Pleasant Surprises in Construction

Our second week of construction on the house commenced, and I must admit I was a little disappointed.  Monday dawned and we were at the house awaiting our crew, but by shortly after 8, no one had yet arrived. Easter weekend?

Vic and I toodled off downtown to pick up our new Temporary Residence Visas - yeah (more details to follow in a later blog).  When Vic returned to the house (I went shopping downtown at the tourist market with my girlfriend Barb) all was well under way, so we didn't think much of it.  But that afternoon, Juan our albanil called around 4pm to say he and the crew were leaving.  He wanted to let us know that we should come by soon to lock up the house.

I started to worry that now that week one was finished, and we had signed something of a contract with our albanil, that they were slowing down.  It appeared that way on Tuesday morning when again no one had arrived by 8am.

Having just spoken with a wonderful Mexican friend of ours, Sachi (more details to follow - excellent massage lady!), she indicated that in most parts of Mexico, albaniles (concrete people) rarely work on Mondays, so it may have been harder for Juan to gather his crew.  We learn something new every day!

In any case, that afternoon, having stewed a little over it, I spoke with Juan and he explained that they hoped to have the entire back yard finished by this Saturday (instead of next Saturday), and they needed to determine with us exactly how high to make the firme (concrete patio floor in the yard) and how high we would like the small fences around the gardens.  Juan actually suggested we make them about 45 cms high and he would make them about 30 cms wide, to be an actual little bench area around the edges.  What a great idea!  We were both very pleased and surprised that he felt the job would be completed ahead of schedule and we asked if he would be interested in doing a further 3 days next week on other of smaller projects to be part of the larger whole.  He said he would be and would come to us in the next few days with ideas on cost for the projects we further discussed.

A pleasant and unexpected surprise.  I can hardly wait for Saturday now!  :)

Have a great sunny day! 

Hugs from Mexico :-)

 It didn't look like much had changed yet?! Orange tubos for electricidad.

 The backyard was somewhat more level, but progress?

 New cisterna on the left and the orange tubes are the wiring for the yard lights.

 The inside of the house is a mess with all the dirt and dust blowing in with the work!

 Concrete pile is getting smaller! Check out the difference on the walls as the different coats are applied. (picture number 4 vs pictures 8 and 9)

 But Juan's explanation made us happy, and work has resumed from 8am to 6pm with the odd break for sustenance!  Juan on far left. Crew in the shade at break.