Wednesday morning the mechanic showed up and fixed Juan Carlos’ car. We loaded my car and moved everything from the cabina to our new house. Just as we got there the truck from the store was there with our new couch set and beds. We got that in and loaded Juan Carlos’ equipment into my car, as I had agreed to take it up the mountain to San Ramon for him. When I got back we had our first supper in our new house. It sure felt good to sleep in a new bed.

We have tried a few times to get the window guy back to put in screens, but to no avail. Thursday I went out and bought screening, a saw, some trim wood, and nails to do the job ourselves. Slowly but surely, while doing other things as well we are getting screens on all the windows. I also went to ICE to get the name on the electrical service changed to mine, and tell them I was ready for the mandatory inspection. Mucho Problemos! I finally gave up and asked him to call Kattia. Even she had trouble with the red tape, but with Russ’ help, she finally got everything sorted out. Mission accomplished.

This morning the inspector came by and I experienced my first real problem with the house. The sub-contractor Juan Carlos used to wire the house did not do it according to code. I had expressed doubts because the meter installation did not look like the diagram ICE had given me. The box the meter was in was wrong, the ground was to close to the support post, and he used green wires instead of red, black and white. Minor details, but I will have to hire someone to do it right. Marvin assures me the big guy at the local materials store can handle it on Monday. I was very angry, but I guess since the house was completed so quickly, and everything else was done so well, I can live with it. Later in the morning the meter reader came by, and of course the meter is okay to read, and the bill will no doubt arrive right on time. Some of my new appliances are three prong plugs, an outdated practice in Canada. So I thought. Then, I got out my laptop, purchased just before I left, and realized it had a three prong plug too. Not so outdated, I guess. Anyway, we got some more work done today, there’s always lot’s to do, and tomorrow I will go to San Jose to pick up my daughter at the airport. She arrives at 9:30 pm., and we will stay in a hotel and drive here early Christmas morning.