5C's Que Pasa

Please click on the link to read the story in full detail including the deaths and damages incurred. Many are still sheltering in place. Hopefully things will continue to be calm and people will eventually be able to get on with their lives.

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/security-minister-25-national-guardsmen-dead-in-el-mencho-operation/?utm_source=mktg_email_paid

Hola to all our friends! At this time we are safe in Mazatlan and in our case on Isla De La Piedra. As you can see by reading the news there has been some upheaval in Mexico today. Basically a head honcho in the cartel system was killed and all cartels are retaliating. Many states in Mexico have been affected but Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara the worst cities with lockdown in place orders issued including airports closed.

The first map shows earlier in the day and the various states affected, the second map ( a few hours later ) shows Sinaloa ( where we are ) being moved from yellow to red.

Villa Union – posted by Mazatlan’s main newsier, the Noreste.

Colin and I are safe and made the decision earlier to cancel our first social event in Mazatlan since the stroke and stay here on the Isla. Since then the road through Villa Union ( only 7 miles away ) has been closed with burning semis and I read that bus service within Mazatlan has been suspended. This is a difficult time for all of Mexico and we sincerely hope that all will be clear in a few days.

We have also been personally advised to not leave the Isla by three of the top people in the know here on Stone Island.

I just want to let you all know that I really do think about you all. However at the moment we are super busy ( when aren’t I )? Right now I need to think about my family and our future. Things are changing very very slowly – but in a forward direction.  There will be light at the end of this long dark tunnel 💡

Colin continues to progress almost weekly. He is beginning to see changes more often. Two days ago he started to get some feeling in his large right toe 😀 Last week Sophia, his physiotherapist noticed how the tendons on the top of his foot are starting to form and grow. Colin exercises for many hours every single day. He is constantly inventing new methods to strength his right leg. He truly pushes himself and it is starting to show day by day.

We have made the decision to sell our beloved RV. It is not in our future to keep RVing. In about five or six months we will be making a change in our address for at least a year or two. We have not had much free time to find the perfect location but this place is calling to us. Still in negotiations.

Fingers crossed that this unit ( marked in red ) will work out for us.

The second largest mercardo in Mazatlan is less than 2 blocks away, we can see Centro which is only a 1.5 km walk away. Plus we see where the cruise ships dock. And the pelicans fly past at eye level.

We love where we live and day by day and enjoy all that the ocean presents to us. Be it dolphins, sail boats coming and going every few days and these small fish – moving very quickly thru the water – almost like they were walking on the water.

The girls continue to be enthralled with our resident iguanas. I love how they just observe so very silently, hour after hour.

This is the largest of them.

I was doing the math the other day and we have been living here on the Isla de la Piedra every winter –  now a total of 16 years. Of course longer each of the past few years. But 16 years !!!  I know of two ( perhaps 3 ) other RV couples who have lived here a year longer than us. Had Colin not had the stroke we would still be RVing but at this time we must make certain required changes to our lifestyle. Sixteen years is a very longtime to devote to a particular area in Mexico. We have given in so many areas including promoting the RV Park to encourage others to visit here ( especially when traveling here was not the thing to do ), to providing a variety of forms of music to this area and even feeding those in need during COVID. It is difficult to make the decision to move into the city of Mazatlan but we are ready for new adventures.

Looks like something tasted ready good.

Mamma and baby??? Referring to the iguanas!

From the back bathroom window.

A better effort another evening……

My first Que Pasa of the year!

Christmas was put away by the 6th!

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.

That white streak in the water is a banana boat. Happy to see that they are getting business on a day like today.

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.

We have had a large pod of dolphins twice in the past week. Best picture I could get…..that tiny black dot mid section towards the left. I just sat and watched them enjoy their day.

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 new inverter was ordered in November and finally arrived January 3 ( delivery affected by both US Thanksgiving and Christmas ) and Erik was able to install it this past January 13th. Expensive part but very crucial.

One of the bedroom slides was sloppy and crooked on the in and out. Easily sorted out with a few quick movements. This RV was built with a great fix to all the slides with an easy to reach adjustment to the mechanism and rollers. Thank goodness we did not have to remove the heavy slide out.

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.

They love to cuddle and sometimes use this very tiny bed.

Are Ciela’s ears broken?

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.

I enjoyed observing this fisherman. He was slowly bringing in his catch and at the same time was cleaning his net.

He took the time to feed each pelican in turn, the smaller fish that were caught in his net.

I admired his patience. It was obvious that he cared for the pelicans.

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?

Great book to read.

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.

Ciela positioned herself into the crook of my arm last evening for lovies. I eventually just kept lightly rubbing her tummy and she fell asleep for the longest time. I loved  these moments with her.

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 😎

Great photo Genie. She captured this from the Tres Amigos RV park across the bay from us. We are to the right of those two white buildings. A perfect end to our stormy day. The promise of a great day tomorrow. I so miss having Genie and Joe parked next to us. They were the best neighbors.

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.

Sometime in the past few days a large road grader was smoothing out some extra gravel just outside our area. It has been working all over the Isla fixing the roads that have become full of pot holes.. Everyone is so happy with the effort. But it left a 9 – 12  inch wide width of rock debris, some rather large. Not easy to walk nor drive over. Nice to have that cleaned up.

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.

The girls spend the day watching the very slow moving iguanas, we have three of them. Better than barking at cats.

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!

This would never happen in Canada. I have been thinking about Helen Keller for the past two days and all she endured. I have no reason to complain. Yet within a short one hour period, I have hope to hear again.

This was her email to her patients.

January 2nd ended up being a very long day for us. In the end we were gone for seven hours.  Fortunately Aunty Ferne was able to come and sit with the girls for a while, let them do their business and feed them lunch and treats. That gave me the freedom to do what needed to be done and not worry about the girls. Truth be known the three of them have a mutual love affair.

Colin had his third visit with our chiropractor, Dr. Alan and I my second. Look at his face as he bears down using the drop table. Colin is standing much straighter and always walks better after seeing the good doctor. I was not expecting much from the treatment but my constantly cracking neck is much more stable. We will both see him again in two weeks. Cost per session is 500MXN or about $38.35CAD. He was our choice here in Mazatlan after learning that at least two retired American chiropractors go to him for their treatments.

My next appointment was not until 2:30PM so we went to a restaurant for lunch. Colin is always hungry – he processes protein quickly. Colin had a great meal and I did not. The place didn’t even have the ingredients to make a margarita, they had run out 😳 Then suddenly we were running late as we had an appointment at the bank. For some reason I was shut out of my account. Despite working for 45 minutes our guy could not make it happen but we did get a bundle of cash and a few other things sorted out. I probably will have to back next week.

We had to press on as we had to get to the Alhma hospital for my appointment with Dr. Jorge Palafox. I felt so bad being 5 minutes late but he was very gracious about it. At this point my hearing was so bad I could not hear him at all and Colin had to speak for me. He took a brief history. He said that I should have seen an ENT specialist first before he could check my hearing 😯 Confusion! I did not need my hearing checked but my ears checked for wax. Then he pulled out a long cord and attached it to his laptop which he turned to face me. He put the end in my ear – ahh, a camera! we could all see that my ears were totally impacted.

Full, full, full of wax 🙁  So what about my November 20th and 25th check with Dr. Garcia who said that my ears were clear. Also my GP doctor back in Canada for the last 18 months who also said that my ears were clear each time I asked. Long story short he could not help me at all as the wax was too deep for him to get to. I needed more specialized help. He gave me two options, the first one being another ear doctor in the hospital but late Friday afternoon, she was already gone. The second choice is the doctor he thought was best suited to help me but he was across town at a different hospital.

Colin and I regrouped and he called this other hospital to make me an appointment and I lucked out and was told to come ASAP as they could see me and was #4 in line for an appointment. Not quite sure what that meant but off we went.

So we called and hopped into yet another Didi.  In the end we took six Didi’s on this day. Total cost was 272 MXN or $20.85CAD. Certainly much less than driving a car from place to place and saving us a great deal of time. Might as well add in the cost to travel from the Isla to Mazatlan and back was a grand total of 60MXN or $4.60CAD.

This time we were going to the Cemeq Hospital which is where I had my right knee meniscus surgery back in January of 2020. As a matter of fact we sat in the very same chairs yesterday that we had on January 2, 2020 – exactly 6 years later. But this time I was seeing Dr. Gustavo Berrospe – an Otorrinolaringologo! Quite the Mexican name for an ENT specialist.

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.

After quickly checking my nose and mouth he hooked me up.

Both ears were totally full of wax. Colin was taking the photos from the side which did not give the best image of screen but you get the idea re the amount of wax.

This is an otoscope, what most doctors use to check for wax. But they only see the first little bit of the ear canal.

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.

Of course this is a more sophisticated set up.

The doctor was able to vacuum out the wax bit by bit through that tiny clear tube. Colin said he could see gobs of wax coming out.

My wax was pushed right down far, tight against the tympanic membrane, totally blocking my hearing. No way would a regular otoscope be able to see the wax.

Here you can see that I now have a clear middle ear canal.

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.

It is always wonderful to get home to the Isla as it is so very peaceful here. I served wine and limonada up on our hill overlooking the ocean.

We sat and watched the moon come up. Nice to see so many on the beach.

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