FML - Fix my life

So do you remember my last post about the restraining arm on the jeep? Well that one ended up getting mangled too. So I figured out that a flexible “strap” would be better - and it is, this one has been installed now for months with no issue.

The dashboard displays on the boat had become completely clouded over - not ideal not being able to your fuel gauge or speed etc (although we had that on the gps screen also). 

Look at it now! Like brand new!

I stained the outdoor gardens. Don’t they look great?!

No photos, but other things fixed:

Boat steering wheel had gone really stiff and think it was because of air having got trapped in the hydraulics. So, thank you YouTube and our dockmaster’s advice, think I have resolved the issue - will not bore you with details except to tell you that it involves hydraulic oil and a tube.

Patrick’s outdoor bathroom toilet had been leaking a very small but steady stream of water. I hate wasting water so I got that fixed too. I first replaced the flapper but that didn’t resolve it so I did a bit more work and installed a seal to work with the flapper.

Work in progress: shed roof leaks during the rain

 

Another episode of Everything Breaks in Key West

 This is the old restraining strap for the tailgate of the jeep. It gave up the ghost during the week and I ordered a new part from Amazon.

Here is the new part. Made in Mexico I noticed when it arrived.

It was a tough enough fix to be honest. Took every tool under the sun for starters. And secondly, to get to the part I had to get past a big load of jeep screws that were rusted on and almost impossible to remove. Pleased to report, got there in the end and it is working perfectly now.

Everything Breaks in Key West - Part ?

 

Out of nowhere our bedroom ceiling fan started making a horrific (grating) noise in the middle of the night. Plus the pull chain malfunctioned when we went to turn it off because of the noise.

I thought I was going to have to replace the whole fan - eek! After some googling and YouTubing, where it was continually described as “easy, you can totally do it yourself”, I thought I might be able to do it. But it did involve shutting the power off and connecting wires etc so I was nervous.

Anyway, I went off to work leaving the fan on low (less noise) hoping the noise might wear it self out. Good news! It did.

Which just left the pull chain to deal with. More good news I was able to fix that (again, with the aid of google and YouTube).

Next up, is the retaining arm on the tailgate of the jeep.

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Oysterfest 2025

Every now and again we treat ourselves to a big old oyster night out.  We did one the end of December and February's just took place on Friday night.

We firstly, not pictured, went to Alonzo's where Patrick had some raw oysters and I had half a dozen baked oysters.  After that we headed up to one of my favourite places - a speakeasy called Berlin's,  I had a fancy drink (Paloma Margarita) and we shared a shrimp cocktail (plump and delicious) and my NUMBER ONE dish ever, my absolute favourite of all times.  Oysters Rockefeller mmm mmm,

We had a lovely night, finishing off our drinks enjoying the view out on to the marina,

 

Happy New Year 2025

 

Happy Nee Year!

I started 2025 the right way with my now traditional Oyster Shooter. Spicy hot and a bit vile and lot crazy. I laughed hysterically for 5 minutes afterwards at the photographs and am still smiling every time I think of it. I recommend this silliness lol!

*obviously ignoring the fact that I have not blogged since September!! Truth be told I actually thought it was July and was relieved when I saw September. Absolutely no reason for not recording events - all is good, just simply fell of the habit ugh. But I am back now and intend continuing for 2025! 

Hello Fresh

 Hello September!

What is wrong with me that I am unable to blog these days??  Here we are, in September already.

We recently tried out "Hello Fresh" and it sure is an intriguing service. Imagine, sending food all the way down to the Southernmost city of the Southernmost state. And it arrives promptly on time and just perfect.

I liked it a lot! It definitely is "cooking" - Patrick was worried it would be a little "tv dinneresue" but on first bite his fears were put to bed.  

I thought the price was very good too. We may not do a weekly order but will assuredly do it again in the future.

Contact paper wrapping

I blogged previously about the repair job that I carried out on the murphy bed. Looking back on it now, I am not too impressed with my work lol.  But this!  Look at this!

I purchased some contact paper/wrap on amazon and I am impressed how easy it was to use and the results!

I just hope I don't look back on this in a week or two and think it looks awful!

Next up, is our first visitor to use the bed!  Patrick's friend Vic is coming for his yearly(ish) visit for some fishing and fun.