Fun Fun Fun

It's been 3 weeks and I have to apologize for the lack of information. It's not that there no are items to post, it is just that it is mainly repeats.
Chickens - this morning , we managed to trap a hen who had 9 young chicks (guess about 3 days old). It was a dilemma - leave them alone and she will lose most of the young'uns or catch them all. Early this morning, I though they we all in the trap but it turned out that the mother was eating and the chicks were behind the trap. Going to the trap, the 9 young ones scattered. I caught two by hand but the rest ran off. I placed the two in with the mother but they just slipped through the holes in the trap and left. No problem, I leave the mother there and catch them again. This time, I got a large cardboard box, placed some feed inside and started to catch them one by one. By 11:30, we had all 9 safe and secure. They wanted mother but I did not want to take the chance of them being injured. And no, this is not the hen sitting on the 11 eggs. She is still working on hatching those.
Of course, this presents a problem. I now have in various boxes and tractors, 8 hens (we let the rooster go because he was not being very nice to the hens) 6 pullets and 9 chicks. Solution - build a larger chicken coop! Not a real problem as there are many ideas on the all knowing internet.
Mangoes- we have 5 left on the tree, but are and now up to 15 sprouted trees from seeds. I have been buying some from the farmers - our largest to date is 2lbs 4oz (1020 grams) and it was called a Springfeld. It tastes like a mango but the aftertaste is like a pineapple.
Weather is still hot and sticky.
Economy - They have had some figures out in the press recently. Seems like our Government is running about a $75 million deficit. pretty amazing when you consider the population is about 65K - about $1150/person. We are a two pier economy - banking and tourism. There is no other base for government to obtain funds from except for duty on imported items. While there are no personal taxes, something will have to be done. The forecast is for an even greater reduction in Government income as well as increases spending.
They also published a short article in the Cayman Compass about the politicians salaries. It seems while they have been giving us a pay increase of about 8% over the last 4 years, they also gave themselves between 25 and 35% increase in the same period. But, there are calls for cutbacks, and other economy measures. Time will tell what the result will be.
There was a talk at work about how things are getting cheaper in Cayman. You can get discounts on appliances, building materials and other items you don't always buy on a regular basis, something that did not happen before! Hotels are offering local resident specials as are restaurants. On the other hand, supermarket food, fuel and other basics continue to rise. I have noticed more people riding scooters and a couple more bike riders in the mornings. Probably the best thing going is that it is damn near impossible to freeze to death in Cayman - naturally!
Hopefully, someone with a practical mind (on a politician?) will take a look at Government and cut all unnecessary spending. One item that came out in the newspapers was that Boatswain Beach (formerly known as the Turtle Farm) was being subsidized at a cost of 17 million a year. For turtles?
Bike - I have finished testing the randonneuring bike and all I can say is that it rides nice. My average speed on it is about 2 mph more that the commuting bike. A little fine tuning to do then I will take it all apart and powder coat the frame and other items.
On the commuting bike, I finally gave up on the cheap tires. I now have a Schwalbe 700x35 Smart Guard on the rear and the Vittoria Randonneur on the front. I just got tired on flats in the rear and my first tread separation in the front tire from the Kendas. I am looking forward to dependable riding now.