That explains it!

I've been wondering how Bermudians kept their cars so very very nice-looking. After all, this is a place with narrow lanes, narrow roads, lots of rock-wall-edged corners, blind intersections; it is a damp and salty environment, relatively speaking. Parking space standards for cars are 15' long x 8' wide, but you often see lots laid out so tightly it seems they parked the smallest vehicles available quite tightly together and drew a line between them. It sure doesn't seem like a situation geared towards keeping cars undented and in good shape.

Turns out you have to have your car inspected every year, not so much for the mechanics of the safety and operating system as for making sure - I'm not kidding - your hubcaps match, no rust shows, dents and dings are repaired, and your locks work.

Wow.

I'm still collecting for the new apartment. I bought three sets of drapes last night, tho I may combine two sets. The owners are leaving the island (always when the best deals are found), she liked to change out her drapes to change the appearance of her 1 bedroom apartment. The less expensive set was originally bought for $28 a panel, with 6 panels to the set. The heavier lined silk drapes probably set her back $180 for the pair, but are big enough for sliders. I got the 3 sets and a couple of fabric lined baskets for my wardrobe for $120. Now I need to explore Masters, the downtown hardware/supply store, for curtain rods etal. (The windows have vertical blinds, with a black-painted wooden valance hiding the working part of the system, and they are fine but this place is all hard surfaces and I want to soften things.)

I've picked up a couple space/closet heaters. Closet heaters are pretty universally used here, year-round, to keep the damp out of storage areas like closets and large cupboards. And I go look at an area rug (that noise thing - I've been asked about the echo chamber sound effect when Skype-ing with family.) The family with the oriental rug for sale is having a yard sale this weekend, and I get first crack at what they've got. Maybe I will have more than 1 skillet, 1 sheet and 1 towel by the end of the weekend!

Tried doing laundry last night - washer works quickly and seems to work well. Dryer tumbled fine but without heat and was all kinds of fussy about it. That will need correction!

I must be adapting - I didn't notice the chickens last night. Part of it is that we are on a deadline for a major project EIS report and I've been struggling with that both at home and at the office. I tend to be way more thorough in my write-ups than is necessary, so there is more time required to adapt the report as I adjust it to the desired standard.

Today one of my co-workers took me to Bolero, a quasi-French restaurant on Front Street (wave at the nice sailors on that big ol' boat in port across the street!) and I all but fell into a yummy risotto with artichokes, chicken, mushrooms, goat cheese, peas and truffle oil. After my salads and sautes of veg and grain (yes, my clothes fit differently, I think I'm down a size!) that tasted decadent. Michelle is a sweetheart, working in forward planning but comes out of development control background, from Canada, and friendly and competent.

Done for now - going to go walk until the sun sets. (We've a development proposal on a lot up the street, and I want to see what the sight distance is like.)

Ciao!