to do so!

So until El Niño comes to an end, I can say goodbye to any major outside maintenance work. We are fortunate in that if we need water for other than drinking, we could always drop a bucket or two in the swimming pool!

I am going to try and make a start on the blanket boxes this week, I have some 2×4 in stock, although some of it has twisted, hopefully not bad enough that it can\’t be used, then I can make the frames. finishing with the plywood panels might have to wait, for next pay day.

The Montero is going in next week to have the timing belt replaced as a precaution, I don\’t know if it has ever been changed and with 335000km on the clock, I don\’t want to take the risk. Next week-end is Semana Santa, so everything will grind to a halt, with the current Utility restrictions, I am not sure if the family will be coming here or not, possibly not, as the swimming pool will not be available!!!

I also have another project coming up…I think!! We needed to replace our dining room chairs, as the existing ones are falling to bits. When we went hunting the other day, it seemed that buying a new dining room set including table is almost as cheap as just replacing the chairs, and as we bought this suite when we were in the apartment, a smaller table would be better here.

However, the options are somewhat limited in colour, it is either black or a very dark walnut (nogal), on what most of the shops claim is oak, I am not convinced of that, but I will find out shortly, because we contacted the shop and asked if it would be possible to buy the set unfinished, we can then choose our own colour,  I will be able to prepare the wood to a better finishing standard, than locally built sets, we have been told we can, at a good discount, but before ordering, we have asked to see a set in this state, at that point I will be able to confirm what it is made of.