22 January 2012

Slacking has become a way of life. By being, at the time, constantly on my alleged mind this blog was actually easier done every day. Given an endemic three-year-old attention span, extended gaps have been insinuating themselves into the effluvium production. Mental calcification is both cause and result while cheering discriminating literati.

An impossible number of critical projects have been whittled down to an impossible number of re-designated non-critical projects plus a newly discovered critically urgent repair. Removing portside cap rail track to install running rig hardware revealed leakage causing a linear meter of decomposition beneath. This was probably the source of intractable interior dampness and consequent mold. It's like losing your new Aston Martin when an obstreperous mother-in-law drives off a cliff - bad news, but good. Now looking for a chippie to rout out the corruption and scarf in some matching kauri wood (or, it has been alleged, available Costa Rican teak) at which point, some time in the not too distant future, hopefully, life will again be perfectish. Have now, unsurprisingly, run through four boat builders who, due to Bay of Islands Race Week, Auckland Day, subsequent Waitangi Day or prior commitments are unobtainable this decade.

Although not wishing to sully moderate optimism expressed in the previous paragraph (Huh? you query) a newly purchased water heater to replace operative, but 26 year old current unit, to which a dual 120/12 volt heating element (for wind vane diversion load) is being re-engineered to fit has become a can of worms (clearly less fun than a barrel of monkeys). Am certain, however, that the actual installation will be simple, straight-forward and quick. Endeavor to congratulate me for optimism and stop snickering this instant.

Jan finishes work next Friday, her brother arrives two days later and we plan to sail with the tide (cool sounding, but, with an auxiliary engine, usually meaningless expression) shortly thereafter. As completion of all projects should take until this time next year, some compromises will ensue.

Jack