Mon.18.09.06. The hangover that was the weekend has drifted into today. There has been little or no work on the project. I have not returned the pieces of scrap to Steve, taken the engine panels to Simmals or received any of the long awaited, wonderful components from Rimmers. Bad Karma.
Tues.19.09.06. Progress has been negligible again today. Waiting for the new components to arrive has created a state of inertia diverting our attentions away from the vital ‘on going’ tasks. During the morning, I finally manage to telephone Steve to deliver the bad news that I intended returning not only the seats but also the gearbox. I offered the rational that the position on the central section of the chassis, where the box would rest, was far too narrow to accommodate the overdrive unit. I couldn’t actually accuse jovial Steve of being a lying con merchant who only deals in scrap shite, which, in reality is the truth, so I wrapped it up in plausible gobble di gook. Expertly, Steve reposted my request deftly claiming at the moment and for the next six days, he is short of cash, plus he was working by himself all week meaning he was unable to ‘get to’ the bank, finally punctuated by ‘could I call sometime in the future’. I would guess the likelihood of recovering the £300 will prove to be somewhat difficult, but according to Chris I have ‘no fuckin’ chance’.
In the afternoon I met Chris Turner of Simmals to explain exactly how the engine panels should be covered. I related the appalling experience with Andy at R and G repeating that we didn’t want the same atrocious craftsmanship but wanted perfection. This information appeared to throw Chris; he seemed quite anxious, as if he could not deliver. However, he produced a rough drawing, confirmed the correct gauge of the aluminium, 1.2 on the inner and 1.5 on the outer profile and was prepared to send all this data to a reliable company who specialise in this field. He would produce a quote combined with a timeframe for the work, lastly stating confidently he would contact us within s few days providing the estimate or, better still applying the present terminology, a ‘budget statement’. By not using the word ‘quote’ allows for discrepancies in the cost as well as time. The ‘term’ absolves the contractor from any fixed obligation. In other words “they can charge what they want and take as much time as they want, fuckin’ beltin” exclaimed a sceptical boss. I always use the word ‘boss’ when I need to show respect.
It has been another slow day. The project is in a state of limbo manifesting itself into a coma of disinterest. I am finding this quite bizarre considering all of the tedious preparation has been completed we should be genuinely excited entering this ‘new build’ stage of fulfilment and reward instead of collective inertia.
The Oak has had a reprieve as we found ourselves discussing in the Roy Castle corner, once more debating the ups and downs of ‘Clubbers’ love life. He cautiously requested that everyone must be on his or her best behaviour at the weekend because he has invited a girlfriend, who he has actually only seen twice, into his nest in Wigan. He wants to impress this young lady so much that he would like to borrow a ‘fancy’ car from the extensive stock of CB Motors, feed the horses on his country estate, David’s farm, borrow one of Doctor Dave’s hand made swanky suits and cruise on Tim Hilton’s 40 foot boat on the Leeds Liverpool canal. Chris offered him a knackered Citroen AX, David mentioned that the horses definitely needed mucking out, Doctor Dave will gladly donate one of his Bombay suits and Tim has sold his boat.
Knocker describes his new girlfriend as being, not lovely, but striking and eccentric, who incidentally, ‘talks for England’. Being bladdered on the only two occasions that he has been with her he does question whether or not he will be able to recognise her when she steps off the London train. Nevertheless and just for insurance purposes, he has ordered four packets of Viagra from ‘Nigel the smuggler’ for her two night stay.
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