5C's Que Pasa

My first Que Pasa of the year!

I am thinking of all of you whom are going to be affected but this winter storm. I hope that no one loses power. Sending positive thoughts to you and that all will be well and none of you will suffer. We ourselves had a weather warning but related to wind and rain. I really don’t know if our storm is the same  one that is affecting the US at the moment. We prepared before dark last evening by putting some chairs and all cushions into the shed. Our storm started about 2AM and we have had many rain showers followed by continuous heavy rain. The forecast was one inch of rain and soon changed to two inches. I think we only got about an inch here and we were fortunate in that the heavy winds did not show up nor did the multiple thundershowers that had been predicted. It will be cool for a few days and that will be great for sleeping. We have had above average temperatures for January.

My hearing remains restored and perfect. Sometimes I feel my ears getting itchy, I have a feeling that I am producing more ear wax. I will get that checked out the end of June. Meanwhile, two friends have been to see my ear doctor and one did not have any extra wax and now needs to have a hearing test. The other did need to get his ears cleaned out. Just another thing to add to the never ending things to check for regarding our health.

I mentioned in my last post that I have been looking into renting a condo for down the road. There are two main reasons for doing so. The first has to do with our Mexican residency. When we got our temporal residency it was only good for a total of four years. After that one must apply for their permanente or start all over again with a Canadian Consulate in Canada to get another four years at the temporary level. To get our permanente requires simply applying for it using the credentials we already have been accepted for. There is a small fee to do this. If we start all over we would have to prove our financial solvency yet again plus pay a new larger fee that increased in January of 2026.

Our four years of temporale expire on November 3rd, 2027 and we are getting closer to that date very quickly. I can’t see us driving around Mexico for the next while – mostly because Colin is still unable to drive the RV. We could stay here for another full year, until perhaps July 2027 or we could find a condo to move into this coming summer. Colin would not feel comfortable staying here in this spot the entire summer due again to impending storms and hurricanes. So where would we go, especially if he can’t drive? It certainly will not be back to Las Jaibas. There is one more thing to consider in making this decision. As you know we are only a five minute walk to the Playa Sur embarcadero but neither of us can get on and off the lanchas at that location. The reason being that the boats come in with the pointed boat front end stopping with the front end point directly to the dock. So one has to jump over the front point to get off and onto the dock. You have to be fairly nimble and we no longer are – in the past I have relied on Colin to help me on and off but now he can’t do it himself.

So now we drive to the further crossing called the Embarcadero Principal. Those lanchas actually stop the boat parallel to the dock and there is a handle ( shaped like a candy cane ) to grab on to which helps getting on and off. The big plus is that the driver stops the engine and ties up the boat and is there to help you off the boat, as well as on when you are leaving. Even at this embarcadero Colin needs help depending on how high or low the tide is and if the dock is swaying because of waves and/or wind. So living here in paradise on the Isla has become difficult for us. And I haven’t even begun doing big grocery shops for what we can’t get here. Fortunately I loaded up the RV using Didi a few times per week before we left Las Jaibas RV Park. I am just starting to run out of certain things. No way could I buy and cart things on and off of the lancha and then back to the RV.

Do we sell the RV or not? It will start to rust if we leave it here. Who will drive it to the USA this summer so that we can sell it? Colin thinks that he can drive the Jeep because he is a two foot driver. I am not so sure. For certain we are here until the end of July give or take. Decisions need to be made. Our world is changing everyday and when I say world I mean not us, but the entire globe. What is certain today may not be tomorrow. I have recently observed that I need to book something re a condo for the winter of 2026/2027 sooner than later as they are already being booked. What to do? So I am trying to find the perfect place for our next home. A high-rise condo will be a huge adjustment especially for the twins. We are not going back to Canada. Anyone want to buy our RV?

This is a good time to share that our home in Kelowna did not sell. The potential buyers from Calgary, Alberta are also having difficulty selling their place due to the local real estate market. So our home is now officially no longer listed and we are going to just let it sit for now. We will not rent it. Many decisions to be made and it all creates a certain amount of uncertainly and stress. Right now we are taking it paso a paso ( step by step) or poco a poco ( bit by bit ). We honestly have no idea what next week will bring, never mind next week, never mind the coming summer. Working on being positive.

I am personally so happy to be down to only 196 messages in my inbox. It has been nine months since it was so low. At one point it was over 1,500. Takes some pressure off. My Spanish is also getting better. I sorted out two banking issues on my own, totally in Spanish with no help. The other day I was trying to say something to Colin in English but it only came out in Spanish, not even French 😯 He just looked at me 😎

 

 

Exactly as presented to us by Mother Nature.

We are very well but busy. Lots happening and also not happening. Our time it taken by a visit to the chiotorprator, then a viewing of a condo that is available to rent in the Golden Zone followed by physiotherapy the next day. Then the next day ( which was yesterday the 17th ) another trip to see yet another condo. After that we met friends Sue & Mike who live back in Holiday Park. They are here for about 6  – 7 weeks. Today, Sunday the 18th was filled with exercises for Colin, a walk for me to do a pick up at the embarcadero plus some gardening. And later, a lovely surprise visit by Audrey and Darwin. Sadly, much as tried we were unable to solve the main problems in this unsettled world.

On the way back I met Alfredo – he was looking for some work so he could buy food. He offered to clean up our driveway and he did a fabulous job.

Later in the afternoon we had Alfredo pick up all the plastic debris from the rocks just below us down to the ocean. The fellow renting upstairs contributed a few hundred pesos to clean up a bit more in front of his area. A huge improvement for us all. We have been trying to get this area cleaned up since before we even moved here.

I have so many posts to share but am short on computer time right now. We still don’t know our future but it seems that 2027 is rapidly becoming booked at some of my favorite condos. So I need to make an effort to check things out.

I just wanted to let you know that all right in our world.

 

 

 

 

What can I say!  It was 8:30PM on New Year’s Day and my new doctor, Dra Jocelyn Goetz ( the one who cured my gut issue within a few weeks ) is at a party with her new husband. She checked in to see how I was doing…….long story short she called an ear specialist at home that night and I now have an appointment at 2:30PM January 2nd at the Alhma Hospital!

We waited only about 15 minutes before we  were ushered into his office. What a lovely person and a true professional. By now my head was spinning with trying to hear what was going on. He insisted I stop doing what I was doing to try and hear by clearing my ears by holding my nose and blowing air thru my ears. Dangerous, I know that but I was desperate to hear. Again with Colins help, a history was taken and I was quickly moved to another area in the office where I was sat in a chair in front of a large TV monitor.

Older people like my dad did and most seniors have hearing issues. Why do doctors not get a simple $40.00 – $80.00 instrument that can be easily hooked up to any computer? Proper diagnosis!! There are now relatively cheap digital otoscopes that can be connected to a computer. This device is particularly useful also in a medical office where any ear pathology can be easily shown to a patient. It certainly would have saved me from going for over a week with no sound.

Thirty minutes later I could hear again. There was no pain involved nor any discomfort. Although the sound was different between the two ears, louder on the right side. They were adjusting. It took until today for my ears to settle down. I have been tired all day but between all the candling and this treatment I have to expect that. Ears are sensitive. The doctor suggested I come back in six months to see what was happening with the wax in my ears. I may only need to have the procedure done annually but best to check again in six months. Cost was a very reasonably 1200MXN or $92.05CAD.

The first ear doctor did not charge me anything even though I asked. He said he did not help me. Well he certainly did as I never would have found Dr. Berrospe.

We were both quite exhausted and so happy to get home. I can’t recall ever leaving the girls alone for seven hours before. Thanks again Fernanda. The girls were rather vocal on our return but soon settled down.

I think that I am done with my health issues. First my veins, then my gut and finally my waxed out ears. I am good and ready to coast through 2026 😎

2025 was an impossible and cruel year. Despite the seemingly endlessness of the past eight months, we were able to share some smiles in December. What will 2026 bring? We have no idea yet as there are many divergent paths to choose from. The decision will be linked to the amount of healing to be done in the months to come. We are wishing for greater health and hopefully only positive moments with much joy and happiness in our lives.

• “No matter how hard the past, you can always begin again.” – Buddha

 

 

 

Yes three surprises. Let me go on record here that surprises are not always positive experiences 😳

After a wonderful end of day on December 25th, I went to bed very happy. I can’t recall having had so much fun for a very long time. I had my usual shower Friday morning the 26th. For some unknown mysterious reason my ears became filled with water. No matter what I did I could not shake the water out nor dislodge it. I was deaf. Quite seriously I could not hear. I could barely hear the dogs bark and if Colin called me I would not have heard him. I could not listen to music and as it turned out I could not watch a movie later as my ears were indeed solidly blocked. I could only hope that sleeping on my ears overnight would dislodge the water.

But first surprise #1!

At this point there was a great deal of confusion due to five new people in our yard and out of control barking guard dogs. Plus I could not hear any words. I tried to figure things out but I really was deaf. Very long story short Mario and his children had come here to enjoy the Isla after Christmas. I did not even think about taking any photos. We did get re acquainted with Sebastian( 12 or 13 ) whom we met in October. I had a brief conversation with the two daughters who may or may not both be 14 and they were very sweet and I was looking forward to seeing them the next day. And we met Santiago ( 16 ) whom we had heard a great deal about. I was amazed at the quality of English these teens were speaking. I vaguely recall that they might be in private schools. On the last day I found out that 3 of them live in Monterrey. Such a small world as we have friends there.

My first question was, where are you sleeping? Mario had booked the upstairs apartment next door to us but it only had 2 beds ands he wanted to sleep in the RV. We just could not do that. Too complicated with a sick dog and Colin as well as me not sleeping at night. And no I did not have any food to feed them 🙁  I only have enough for day to day, never mind to feed five hungry travelers. We gave them a chaise cushion for someone to use to sleep on the floor with. I could find no restaurants open at 7:30PM and sent them off looking for some open taco stands.

Santiago showed up early in the morning of the 27th ( Saturday ) saying that they were off to buy milk and would be back. We never saw them again until after 4:30PM. Turns out they spent the day at the beach here on the Isla.

About 8:30 the next morning ( Sunday the 27th ) Santiago returned the cushion he had used to sleep on and said that they were leaving!  Leaving 😳 Turns out they were going to Mazatlan to find another location ( apparently there were jelly fish in the ocean and Sebastian likes to swim in a pool ) for the night and would decide Monday when they were driving to Chihuahua  and / or Monterrey. Hugs and adios. A few minutes later Mario stopped in for his farewell hugs. It was a quick visit. We have not heard from them since. It was spontaneous and fun. I wish that I could have done more for them all.

Surprise #2!

Between Santiago’s adios and Mario’s we discovered that our kitchen floor was flooded next to the fridge ( about 2 -3  inches of water ) covering the carpet under the table that our two desktop computers sit on. Finally figured out that the water line from wherever to the fridge ice maker had broken and was creating a huge mess. Doing the night I often use the toilet and I could smell a sour dirty smell. I even sat at my computer for a bit early Sunday morning and only noticed the odor. The wet was on Colins side of the table and he soon discovered it. So he figured out how to shut the water to the fridge off. First he made calls to the RV tech, Erik and to our neighbor. Meanwhile I started laying towels to soak up the water. You might liken it to wine grape stomping. Thank you Glenn and Amy for all your help. I heard none of your conversation as I still could not hear and was becoming increasingly deaf and upset. I truly could not hear any conversation. Yet again no time to take photos.

Surprise #3!

The fact that my hearing is getting worse is beyond upsetting. I last had my ears checked by Dr. Garcia de la Rosa on November 20th as I was having problems with my left ear. He said that my ears were clear! He was annoyed when I asked him on November 25th to check them again. I have a very small ear canal with a sharp bend and do check my ear canals often. In fact Colin used to candle my ears and I his. Google if you are interested. More cons that pros but we have been doing this for over 20 years with positive results.

I ended up texting my new Dra Jocelyn at 10:30PM on Sunday the 27th! And she replied. Best doctor ever. We both agreed that I needed to see a specialist. However they are all on vacation until early January and I am unable to book an appointment.

Monday morning the 28th, I was about to start screaming. Finally I reached out on an expat Facebook page for someone who does ear candling. I got a reply and the lady came with three hours. Yes she came to the Isla, cost 900 MXN.

She really did not speak English but that is no longer a problem for us, however I simply COULD NOT hear her.  Even after she did both ears 😡

She said that my kidneys had low energy and that she wanted to do acupuncture. No gracias, take your money and leave!  I did give her a good  ( not excellent ) review.  I was so upset. Maybe I do have low kidney energy but at my age and  with the knowledge of how my body functions, I knew what I needed. So I spent the next few hours holding a warm compress on each ear and by the end of the night I could hear a bit out of my left ear. But it did not get any better than that.

So today, Tuesday, December 30th, I asked Colin to candle my right ear. One has to be steady and I did not want to have him to something like that with a hand in the recovery process nor put any pressure in him but I really needed help. He did a great job with my right ear and in fact he did it a second time. I can hear bits and pieces from that side now. This entire hearing thing has caused lots of stress and I am napping a lot.

So I will use warm compresses tonight and likely we will candle both ears at least once more tomorrow. Hopefully I can see an ear specialist the week of the 5th and have a camera sent in and check out the Que Pasa of the situation. I did not enjoy surprise #3 for even a nano second.

Earlier today we had a visitor who is a new friend, join Colin for some music. Jim also helped us with a few chores. It was great to have the help. Thank you so much Jim for helping to flip the carpet. Colin and I could not have done it without you. Your muscles were greatly appreciated. Not to mention your delightful music.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last year ( 2024 ) was an extremely quiet Christmas for us as I was worn out from packing up and leaving Canada. But we did have a lovely dinner with Fred and Kelly in RV1 – they inherited our site when we left.

This was to be another quiet Christmas because of Colin – no gifts etc. However I had more energy and once again we were privileged to be invited to Kelly and Fred’s for dinner on the 25th. So in addition to putting up Christmas decorations inside and outside this year I was able to contribute to the actual Christmas meal.

After dinner, there was some music and Christmas Carol sing alongs which were great fun. So much camaraderie.

We enjoyed our ride home in ‘Put, Put’ and were greeted by a chorus of loud dog barks. We might have been gone over  fours hours ( but I did have FUN  😉 ). However there was a glitch! No matter how hard we tried we could not get the RV door to open 😥 The girls knew that something was not right and soon the barks became sad whimpers 🙁

For some reason I am unable to place the following video further up in this post where it belongs – but oh please watch this….

UPDATE Fred was able to put his video in the comment section. Have a look if you are interested, better than our video!

Our host Fred had done a spectacular video but it was deleted before I could add it to this post. However Colin, unbeknownst to me to also did a video. Us French Canadians certainly know how to sing!  That is me with my hand up in the air and signing off key. Christmas for me has always been in French. This was as very special moment for me on this Christmas evening.

May this holiday season bring you special moments and happy memories. Find joy in the little things this Christmas!

Just wanted to share some fun things we have been doing this month.

So many have shared a favorite Christmas movie. I have never shared a movie before but we both quite enjoyed this one plus it was educational. This popular 2025 Christmas Netflix romantic movie is called “Champagne Problems”. It was viewed over 20 million times the first week it came out.

Click here for the official trailer.

Our landlords, Juanita and Fernando were married 25 years ago on December 15th and we were invited to their distinctive celebration. There was a mass at 6PM but we did not go as it would be in Spanish and likely involved a good deal of standing, too much for Colin to handle. The actual event at 8PM, was here on the Isla and just down the road from us at the Isla event salon. In case I forget – we left early just after midnight 😎

 

Life is good, better than it has been in a long while.

Our Christmas photo coming tomorrow.