Debby's cruiser Penthouse
06 November 2012 | Panama City
Marg
To continue with the ongoing move of Debby's Cruiser Connection...
... The next day, we are told, that Debby was robbed while loading her groceries at the Price Smart (Panama's idea of a Costco). The robbers scored big. Gone was her down payment for the apartment ($1500 US) and all her identification such as her driver's license and passport (all which are needed when going to the bank). We also discover why her truck bumper looked unrecognizable. It seems her now, X-boyfriend Greg had a little off-road experience.He was unscathed however, Debby had planned to put it up for sale. In order to pay for the damages, Greg decided to do one last delivery of groceries to pay for the truck repair.
As a side note.. you may remember last year we used the same provisioning service offered and mastered by Mark on Melody (whom sadly died shortly after that delivery)... A $600 order that turned out to be over $1,000 ... Anyway, to make a long story short (like that's going to happen..lol), Debby's opportunity for ALL that has transpired since last April, occurred because of that tragedy, and Debby tried hard to fulfill the needed provisioning for the San Blas cruisers but found it to be an overwhelming and horrendous task not worth the 30% bonus delivery cost added to each totaled order. The truck Debby now owned is the same truck Mark used for his trek to Linton or Portobello, in order to fill his boat with said groceries, which he then sailed to the San Blas Islands with. This one last time, Greg would fulfill the same route and Roger would drive the truck back from Linton.
ANYWAY, Debby concurred reluctantly because she was already overwhelmed by the move, that Greg could use the truck (one last time). It became very evident and clear that Debby did not have the time nor the interest to help with this last delivery! Roger, being Roger, volunteered to help and watching the kayos of sorting emails and unloading the truck into Debby's front room, I couldn't help but also volunteer. I ended up going on the last all out ditch shopping effort to complete the remainder of the lists and for the next few days, as the various groceries arrived, both Steve and I helped sort, unload and load the truck so that the process could continue and the truck finally departed loaded to the brim. Phew!
Next day, when the truck returned, larger items like mattresses (not being used by guests) could be loaded and taken to the apartment. Steve couldn't bare to load the stuff until he and I had thoroughly washed and dried the truck bed that smelt of diesel etc.. and while all the above was taking place, Debby and Roger continued picking up guests (in their cars) from to and from airports, grocery stores and malls of choice. As guests came and went, Steve cooked, making sure everyone was fed and I continued the washing and hanging loads of laundry, generally cleaning dishes, appliances and cupboards, changing beds, cleaning washrooms and keeping the place looking as tidy as possible.. which was impossible! Of course there were the added accompanied trips to the apartment to meet up with the lawyer and the property manager to discuss the "I was told that this or that would be done before moving in! ..and our financing of the whole event (which Debby sometimes wondered if she should have just walked away from) and all this done while looking for and purchasing new beds, picking up living room furniture from various homes (previously found) and dumping it all into the underground parking lot of the apartment...
What a very hard time for Debby it was.. Can you just imagine!
Soon the day came when all the impossible was achieved..
In the former location (Dix's home), Debby's personal belongings and various food items were all boxed up; rooms were cleaned from top to bottom and beds, tables couches and lamps and all kinds of crap, were placed back into their original spot where the owners had left them; the kitchen was sorted and spotless; plants were dug up and potted and we all finally made the move to the new location... Well sort of! Of course nothing promised was done, and Steve and I spent a whole 2 days and 1 night (yes we were alone!..and first to sleep in the new place) moving furniture, cleaning floors, bathrooms, kitchen cupboards, unloading box by box and discovering what worked and what didn't and what didn't that we couldn't fix (a new list for the property manager). The next day, all last minute stuff arrived with Debby, Dominic and Roger whom spent their evening catching up with last minute emails and pick-ups (yes guests were still arriving)and finishing the remainder of the move from Dix's place (the previous home).
Finally, to breath and take in the whole event... Imagine an apartment on the 22nd penthouse floor, in the heart of Panama city, with-in walking distance to everything, overlooking in full circle, the ocean, mountains and city landscape.. A spectacular move!