Thurs 21 Jan

Thurs 21 Jan: after chores and a breakfast, Eddi and i put in a few hours doing handy-man jobs ... i guess all skills i've learned by living alone are paying off. i installed a few more hooks where needed, trimmed some branches that have been in my way, and replaced hinges on the doors to one of the 'litter-biPeter had it held up with bungy-cords; but i thought that replacing the hinges and more hooks would make it easier. with a drill that has no 'reverse' it's been difficult to do a lot of the tasks. so now in order to make a pilot hole, i drill a screw in part way, then use a manual screwdriver to take it out, then go from there...... Eddi repaired a hole in the fence with some hardware cloth we found lying around. i also helped Eddi put her canopy over her bed since she is not used to doing these kinds of things. Madi was very appreciative when she got home, and said she was going to kidnap me and not let me leave :) i took a short break and went to The Split for a swim to cool off. it's much windier and cooler on that side of the island !!!!!!!!!!!!!! i'd been trying to have some 'shrimp sticks' that i'd seen on the road to the Split......, but either he's not there when i'm hungry, or he's there, but i've just eaten. on my way back, i finally caught the 'shrimp stick' man ! he came here 2 yrs ago and was walking around, when someone offered him a beer. he said 'he was raised to be a polite child, and his mom told him when someone offered him something, it was impolite to refuse' .... so he stayed and drank. the next morning, he was hung over and walking towards the water taxi, when someone offered him a beer ... same story ....... and here he still is ..... when i told him where i was staying, he said 'oh on the buggy side of the island' ......................... :( photo of Jack and the shrimps. they were wonderful, i had mine with garlic and chili peppers. he has lots of options: basil, italian, curry, honey mustard, ginger .... i highly recommend them if you are ever on Caye Caulker! a few more pics from Caye Caulker: it is not uncommon to see PILES of Conch shells around. Conch has a season here and they harvest a lot of it. i couldn't resist this one: