Tuesday 26 September 2017

Let us harken back to that halcyon time, three weeks in June, when days were balmy, nights cool and humidity low. Air con was off and we basked in sybaritic bliss. A little too much gilding on that lily? OK, still Darwin, but the weather was nice. Fresh air wafted through the cabin and required a blanket at night. Alas, it was not to last. Temperature and humidity began to climb and September has become stifling. Absence of rain for awhile longer is a mixed blessing as there are as yet no clouds to block fierce, tropical sun. Upside is that Jan has only five more weeks of chemo and her shiny, albeit cute, bald head is beginning to grow fuzz despite the Taxol. After today there will only be 5 more weeks of poison (last one appropriately enough on Halloween) then nuking four times a week for a month. Herceptin after Taxol will likely be administered subcutaneously, so no more drips. If we find a deal (it's abusively expensive to fly out of Darwin to anywhere) may go to Tasmania early November. Already set for Brisbane and points immediately south during holidays using last of travel points.

As this is a sailing blog will now dispense boat news. Generator is running, but requires either second weldment of old exhaust outlet or new one, third rebuild of raw water pump and replacement of hose clamps and fuel filter. Although regrettably necessary because the thing didn't run, one must never open up a piece of gear for inspection. Like with Shrodinger's Cat, the act of looking is what kills it. This is scientific fact.

Anchor windlass motor/gearbox is fifteen odd kilo of corroded junk. Unable to service previously due stainless fasteners frozen to aluminum housing, cleverly waited until entire mount disintegrated and motor shorted out. Oddly enough new lower end is purported to fit and be available at almost reasonable cost for twenty two year old gear. Well... we'll just have to see about that. Hope runs amok.

Further troubleshooting (why does one shoot trouble? Shouldn't we do something more appropriate with it?) of mainsail furler beyond confirming operative switch box will require removing mainsail, easing weight of furling extrusion with halyard then unbolting motor. This will also allow replacement of fugitive telltales (little bits of twine on sail luff used to confirm that it is impossible to properly trim the thing).

Wednesday

Should also admit to replacement of 19" TV. Remote stopped working, but that seemed to be in the television not the remote itself. For awhile turning the TV off and back on fixed the problem, then didn't. Set top buttons also stopped working once, but subsequently worked fine. Figuring out how to achieve most of the functions with far fewer buttons than the remote possessed provided more entertainment than watching the same commercials over and over and over..., but no way to mute them - a fatal flaw. Bought 24" LED TV/DVD/PVR that will have to suffice as a wide screen substitute for coveted 88" curved screen Samsung that has been vetoed by partner merely because it cost a fortune and won't fit in the boat.

Jack