Maintenance

OK, OK I know, I've slacked off again. It's most likely because I don't think I have much of anything to say. Anyway - I'll try to be better about posting.

Our latest fun has been dealing with the Maintenance Supervisor our landlord has hired. I'll just refer to him with his first name. Vela. This has become a name that makes me tear my hair out and causes many giggles from my drivers. They know I just hate to hear his name mentioned because it's going to cause more work for a very simple thing. Case in point - a new ladder needed for our water tank.

We are now contacting our landlord directly instead of going through two other people as they just seemed to muddy the water. The ladder was replaced fairly quickly - really only took about a week, record time for Vela. Then I asked him about the roof over the patio as it is now like a sieve. He said the landlord is looking into permanent roofing for it and he is waiting for him to respond with a decision and money. Then Vela starts talking about the tall windows we have looking out to the sea and saying they all needed to come out and be replaced with 4ft. windows and these were quite bad and causing so many issues.

Here's the kicker - We haven't complained about the windows. In fact - this was one of the key points to the house and what gives it it's wonderful airiness. I told him there are no issues with the windows. Vela responds - oh yes, there are, Much leaking and many problems. I reminded him all of our leaks last year were due to the holes in the roof that our company engineers pointed out to him. Since the roof has been fixed there haven't been any issues. He said oh, it will only take about 1 1/2 months to get the windows changed out. (Do you note the broken record syndrome here?) I came unglued and informed him as long as sir and I are in this house - these windows stay. There is no way in hell we are going to allow him to do that type of work while we are living here. Then I basically told him to work on fixing the patio roof and making sure the electrical wiring in the garden is straight and showed him out of the house.

I had Rich contact the landlord about the windows to make sure he knew what Vela was up to. He said the windows are not even an issue and are not to be removed. What Rich and I think is - Vela is working on another house who wants the large windows and instead of ponying up the dough - he's going to take ours and buy smaller less expensive windows to put in here. NOT HAPPENING.

This brings us to the pool pump. It has gone out. We again contacted the landlord since this needs to be replaced and we don't have stagnant water sitting for a long time (Mosi breeding grounds). The landlord contacted Vela (are you cringing at the sound of his name yet?) and he sent his electrician, who pretended not to speak or understand English and talked to Rich through the drivers. He told us he was sent to get the pump, but needed payment before he would do so. We told him, no - this is a capital issue and this was to be handled with Vela and the landlord. The electrician said that Vela said it was maintenance and we were to pay. Rich blew his stack and went off - this is when he realized the electrician understood every word. To put it simply, Rich told him - he's tired of Vela lining his pockets - we pay the electrician, and the landlord pays Vela. Vela pockets the money or splits it with the electrician. This will no longer happen. Either he takes it now - or we contact the landlord. The guy left without the pump. Rich told his driver to have our electrician come and get the pump and we would bill the landlord. BUT, lo and behold - Vela's guy turned up in the evening and got the pump. I guess he figured we caught on and if he wanted to keep working, he'd better get it fixed. For our next trick - we need to get it installed!

Stay tuned!