Elastomeric paint

 The shed roof was painted with three layers of elastomeric paint.

And then we waited. The big rain eventually came and we identified one leak. Actually, I think the roof would have been fine except that the day before the rain Patrick cut some coconuts down and some landed on the shed roof with a big thud…and the roof being so old and rusted, it created a few little minute holes and hence the leak.

Yesterday we added some more layers specifically on this area. I’m hopeful!  But I’m also realistic that likely we will get leaks like this now and again, and will need to keep applying more paint when needed. I think I can live with that! 

Part Three of what is hopefully a Three Part Series

You guys! The toilet. This freakin’ toilet!!! 

This morning I woke up to a small pool of water at the front of the toilet on the tile. I asked Patrick did he know anything, hoping he would tell me he spilled some water or something. I wiped up the water but noticed a small pool soon after. Over the course of the morning it continued to pool.

There it is. A tiny leak right there. Please excuse the awfulness of this pic - remember, my toilet is from the 1950s.

So, I did two things (1) I messaged my old boss asking him can I just seal this hole (a very bad idea according to google and to him) and (2) posted on Facebook asking for any plumber recommendations.

Well, when a guy posted that he could be there in 30 minutes and quoted his price, I jumped on his offer.

He arrived promptly and got stuck right in.

He texted me this photo after 15 minutes lol. While I know the principle of how to fix this issue and I knew all the steps he would have to take, this photo proved to me that I could not have attempted it myself.

And we are done! ✅ 

I am hoping the next and only post that you see about this stupid toilet is my cute little pink toilet seat I have on order!! Woohoo 🙌 

Happy New Year 2026!

Happy New Year! For those of you wondering, why yes, I did mark the new year with my traditional oyster shooter at the Half Shell Raw Bar. It’s a pretty gruesome affair - an oyster, spicy vodka and spicy cocktail sauce. 

But so much fun!!! Recommendation 💯

 

Part Two of Fixing a Vintage WC

 You guys, I did it!!!

Saturday morning I woke up early 6.45/7am ish. I had coffee in bed while two cats and Patrick slept beside me. I then left them in bed (Monty snoring 🤣) and cycled to Strunk for their 8am open.

Above is the part I bought. It is a piece specific for an “Elijer” loo which is what I’ve got. Those two little wings on either side is what differentiates it from other gaskets.

I worked on it for an hour or so: emptying the tank of water, taking the whole thing apart and putting it all back together with this gasket. I also added in steps of testing along the way so I could see if there was a problem before I reached the very end. All tests were pointing in a good direction and I was feeling more and more optimistic.

Well I was so relieved when I was finished and all is good. I dread the day something big happens in that bathroom (for example new toilet required) because one of my fears is that at that point a plumber may need to strip right back to internal pipes and that might mean the end of my cute little 1950s bathroom.

Not much storage in this little bathroom. After doing the work I wondered about buying a little shelf or basket for storage, for the back/top of the toilet. I briefly looked on Amazon and saw nothing…and then I went poking around my closet and I found this little cute pink thing left by the previous owners lol. I think it’s just fine!

Lilly Pulitzer Archival Revival

I love my job! And never more so, than when I recently, got the opportunity to work an evening event for Lilly Pulitzer (yes! LILLY PULITZER) and saw first-hand the launch of their new Archival Revival collection for Spring Summer 2026.

A little (fabric) cocktail napkin from the night

Framed and looking beautiful in my mid 1950's vintage bathroom..

It will forever be a memento of one of the most magical nights I've ever encountered.

And yes, of course, the new collection with their vintage patterns is just perfection.  I cannot wait to try on in the store and choose something lovely for myself (I have some favourites picked already!)

More DIY…

 Maybe I just throw in the towel and rename this blog a home diy blog??

The latest project is the 1953 toilet in my bathroom has started leaking (and wasting) water from the tank into the bowl.

First issue became apparent pretty quickly..the screw and bolts holding the tank on were completely corroded. I tried some rust blaster on them over night: nothing. I moved on to trying to hacksaw them off - a futile exercise. So I brought in the big guns and borrowed an angle grinder from my old boss. This did the job in literal seconds, and boy, did I feel tough using the angle grinder. I also felt a little bit like the girl from Flashdance so that was fun.

In the middle of the hideousness…

You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs - my mantra

Ha! And I thought I could get through this screw with a hacksaw 🤣🤣

Well. As much as I could tell you I got it all back together and all is perfect now. Sadly there is still the leak. I think I need to put in a different kind of gasket - remember this is a vintage toilet!! So I have this ordered on Amazon and will take care of this at the weekend.

Fingers crossed for me please!! 🙏 

Home Repairs (Never Ending)

 Part ?/?? of the never ending story of "Things Always Break in Key West"  also entitled "Lol - you have to laugh or else you will cry".

1.Our shed roof has been slowly and steadily getting leakier over the last year or so.  We have had one or two roofing companies out to look at it, and they really were not keen on taking it on.  For two reasons.  Firstly, it is too small of a job.  These are companies that do big house roofing jobs. Secondly, our shed is too old and vintage (yay! Of course I love hearing that lol).

So! We took the job on ourselves.  Our good friend, Bill Who Knows Everything, advised us to look into elastomeric paint.  It wasn't cheap but we invested in enough for two coats.  We first did a layer of white paint (primer) and then the elastomeric paint.  It was a tough enough job but we got it done between us. I also used some crack and gap filler on the inside on any visible holes on the inside.  And now...now we wait for a big Key West rainy day.

2. One of the poles holding up the bimini cover on our boat became detached.  We went looking for a particular part in West Marine and it appears to not exist.  We managed to locate something that I thought might do and got in installed.  Miraculously, it appears to be holding.  Fingers crossed.