It has been almost one month since the most powerful hurricane on record hit Jamaica and left a path of devastation almost unimaginable if it weren’t true. Here in Negril, a sense of purpose is the driving force to re-establish its rank as one of the most desirable destinations in the Caribbean. And here, at Llantrissant, there is no less of a drive to be ready to welcome our first guests at Christmas and the New Year.
Our ground crew numbers four under the watchful eye of Gary Bartley, whose energy and strength seem boundless. Considering that the entire property was littered with fallen trees and debris strew by the waves and winds, Gary and his crew have nearly restored it to its previous pristine condition, albeit, with the loss of the lush vegetation and attentive planting by my wife, Cherry, whose love of gardening has held strong despite Melissa’s blows. She has recovered nearly all of the orchids!
Reconstruction
All of the local hardware stores have an abundance of lumber. Pictured below is Samuel’s lumber yard.
The first two days of the veranda reconstruction which began within four days of our arrival were very productive. Under the very competent direction of Vincent Bloomfield and his crew, the veranda roof was brought to a level with construction risers.
All the years of restoration and maintenance of the house that required a tool shed brimming with tools and supplies really came into its own.
Every disaster brings opportunities to improve and attempt to mitigate against the design flaws of the past. Here we have decided to elevate the bottom plate of the railing so that water will not have a chance to rot the timbers. Also, the joinery is being reinforced with West System marine epoxy, after being secured with Tapcon screws into the concrete and sealed with a construction adhesive.
If all goes well, there will be a new posting by the end of the week showing how Vincent and his crew have succeeded in restoring the veranda to its former glory.
Stay tuned and start planning your visit. The banks, restaurants and supermarkets are all open and welcoming. Our staff has remained loyal and dedicated and is looking forward to your visit.