Okay, last week in part one; I explained the logic for not buying the new car, and my wife replacing the headlamps and grill.
Then she jumped into her project, on Monday morning second week of January, 4 guys show up with tools and stuff, next the truck comes by loaded with cement sand and the red dye for coloring the cement. The weekend before we talked about her idea to re-surface the two walkways beside the house, and the entire back yard, she wanted to tile it all, and that’s when my head stopped nodding. To do tile I would need the same amount of people, the same amount of sand and cement, and a hell of a lot more money. That’s when two minds came into agreement, no tile, just dye the cement and cut a design into it.
You think I won that one? No way sir, since we are saving all that money she included re-building the fish pond that started leaking the year before. (The leak was caused by roots from my neighbor’s Mango tree.) I’ve included pictures of the house (new car) project.
Once the work started I moved to my mango tree again, with my music and cocktail, this time contemplating my toenails, and left my wife to deal with her construction crew. (Too many cooks spoil the broth.) All the cement work is done, the fishpond holds water and the waterfall has falling water (aided by a pump), all in time for her Birthday Party on 5 March.
On 10 March people arrive to give a price on laying new grass in the front yard and around the fishpond. Alter careful measuring with my tape measure as they forgot theirs, we came up with 70 square meters, I found out that a square meter of sod costs P75.00 each, or 5,250.00 Pesos for all. The cost of labor and soil would be figured out by “Mr. Big”, back at the HQ for Landscaping, and they would call me. So I’m (foolishly) thinking, total should be under P10, 000.00 factoring in a load of top soil and labor. P22, 500.00 is what I was told it would cost. It was explained that it was a three hour drive to pick up the materials; I asked if I was buying the truck for the trip, as that would explain the high cost.
I politely declined there generous offer and said I would shop around for a much better price. Here’s where we stand to date. I offered P10, 000.00 and they came down to P21, 900.00. And they keep calling. Better I wait ‘till the rainy season and throw out grass seed and do it myself. Update on the grass, found a landscaper who’ll do the job for P. 10,000.00. I’ll let you know more as I find out more. (As of March 21st, new landscaper has failed to show three times, but will text the next day.)
Willy and Jeff (my cement guys) are returning to re-screen my “Man Cave” and I agreed with their labor cost and I’ll provide the screen. Both are good workers and know what they’re doing. I wonder if they do landscaping also? The appointment is set with the tile guys, Cardin and his brother, good old what’s his name. I’ve made arrangements with my friend Tommy to borrow his pipe staging for them to use, he keeps it on hand as his wife and mine are always renovating some part of their houses. (We both sit under the others Mango tree while these projects are going on.) As they have not started on the tile project yet, I’m gonna’ bore to tears the LIP readers with a Part 3 in the near future. Unless there is a popular uprising from you, and I get hit with slings and arrows, then maybe I won’t.
Well, since they no longer make the Oldsmobile Jet Star Delta 88, I’ll make do with my Honda, I’ll have to defer to my wife and I’ll admit that as usual, she was right; the yard does look good, except for the grass (so far). I’ll send to the States for a can of “New Car Smell” spray. I’ll take what I can get! BTW: I’ve still as of this posting not received my new “USB” equipped car stereo. Ahh hell, my old car stereo with a MP3 CD player still works great.
I still choose to live here, and my wife still lets me sleep upstairs. A few more pictures of the project below.
Paul
It sounds like you are doing a good job of haggling down the prices for your projects like a true Filipino, or maybe just a “Koreput” American. What ever the case may be you don’t look like the projects are stressing you out at all.
Your backyard looks pretty big for Filipino standards.
Just one question, does having them high walls keep out any cooling breezes and does it make you feel closed in?
Neal;
Stress, I’ll have to look that word up! “The Great Wall of Bataan” was built while I was on a cruise. And it really doesn’t affect the cool mountain breezes that much. As for haggling. I not sure if I’m that good at it, but I do know when I’m being screwed. Most of my buddies’ yards are bigger.
Hi Paul – That “new car” looks great. 😆
I still have to fix my “new car’s” backyard grass situation. Also hearing ideas about a second well/water tank/jetmatic pump, a bahay cubo, mango trees, and a whole lot of bells and whistles for the “new car.” When finished, it should look “reet smart”! 😉
Hi Paul;
Thanks, and it’s great on gas, but burns a lot of cash. Some day in the far future, we’ll sit over a beer and both of us will say. “Nope the house is not done yet!” While the ladies compare future plans over coffee.
Paul;
If Tommy sends his Landscaper up to me in the Oldsmobile, I ask if he’d like a nice drive north to see you.
I have a olds safari wagon Paul ! haha looks nice and I think I know our landscaper … 🙂
Tommy;
Toss the keys to the Oldsmobile to the landscaper and send him north. I’ll pay the ferries; it’s cheaper than buying the truck.
Hello Paul
my mango trees should be big eneogh to provide me some shade for kalbo head in 2 years when I retire hopefuly it will the support my weight of me and my hamock,and some tanduy.your already living the good life.
Hello James;
I stopped using the hammock, as it was getting difficult to reach for the beer later in the day. Also I can’t use it when my Granddaughter visits, as she thinks it’s hers. Your good life is coming James!!!! Make sure you water your Mango every day, just say “Tabi-Tabi Po when you’re done.
Well its nice an all, but No Pigs? No Chickens? No Smoldering Trash Fire to keep the skeeters down? Just don,t seem like the old homestead! As for transportation if a trike, jeepney, banca or V-liner can,t get you there why would you need to go?
Zeke;
If you are anything, it’s consistent!
If anything, an illiterate half wit at best.
Spencer;
You nailed that right!
See Paul? It does in fact look good! Look at the walkways now–very pretty. My pavers are red too.
On the topic about the grass though, that does sound like kind of a steep price. You’re probably paying a higher price for the labor through a private landscaper. I think I paid P100.00 per square meter for
bluegrass from my neighboring town’s nursery, and we bought the topsoil from another nearby nursery, but they brought their crew and laid the sod out themselves for no extra charge. We did have to prepare the soil first though– we hired some young guys from the barangay and we purchased pig manure from a neighbor’s empty piggery to mix with the soil first. Labor is cheap here in the province and there are always guys willing to help.
Are there any local plant nurseries there that you could approach and become friendly with? Often, a lot of their staff have landscaping knowledge, and maybe you might be able to work something out for a cheaper price. Maybe you could buy some flowers and trees for the yard from them to sweeten the deal…
Oh well, you didn’t need that new stereo anyway…
Hi Queeniebee;
Whoooo Nellie, who said I didn’t need that new car stereo???? (lol)
Mrs. Thompson, holder of the deed. Is out this week using some of your ideas as, I pop the top off a cold one! (Cheaper if they never see my blue eyes) She’ll bring the cost in at close to P 10,000.00 as she is something else when the mood hits her.
She raised a smile when she saw your comment on the stereo,
That is one big roomy car, plus you can drink while your buddy lays on your lap. Your picture is classic – looks like a great place to sit and ponder 🙂
Hi Gary;
My buddy “Frank” stays with me from the time I wake up to when I lie down. And as I ponder lofty ideals or just my navel, he is there to guide me. If I could just teach him to fix a cocktail or fetch a beer…..
under the mango tree .Well my wife is itching to build a house on her property in cebu , I told her whats the rush we dont live there yet. I think i would be happy with a nipa hut that has electric, most of the time when i am in the P.I. i hang outside under the shade like you are in that photo drinking a san miguel. ALL I WANT IS PEACE AND SILENCE, and a place to lay my head ,how big it is or how nice doesnt really matter as long as your happy.
Hi Mike;
Life under the Mango tree is has its problems, it could rain, one could run out of ice for the cocktail (that’s my joke for the day) or even worse, one could run out of canned consumables (Okay I had a second joke for the day).The Nipa with electric sounds good, a benefit we have here is we don’t have to turn off our lights for an hour on Earth Day, the power company will have already done that for you, two or three time that day. Peace you will be granted, silence you can forget about. (See Bob’s article about that) That’s why I always bring music with me, kinda’ like white noise. And cocktails help also! But bottom line is “BUILD THAT HOUSE for Your Lady.”
Hi Paul,
I enjoyed your stories about the “new car”!
I just wanted to ask you something. What kinds of sounds or noise would you hear on a typical day under the mango tree if you weren’t listening to your MP3 player?
By the way, it looks you’re drinking ( yikes!) grape juioe in your photo!
Hello Randall;
I’m blessed with relative quite as my road is not a Jeepney route. A few Trikes every hour or so, and they are getting quieter as the two stroke engines are phasing out and the quite four strokes and fast becoming the norm. (I showed my Barangay Kaptain how to use a broom stick to see if the driver removed the baffles from the exhaust pipe) Last night the weekly meeting of El Shadi had their prayer meeting on the empty lot beside my house, it went until 11pm and I’ve taken a live and let live stand on it. I know most of the attendee anyway. Other than kids, roosters, dogs, damnable music machines, my neighbor and his wife discussing his lack of a job, over a couple of Redhorse beers. You could hear a pin drop, if I turned off my Country music.
Grape juice??? That was Rum and Coke, did you think I learned nothing from all my years in the Caribbean?
Hi Paul,
Thanks for the info.
My faith in you is restored. It’s a relief knowing you were drinking a rum and Coke and not grape juice! It just didn’t make sense but I had to ask.
All joking aside, I find the noise level to be fine, with the occasional outburst of .loudness; Beer or Rum & Coke definitely help!
aaahhh my second car as a kid a 1972 delta 88 with a 455 V8…I called it the rolling hotel ( If you gotta ask why, your way to old!)
I could go thru a set of retreads in a week!AHHH the memories!~!!
PS your place looks great Paul, good to see your enjoying life !
Thank you Brian;
I had a 1969 Olds “98” (Land Barge) with that same engine. I even had room service, through the rear seat armrest, one could reach the cooler in the trunk and give the young lady an ice cold Strawberry Ripple while watching the Submarine’s race. Pure Luxury! I do a lot of the same things in my new car now, sans the Ripple. I’m glad you enjoyed the article.
Hey Paul, Originally from the UK, before moving to Fort Liquordale I was based 14 yrs in the BVI’ s (Tortola) where I also ran a day sail charter op’..Where was your pad there?
John