Madness on Madeira Beach

Large cicadas and dragonflies zoom past our window, alas mini me and her point&shoot camera cannot capture them. Must say min me is a bit shaken as a dragonfly is size-wise to her what a deerhound is to a human.

 

Pods of dolphins frolic coming into the sandbar just offshore to hunt, circling around under the water which is clear and shallow enough to see them even if they don't surface.  Fishing reports are good for bait fish, which must be what the dolphins chase. 

Point&shoot also missed the shot of a man bringing a bright yellow kayak to the beach at sundown balanced (somewhat precariously) on a wheelchair!  As I say, never a dull moment ...


Inside the condo, our comedy continues. 



living out of suitcases and boxes
at least we have TV including BBC!

We bought cheap rugs for
our dusty bedroom floor

We have unwrapped our 'over the range' microwave to

our building site Florida "home" with grey dust everywhere

discover it is installed on a slight slant and must be fixed.  The new hall bath toilet due in earlier this week has not arrived and now we are told it is on back order for another 10 days or so.

The carpet installer scheduled for today is now not coming until tomorrow - when we called to check end-of-day yesterday, we were told they had re-booked him for Friday/Saturday.  Do wonder if we would have been told at all if we hadn't called or just sat here waiting for him to turn up!???

Stove in, sink out- how did the refrain go?
One step forward, two steps back?

Today the crooked countertop is being 'uninstalled' (which involves disconnecting the kitchen sink) so they can properly template the cupboards and remake the top to the right specification.  Sitting and waiting for the countertop fabricator whilst I write this (estimated arrival 8:00 no 9:30, no 11:00, no 12:00 - oh arrived at 13:00).  This is a step forward, they tell me, although it looks like we are going backward!  It has been noted by our general contractor, that we have had an 'unusually high number of problems' on our job and fortunately he is fixing them (at cost to him), but no real explanations forthcoming.



Grey dust on BLACK stove

Given the cock-up with the kitchen floor installation, to be reinstalled late October, we need a workspace for appliances and cutting; hence we cannot lay the nearby guest room carpet. 

I have cleaned and cleaned, but next morning everything is recovered in a fine powder grey cement dust.  So at least we have sealed the guest room floor to keep down the dust.

Hopefully we are getting custom 5 foot length towel bars in our master bath today - yeah!  Must have extra long towel bars to dry those bathing costumes (American = bathing suits) and beach towels.

Cannot wait for the other carpets to go down (and stop the dust) - now scheduled for Saturday.  Our American furniture scheduled to arrive Monday, so cutting the timing fine.  Once our [meagre] furniture is in situ, I will release the UK sea shipment which will take another week to arrive.  I will be happy to have some variety in my wardrobe, as the suitcase clothes have had a good workout over the past 5 months.

PS.  Towel bars in, but countertop laminate did not arrive at fabricator's due to 'truck breakdown' and furniture shipment delayed as trucker's wife went into labour.  I kid you not!!

Jan's Creation

Ended day on a positive note, as mini me sat doing her stitching in Jan's art shop followed by a dip in the swimming pool where she heard a big splash in the ocean and saw more dolphins fishing on the sandbar -- fabulous.

ANY WONDER MADEIRA BEACH IS NICKNAMED MAD BEACH?
(yes, I have begun to question my sanity)