Ojochal is largely unchanged. The butcher has a new sign - Fabrizio's pizza is busier than ever. Phase 9 had 1 house completed this year - 2 planned for next year - still only 3 occupied full time. But the place seems busy - lots of renters and part-timers here for the holidays. For the first time, you actually see and hear people regularly (good and bad, the seclusion is attractive).
The house is the same - ever welcoming - home as soon as we arrive. Paint has faded from the sun - a broken wine glass in the cupboard (no glass bits just a fragment missing from the bowl). Mold on the back stairs and in the window tracks - nothing a little oxyclean didn't fix.
The vegetation is astounding. The bamboo orchids are full and lush - they make a great screen from the neighbours. The torch ginger is over 8 ft tall. The palm trees at the driveway are at least 2 ft taller than in August. The tropical plants on the back hill in various stages of flower - the new pink one is very pretty.
The pool is spectacular with the new tile - need to tell everyone to do this from the beginning and save the time, trouble, and money fussing with paint.
Christian has been busy refreshing things, and the new paint on the patio walls and shower is wonderful - hopefully this will work and not bubble, peel or come off with the concrete.
No monkeys, but the songbirds create a symphony each morning and the parrots and falcons a cacophony at dusk. Few frogs at night - just something rustling in the jungle!
And of course there are the bugs. Always something strange and creepy, and then the giant moths (the size of a bread plate) that sneak in at dusk if you don't close the screen door soon enough.
So life continues - latin jazz on the iPod, a blue sky, Lisle cooking for tonight's party - check the link if you need any confirmation that this is the best place to be - or this one - Toronto winter!
To friends, family, followers and anyone who may stumble across my ramblings - Goodbye to 2012, and a happy and prosperous new year 2013 - I would wish that in Spanish, but I don't know how to type the n with a ~ over it - and absent that i'd be wishing everyone a new anus - not quite the same sentiment!!
