Did I say a job was under budget?
'Sarf & West mate, Sarf & West'
Pete Bernfeld
Fri 4 May 2012 09:34
I allowed F$1200 for new sheets (for the sails dearie, for the sails, NOT black satin). I also, well John the GRP actually, broke the winch handle that I brought in Oz the first time we hoisted the 'former mast virgin' skywards. I went off to the local self-styled chandlery, not the one at the RSYC but the 'main shop', to see what I could find.
The sheets for the inner jib are (were) 16mm and the gennaker sheets 14mm. I had one inner sheet left, but 16mm rope was a special order, so forget that. All sheets (bar the surviving one) are now 14mm. I also brought a fancy-shpransy 'titanium' winch handle that was less than the same model in Oz, nearly half-price actually and a spare plastic jobbie. Whilst I was at it I brought a pin for the block that came adrift from the mast top plate and a hand-full of split pins. The total bill? F$1000. Whoopie, give the cat another goldfish!
Speaking of cats, Adina the house cat has now been put on a diet of dried food. F$25 a month instead of a week (part of my rather meagre contribution to the house fund). The little ingrate ignored me for the first two days but has now realised that this is it, it's as good as it gets. Dried food or catch your own. I have also discovered (no surprise to real cat lovers I suspect) that there's nothing friendlier than a cold wet cat at about 0330! Yes it has now turned a trifle colder at nights. I'll be cross-country skiing down to the boat if it gets much colder
Interior work continues, although I must be honest following the not unexpected bad news about my pension, i.e. there's no way round the reduced payments, I did have several 'why the hell am I bothering?' moments. Never mind, one day at a time, one day at a time.
Perhaps a little on the light-side?
Granted it's a bit 'Scandinavian', possibly Swedish now I come to think of it, but at least it's cheerful. I'm not sure I could take sitting looking at stained woodwork for the next couple of years. Now THAT'S a positive thought for you.
My IFA's best idea for extricating myself from the financial pooh was to suggest perhaps a 'sell and leaseback' idea. Not sure that it would fly, so it's best thinking trousers on.
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