What did Goldie Hawn use to say?
'Sarf & West mate, Sarf & West'
Pete Bernfeld
Fri 25 Nov 2011 20:16
It's the weekend; so what? Well, no work on the boat of course, that's what. I'm going down to the Yacht Club to say cheerio to Henning (Smiley). He's off to the west coast (of Fiji) as he's got a job there. I wish him well, but it means there's a dwindling number of people to pass the time of day with down at the club. A farewell lunch, either at the Indian or Chinese and a walk round Trouters to get his opinion.
Wiring wise, all shot of course. Every junction box corroded and wires corroded almost along their entire length. I've impressed on Arun the Electric that funds will not allow a complete rewiring, so essentials only. All the old wire is coming out, 'tons' of the stuff, and mice being put into the awkward runs. Bad news is the one apparently working semi-flexible solar panel isn't really pushing much out in the way of 'wiggly amps', but it may be salvageable. Unexpected news is that a replacement solar regulator is cheaper in the UK. I'm going to check US suppliers this weekend, but the UK is £85 cheaper than Oz!!!!!!!! Wiring is much cheaper in the UK as well. Oh yes, the batteries should be here on Monday.
No 'lapdancer' I'm afraid, the Apple supplier in Oz is consolidating a large shipment which Rizwan (local Apple reseller bossman) is hoping will be sent this weekend. I'm not the only one awaiting spares, it seems. Still, we downloaded the writing file and I now have all the work that I'd done on Eliezer 2. Tomorrow will be a writing day, today will be a reviewing day, unless Hennings farewell turns into a session at the bar. Haven't had one of those for a while!
The weather continues to be 'changeable', apparently normal for this time of year. Lucky most of the external GRP repair work has been done. Nothing much else to recount right now. Various coffee shop earnings are reported as being down, as are taxi earnings. I did say the fares had gone up 25%. Wrong!! Basically you double the old fare then take off F$1.50, and that gives you an approximate idea of the new fare. I'm seeing a lot of empty taxis, many more shared taxis and of course unless I'm encumbered by 'stuff', I'm walking everywhere. It was suggeted that I buy a bike, but there are no 'rust-proof jobbies' here, so I think that I might be wasting my money. Anyway, nowhere that I go is more than an hour and a quarters walk from each other, so it's not exactly an issue. Perhaps when I restart work on the boat interior I may think differently, but right now, no. Unless of course there are some good Xmas deals, but even then...
A lot of people asking what my plans are for next season. Those in Fiji then follow up the question with a request that I take them with them! A lot of folks want to get to Australia, apparently the promised land! Not so sure about that, I'm hearing that it gets more expensive by the week. Still, I think I'd better get a multi-entry visa in the new year, I may not actually spend much time there, but I can't see any way of realistically avoiding the place. Better visited by Boeing I feel, but direct to Indonesia is a bit of a reef-strewn flog.
--
http://roastbeefonsundays.blogspot.com/