A couple of years ago during one of those multiple named Philippine (Or Chinese named) typhoons that roared through and knocked down three mango trees in my neighbor’s empty lot. I smiled at the time because nothing happened to our house.
Time is the great equalizer because the tree in the back was ripped out by the roots and left a whole under my wall. The world hates a vacuum so my wall over time settled into the empty space and it cracked my wall. A few tremors aided in the problem. But there it is; daylight streaming through my wall and lighting up Mayang’s laundry area. (And she complained?)
On May 25 a crew of two showed up to render the wall strong again (Another brick in the…) materials were ordered. I was allowed to look and photograph the hole in the wall. But was ordered back to my room to eat and rest, gain weight and generally not bother the workers. Do you think the timing is suspicious? I mean there is no threat of immediate collapse any time soon; it could have waited until the end of the rainy season or until I was 100% again. But who am I to question the will of my wife Mayang?
I just a minute ago tried to go to the worksite but was hustled swiftly to a seat out front and given a cold orange soda treat.(I remember those days when it was a chilled SMB) I’m trapped in sobriety and will force myself to stay away from the workers until the work is done. But I have permission to snap photos at the end of the workday to be included with this LiP article; she can’t fight our 1st amendment freedom of the blogger. Or something like that.
Okay, I’m officially going nuts, work is being preformed and I’m not allowed to interfere, but then I have written about this in the past that we are better off not seeing how it is done, but seeing the finished product when it is done. If you fully trust the contractor doing the work, which I do, as the man repairing my wall is the very same guy who built the wall in 1998. I’ll assume he knows his stuff. BTW; Mexico did pay for it!
I rehired him in 2000 to go around and give my wall a haircut, meaning to cut off the rebar sticking out the top as if they were part of the look we were going for, I still have not figured out the plan for those little shoots of rebar I see on every fence and building here in the Philippines. (Except yours) My first year of retirement I (by myself) painted the inside of the wall and made it look finished. The paint has held up well over the past 17 years, but let me point out something, the front wall facing the road I painted, the other three outside surfaces I left to weather naturally so my neighbors could enjoy the look and would not know a Kano lived there. They all knew anyway!
Side Story: In Largo Florida I asked my neighbor if he would split the cost of a new fence to hide the ugly rusted chain link fence he owned. Of course he said no, so I went out and bought a 8 foot high redwood fence and installed it parallel to his fence and with the frame side facing his yard. Why shouldn’t I get the nice, smooth side facing me? He took me to the zoning board, and they could find no rule that prevented me from doing that. He never invited me to a BBQ at his house, but then because of the fence I have no idea if he ever had a BBQ at his house.
But here is my point, if I don’t go and paint that repaired section it will remain unpainted for the remainder of time. And the chance that this old infirmed Kano is going to ever do it is up there in the realm of fables and wishing in one hand… But once more it is located back in the Laundry and deep well equipment area, I seldom go there so out of sight out of mind. BUT! I’ll know that paint is not on the wall, but there are no more holes “In the Wall” either. And now you know that too!
Hi Paul
I think when you look at how much cement wasn’t used between your hollow blocks it is a minor miracle that the wall stayed up at all!
Hope you are still steadily recovering. One thought, has Mayang realise that you could put on weight a lot easier if you doubled your regular dose of SMB that you had prior to your troubles?
Cheers
AJ UK
AJ/UK;
I made sure they used enough cement on both my wall and house to make it strong and lasting. We filled the cinder blocks with gravel and cement layer.
I know you right about the beer, but my wife and doctors don’t agree with us.
Did the workers have plenty of RHUM Dang that wall is ugly. I’m sure it is solid. But dang it is ugly. Throw some white wash on it. Get buck wheat to slap it on.
Rusty;
In the article I explained that I was banned from the worksite, do I wouldn’t know what they were drinking. It’s a repaired wall, was it supposed to look like the Taj Mahal?
Paul, I don’t think that is a Trump wall. It does have character though. I would bet that not one illegal immigrant has scaled that wall of security. I’m glad you don’t have to go back there and see it very often. 🙂
Old AF GUY;
Since I’m the only person on my street that could ever have the chance to be an illegal immigrant in the Philippines, I’ll admit that I’ve never climbed that ugly wall. (lol)
I am inclined to agree with Rusty on this one.
Brick and block layers there for some reason just NEVER point up the joints, they just drop the block down, and let the mortar harden however it runs out and it looks awful to me, plus it lets water blow in far more also, and deteriorate the wall. They could just use a spoon even and make it look so much better, since I kinda figure pointing tools are not available there, or if they are no one knows how to use them.
I am trying to adapt to letting people do things the way they want to do things there, but some things I will have to have done my way.
Bill;
Rusty was yammering about rhum, I could care less about the look of my wall on the outside, but inside it was smoothed, plastered and dare I say painted! So me and the workers both got our way on my wall (LOL)
Paul,
It’s best just to let Mayang handle all the repairs/problems so you can be stress free to gain your weight back and get back to consuming adult beverages. We are getting ready for our drive down to Florida for my nephew’s wedding. Enjoy the drive there, but not looking forward to the high humidity this time of year.
Papaduck,
Having lived in Florida for many a year, I’ll agree June is not the best month to visit, but it beats the hell out of August (lol)
The busybody in me wants to be involved in all household projects, the will of Mayang insures that doesn’t happen.
Hi Paul, a wall is just a wall as long as it is nice on your side I can’t see a problem, you’ve fixed it there’s better things to spend money on like a nice lunch
At Texas Joe, when I was living in England my next door neighbor a old woman
Insisted on paying half the cost of a new garden fence which we had put up between our houses, even though I told her I was paying so in the end I told her
I would maintain it for which I didn’t mind , she was a great neighbor who would always be baking cookies and giving you some every week,
Hope you’re feeling better Paul, soon be back having a few cold beers
Derek in pasig.
Derek;
Cookies and not Biscuits, my how you’ve Americanized, plus you left the “U” out of neighbor. But since I seldom see the outside of my wall, I’ll not give it a thought. But the nice lady beside you in the UK, is rare and should be treasured my fence partner in Florida had nothing good to say about me, but then his wife had nothing good to say about him.
Hi Paul, I’m watching to many American movies will have to get the old
James Bond movies out again lol ,
Derek in pasig.
Derek;
The last time I was in Boston my four brothers asked me where in hell was I from. In the overall United States they hear my Bostonian accent, but at home I sound like a rube from Arkansas to them. I attribute it to 22 Years in the Navy sailing with people from all parts of the US, being a merchant seaman aided in my speech change.
And being in Great Briton and working with your Royal Navy I picked up distinct words used by you guys. I can sit in a pub in Scotland and convince folks I’m Scottish. (Not for very long) I can’t do that in Ireland or England with your accents. The one that always makes me laugh is in England it’s a windscreen, in the US it’s a windshield. I’d rather be shielded from the outside weather than just have it just screened.
The one that really got me is that ” Spotted ” desert they have in the UK. I brought half a dozen of them home with me ( The Heinz canned version ) and of course I declared them on my US Customs form. The look on the customs inspectors face when he asked me ” what kind of food do you have “. I was then directed to Agriculture Customs and the female inspectors I spoke to at first had a horrified look on their faces when I told them I had 6 of them in cans LOL.
For those not familiar with what I am mentioning here, it is a traditional English or should I say British desert known as ” Spotted Dick ” ( you can google it if you like ). Available fresh, frozen and canned.
I agree. But only Paul will know for sure if illegals have scaled his wall. I wonder, if they do, if he’ll build it higher?
Rusty;
My response to “Old Air Force Guy”answered that question.
Bob (NY)
In the 1970’s in Portsmouth England was my first time trying Spotted Dick, The Chief Stoker (Royal Navy) that ordered it for me didn’t tell me it’s name until after I had some. I didn’t like it!
Hi Paul, you should have tried toad in the hole you would have liked that lol ,
Derek in pasig.
Derek;
Why do I feel lucky when I say: damn I missed that one?
Toad in the hole is astoundingly good classic cuisine. To’ed in the hole is something else entirely. You should definitely try the first, and avoid the second. The addition of mushy peas is recommended.
Are you feeling better now Paul?
Jim;
The odds of my encountering either culinary delight here in Olongapo City is fairly slim, But if I could find mashed potatoes with parsley gravy, like I used to get in the pie and mash shops in England I’d be happy. Every day is an improvement over the last, I’m gaining weight and looking forward to my next operation that puts me back together.
Paul,
All joking aside, from me, I hope you have a swift recovery. Good old home cooking. Follow your wife’s/doctor’s orders.
Rusty
Rusty;
I’m improving everyday, I’ll flush this year when I’m done as it’s not one I care to remember. Please, never put all joking aside, or I’d have nothing to write about! (LOL)
But I am happy we all survived the apostolic predictions of last Monday!
Paul,
I wonder if the companies, etc., that project to the year 2050, or whatever, got the apostolic message? Also wouldn’t we all want to go out on a happy note. Dang!!!! A big mushroom and that is it.
I guess the 10 zillion ants I kill daily would live. Where do they come from? 10 zillion down and 10 zillion the next day.