Post-salvage paint quests, and giraffes?
Hallo!
After the cleaning sesh last weekend, Monday morning felt light; it was satisfying to pressure wash again, although the engine oil was stubborn. Even with a few degreasing rounds it was truly soaked in, but everything is spick compared to last week and I’ll go over it with some fresh insulation anyway.
I then cut out the old solar panel and tried hammering back the throttle pillar, which wouldn’t budge, so Plan B: cut it out completely, weld on some fresh plate and then re-fit the pillar (I’m currently waiting for steel).
Then, admin: I booked the window measurers for June, bought some bolts and set out to find the paint colour for restoring the engine. But googling “emerald green BMC 1.8 enamel” left me paintless, and I didn’t have many ideas…
Stumped, I threw some goat bones, then telephoned Calcutt Boats and whispered a special incantation. 10 minutes later after rummaging in their containers, I received an electronic letter from Roger with some sacred glyphs: H6 Green B3, along with an 11-digit number. I punched the number into my handheld and heard a woman’s voice…
“Hello, Cromadex, how can I help?”
Anxious, I recited the glyphs and she responded “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.” and hung up. The next day I hear a knock at the door, and a man dressed in white hands me a round metal tub. I open it, nervous, and uncover a silky emerald liquid…
The paint, it fits. Almost giddy I could hardly believe it, the glyphs they worked; the money-to-goods exchange worked.
Then on Tuesday morning I received another message: “Hoping to fly this evening if I can get some more crew. Are you free? About 1800 my place.”
But George (le van) was at the garage, and I responded with a likely no… until I was called to pick him up in the afternoon: flying was on. Only expecting to help with ropes, I was caught off-guard and slightly shaky as the pilot said “hop in,”and off we floated. For 90 minutes we ballooned over the Worcestershire countryside, the Safari Park and Severn Valley Railway until we eventually landed on the other side of the River Severn.
Can you find the giraffes?
It was phenomenal; after this boat malarkey I’m getting me a hot air balloon. Forever may the chaos continue.
Then with a few days away I didn’t get much more than pottering done this weekend, but an epiphany on how I’ll do the portholes…
Until next Sunday!
- Nick