So, farewell then, strawberry cheesecake
'Sarf & West mate, Sarf & West'
Pete Bernfeld
Mon 14 Nov 2011 03:01
(think about it).
I have sad news, my soopa-doopa centurian sandals are no more
they are ex-sandals. their stitching has failed and
they have holes in the heels. They have fallen off their shoe-tree, they are no more
(I'm not even going to work out the cost per kilometre, they're only about two weeks old, done about 120 kilometres, so that's 37.5c per kilometre-hang on, did I just work out the cost?). Anyway, the nice Korean lady in the factory outlet shop (makes a change from a Chinese factory outlet shop) was genuinely horrified, offered to try and repair them (no chance) and gave me a good deal on a new pair, a different model. Oh yes, taxi fares have just gone up about 25%. I found that out when I couldn't walk to the sandal shop!
Meet the 'new kids on the block'.
Actually, I've had this type before. Usually they're F$28, but I got them for F$20. I was so impressed, I brought a pair of flip flops as a spare (thongs, for any Aussie readers [can they?] and Jandals for passing Kiwis).
So farewell to strawberry cheesecake, and coffee, and lunches. It's back to instant noodles with 'stuff' chucked in the pot. And why, you may ask? Well, I've had a quote for the electrical work
As I suspected, capilliary action has done for me wiring, Jim lad. Parts and labour (about five weeks work) comes to F$4000-F$5000, and that doesn't include new batteries, solar panel regulator and any repairs to the wind generator. Why the wide band in the estimate? Well it's F$5000 tops and Arun the Electrician will try and reduce the cost as much as he can. The thick battery leads we're going to source here as we need them ASAP to test circuits (Arun will supply a battery for the testing) and maybe, just maybe the entire switch panel can be saved.To be clear, that is replacing every bit of wire in the damn boat, including to the anchor windlass, and all circuit breakers and fuses. No point in chancing it, the boat is ripped apart now and I can just imagine the nightmare of trying to track down the section of wire that has failed when it's all back together again.
On top of that, Martin the Mechanic would like F$890 for servicing the saildrive legs (I assume that's fitting the new props as well). I had the quote from NZ for the engine spares, NZ$3500, not including shipping to Fiji, but ex-GST! About the same as the UK then. To convert F$ to Sterling, divide by 2.8, NZ$ I think 1$nz=F$1.28. For US/Can$ divide by 2.
Rebuilding a boat is berluddy expensive! I also need to pay for a new autopilot system and depth guage, £1000 sterling, by the time it gets out here. Not to mention paying off the Dive centre and hiring a crane to get back in the water. Let's hope that Emma the Agent sells the damn book damn quick!