countdown continues

So what has been going on last week since this week is almost up.

Monday worked during the day and did grocery shopping after work. We both wanted to have fish but once I got in the market I was really like well I don't want to buy THAT and be sick. I asked if they had some refrigerated shrimps and of course they did and they did look fresh so I bought them. I had before looked at recipes online for a proper sauce. So I got started on that at night once we had both relaxed a little bit ... Elmer had a little accident when adding spices since the cap fell off and we ended up with lots of ginger in the sauce. I just thought it was funny! We had a romantic candle light dinner and that was partly forced since electricity died on us for a while though not very long. I was home the week before too much for my taste so I wanted to go out for drinks. We didn't bump into Fernando and Hiroko but instead he found an old friend. That guy was buying us a round of good rum but on the rocks just isn't my style of drinking it. I was feeling slightly drunk after that! It was an entertaining evening and we got home early.

Tuesday I was working a double shift and Wednesday as well. Result> all I wanted to do was basically sleep!!!

Thursday once I got off work we met up. All I wanted to do was sleep instead we had to go to the laundry place since washing the clothes by hand is okay but after doing that for like 2 times it needs a proper machine wash. Although here there is nothing to be had like a hot wash like 90 degrees C so by now I try to wash the white clothes by cooking them on the stove since I refuse to use bleach. We had so much to wash that afterwards our room looked like a drying room. It smelled very clean and good though! At night for dinner he had bought fish. I was starving and already had some potatoes before we actually got started on the dinner. I wanted to go dancing later on that night. He was like okay but this time we are going to Toreros close to the market. Well, there was lots of space but the floor was tiles and rather slippery. I danced also with Fernando and he flipped me over (he is like up to my chin but boy the flip worked well enough) and when I landed on my feet I was trying to find sure footing but no luck. It must have looked really funny like in the movies! It was the first time that I danced with him but he is really good dancer and it was easy to follow what he wanted me to do. They closed early though since there were hardly people there. We all went for drinks in another place. Fernando and Hiroko told us that they will go traveling together and depending on how that will work out he might come back or maybe he will go with her to Japan for a visit. Beats me though how since he has hardly got any money and doesn't want to get a better paid job since that might be work. Elmer and me were just shaking or heads afterwards and saying that she must be a bit silly but hey not our problem.

Friday was my day off completely and I had a dinner date with Sonja - ex-colleague from Flor. Elmer had to get up like 05.30am and he was of with Miguel to Esquintla to get his papers for the wedding. They went by motorbike and one way is like 90km so the boys showed up again shortly before 11pm. Elmer was rather nervous for the photo shoot in the spa. In the end it was a lot less exciting and all than he had originally thought. He said hat it was actually rather boring ... since they didn’t pay him for it he got a voucher for a free massage. I wonder when they will publish the photos on the web. By the time he showed up at home I was dressed and had done some housework. We didn't have much time left together but we were both hungry so we went to a cheap place to eat and afterwards to Cafe Condessa for a hot chocolate and cake. Sweet tooth and it was cold! All I did afterwards was basically napped and than he went off to work and I was like I have to check my mail ... Sonja called me though and canceled our dinner date since she was sick. I chatted with Marcela instead, Chad had to go to some party, Elmer was working and that left us girls alone. I felt like getting a pizza and she was all for it. We girls had pizza and I got a margarita from Monoloco. They are trying to transfer money from here to Canada and it isn't really working because the word service here doesn't exist in banks. They basically got the standard form for a SWIFT payment and got told fill it out 100% correctly and than come back. They had questions like what is a Swift code and fed wire ... The girl just said ask your bank. Poor babies they were like no idea what to do or what questions to ask... I told Marcela that I would help her since she is always holding my hand for everything. The last time was when I had to go to police and I played dumb tourist and I needed a translator since my Spanish is so bad ... I was more than glad to help out. Also next week I will go with her to Guate by car and we want to hunting for a dress to wear for the wedding. This time I will have the one that I have always wanted – RED one! We will also look for other things as well that I want to take back home. After work she went to a party and I went home and cleaned up the kitchen and watched bit of TV and dropped off to sleep. I woke up when he got home.

Saturday usually is my day off but since it is kind of boring being all by myself I thought what the hell and put myself down for the nightshift in Funky. Elmer and I both almost feel out of our bed this morning though. Someone was calling his cell at around 07.30am and it made so much noise and I couldn’t place it at first and was thinking we don't have a fire alarm. His Dad needed some help with something. So we went back to sleep for a bit than I got up and made breakfast. I cleaned the whole house and especially the floors this time with detergent so it smelled really nice and fresh. I had my shower and waited for him to return. I had packed my things together so that we cold leave right away. We went to the market and bought lots of gifts and now almost everyone is covered. This year I already have to get my Christmas gifts with me when I return since they will be left at home. I guess this year I will be working and making hopefully some good money. Being on a shopping spree made him hungry and me sleepy. The last thing on the list was basically looking for wedding rings. We had found a design on the web that we liked but in the shops they only sell silver rings. So we asked if they are able to manufacture what we want here in Antigua since we aren't all that keen to go to Guate. They said that they could do it for us so that was great. Once we had agreed all the details since we needed to discuss the little details. The guy had disappeared of to an appointment and the lady couldn't quote us a price. Useless! We will set up an appointment with them for next week and than we have the next part sorted out. Yesterday he got hold of a friend who recommended a notary so that means that we can hopefully also set up an appointment there soon. I am so glad that things are looking so much better than we both thought at the beginning. By the looks of it I would say the wedding will take place in November. After all that I managed to sleep for about an hour than shower and off to work. Right now I am at Funky and am really tired. It is getting really chilly now at night and I am always wearing now my sweater.

Tomorrow I will work in the morning in Funky and than I will be off to Flor and than the weekend will be over.

Next week 15.09. will be a great fiesta here since it is their Independence Day. I will work and will get paid double so that will be worth it I hope for Funky and if I can get a shift lined up at Flor than I should also be making decent tips. The problem right now is that the season is very slow and works on the highway from Guate to Antigua and vice versa doesn’t really help that people want to come here and spend money since it means being underway something like 2hrs instead of 45 minutes if the traffic isn't too bad.