Wasting Away in Rice Wine-aville
'Sarf & West mate, Sarf & West'
Pete Bernfeld
Thu 13 Sep 2012 19:57
Amongst my various disappointments has been Martin showing up on one day, agreeing that he would get on with it then disappearing again.
Also disappointing is the fact that I have failed to get the depth sounder working. I've joined some wire onto the old wire which was severed, but no joy. Perhaps I'll trim a bit more off the old wire in case there's a better contact to be had, but failing that....a new transducer is called for. Speaking of things Raymarine, the GPS is definitely buggered but I wasn't really expecting anything else.
The autopilot still refuses to come out and play. The a/p pump has been fettled both electrically and hydraulically but still no joy. The 'boys' from Seamech came yesterday to have a look. Today they will check the wiring. Since I've already put a meter over the whole shooting match and everything is putting out twelve plus volts I'm not sure that they'll actually achieve anything, but there you go.
Still no joy with the masthead lights. I feel a trip up the mast is called for. Speaking of masts and associated 'bits', I'm still trying to work out a way of inserting a new reefing line. Possibly a long length of 'stiff' wire might do it, my bendy pipe-cleaners are too thick to go between the two rollers at the mast end of the boom. I would post a picture but I think the camera-battery has given up the ghost after four years. Before you ask, no they don't stock the same battery anywhere in Fiji, I have asked! LIFE, DON'T TALK TO ME ABOUT LIFE lol!!!
I went to visit Immigration. Now the people in Immigration are unfailingly polite and pleasant and told me my case 'is still under review'. They confirmed that I am legally in the country and suggested that I return next Wednesday. Well it's a pleasant walk into Town and as I said they are all pleasant to deal with.
Never mind, I still have about seventeen litres of rice wine 'on tap'. The bean-curry is going down a treat (interpret that as you will) and I am slowly slowly staring to tidy up. The casual observer probably wouldn't notice and I will admit that you would have to count the various boxes/cartons/tools laying around to fully appreciate my efforts but it's a start. IF it stops raining I might even clean the fore-deck but until it does the 'industrial effluent' makes it a bit like painting the Forth Road Bridge.
I have written a first draft of the opening chapter/story of the new 'Tim' book, 'Tim Turpin'. The projected short stories about Karno's early days in the Cornishire Police Force have stalled although I do have some plot ideas. They say that if a writer comes up with a good plot that it's worth pinching, so please accept my (astral) apologies Sir Arthur.
Hey ho. Tonight I may try making roti to eat with the bean curry. Apologies in advance to everybody else on the pontoon. At least the rice wine doesn't give me a hangover. I don't see too well for a couple of hours the following morning but I don't have a hangover.
TTFN.
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