Weather… before it Got Better

It is the very first time that I experience such weather in Tequisquiapan. The skies remained dark, big black clouds bringing rain and worse for almost two weeks from the early days of February. We even got thunder, lightning and hail. Good grief, hail! My lot, covered as it is with tepetate, turned into ugly mud interspersed with muddy puddles. You can imagine how my RV was with 12 active paws trying to recreate the outside inside. Total resignation was the order of the day.

Now that I have a generator, I do my own laundry and let it dry on the line. In our usually sunlit temps, clothes take just short of an hour to dry. About midway in this awfully messy weather, I saw a minute glimmer of an opportunity to run a load. Using the generator and connecting to a hose that I normally use for watering plants, then cranking up the generator after having filled the washer by hand takes time. From start to finish, the first load takes at least one hour. I was watching the grey skies hoping that I would make it before the rain returned. No sooner had I hung the last pair of socks that the first drops hit… and didn’t stop until a week later!

During those last two weeks my batteries never got a full charge for the serious lack of sunshine; so using my computer was limited to less than one hour a day most days. Also, the downpour prevented me from using the generator. Fun days… Now that we have full sunshine, as usual I might add, I’ll be busy washing about 4 loads next after I’ve published this post. The fun continues.

Tomorrow, my two new workers, Javier and Hector, come for one week. They had given me three days to finish the top cadena. Sorry folks, I didn’t take a photo as it is a repetition of earlier work; quite boring I assure you. But necessary. It will be obvious why in the next phase as we begin the roof. I’m really excited about it. Although seeing the walls going up should have been equally exciting, I had a deplorable attitude of fretting about how much more was ahead of us. My greatest fear was  that something serious would require spending on the RV (it did—3 new batteries). I don’t allow myself much in the hope that it will be possible to have a house before next winter. All that I could afford in manpower was one measly week per month and at that speed, I thought that I’d have to live in the RV another two years. The reduced rates permit me to have them work two weeks a month. I’m beginning to believe that there may be an end in sight!

OK… now to the laundry.

LiveJournal Tags: Unusual Bad Weather in Tequis,Laundry,Spending

Things Turning Around

Every day follows another, but similar they are not. I suppose it was obvious that I was in a slump. Still waiting for a decent quotation for the electricity installation, I kept money toward that end. But nothing panned out. And then life happened…

My neighbours went to the Presidencia, equivalent to Town Hall, to ask for help with that issue. They had a couple of names of electrical engineers and requested quotations, taking into account that the Presidencia would take an active part moneywise –it was hoped. What resulted from this over the past weeks was that the assumption that the installation amounting more or less to public works instead of one restricted to the actual 8 families in need of it, the quotation was for $750,000 pesos, the equivalent of a large city block public works!!!! Another engineer came up with a lower quote, but way out of proportion to what we needed.

My friend Yvonne had the name of an engineer in Querétaro and I called him today to ask him if he could come to inspect what was required. He’s coming next week. We’ll see.

Then, my problems with using the computer were linked to very much used batteries. Two days ago when I wanted to start the RV engine, that one also gave up the ghost. So my quintos went for 3 new batteries, two regular 12 V for the house, one for the RV engine. Deep cycle batteries are not available here. The electrician Diego very obligingly drove us to Tequis and did the installation. The new batteries should be good for about one year. Diego will take over the electrical and plumbing responsibilities for my casita.

When my neighbours Gabriel and Reyna came yesterday to tell me about the non-results at the Presidencia, they offered that we share their workers, one mason and his helper. Their house is almost finished but they still have to build a large fence around the lot. They want to save so as to be able to afford the electrical installation. The rates for their workers are much lower (for outstanding work, I must add) which would allow me to have them work two weeks per month. Did I jump at the chance? You bet your sweet petunias!

FINALLY I CAN ENVISAGE HAVING MY HOUSE FOR NEXT WINTER!!!!

… or at least partially habitable.

At this point, I’ll put the electrical job on the back burner for as long as I can. It feels as if a light had suddenly appeared at the end of the proverbial tunnel. Restricting the construction to one week a month, all that I could afford, felt like a wall of lead had come between my project and its realization. It weighed hard and heavy upon my shoulders and I ended up doubting the wisdom of my past decisions. Today is so much better than the days of the past 5 to 6 weeks and my gratitude for this unexpected turn of events is immense.

We have had much rain since last weekend, moisture that the parched earth gobbled up avidly. Little shoots are valiantly raising tiny heads through the drab yellow desiccated stalks. All vegetation seems revived, as am I.

LiveJournal Tags: Happier News,Construction,Electricity Saga