Thurs.19.10.06. The project is a Roller Coaster ride. From the apparent stagnation of yesterday there has been a huge leap forward by a simple trip to James Paddock of Chester.
Chris had applied the first coat of Hammerite to the visible underside of the chassis producing a tremendous transformation. All the blemishes, repairs and alterations have disappeared under the skin of the paint. The chassis glows like a resting, taught, black automaton reminiscent of a ripped, mesamorphic athlete basking in the dusty debris of the strip lit workshop. It is a long awaited and wonderful sight. After the admiration had subsided the mundane, but vitally important, question of monetary reconciliation had to be addressed. I had been encouraging Chris to settle the debt of ‘cash and wages’ for sometime. He is a self confessed worrier when accounts are mentioned. I have attempted to take the weight of this issue out of his hands regularly providing monthly reports to keep him up to speed with the balance sheets. I quickly discovered that most of the presented data was never scrutinised, it was only the bottom line total that had any relevance. Given this scenario I, later, just offered a rolling, ever deceasing amount that he could better appreciate, rather than itemised detailed accounts. I had also been suggesting that we should totally reconcile the debt and that in the future, I alone should be responsible for all payments involved with the Burlington. Remarkably, this was agreed and I found myself on the road to James Paddock of Chester clutching the final credit payment of £980.00.
I suspect that it had been a huge relief for Chris to see this debt wiped out because at the start of the project this had been the mutually agreed method of ‘settling my wages’; I was paid in kind, car parts and labour, rather than hard cash. Chris has always run his life not owing a penny to anyone; not a bank, building society, insurance company, motor trader or even the government, so to have this ‘paper’ debt must have irked him somewhat. With the final ‘wedge’ divvied up we can begin from a fresh, blank sheet. I suspect that we may progress rapidly from now on. The entire cost of the renovation as from today and up to press is £7727.27 from an initial early target of £3000. Jo would freak if she only new.
The premises at James Paddock did not disappoint. The building itself was situated on a relatively new and prosperous trading estate to the west of Chester. The entrance opened into a small, brightly lit office fronted by a small sales counter. The walls were covered with Triumph memorabilia from all the range of sporting as well as touring models. I was greeted by John who over the past few weeks had suffered numerous phone calls normally resulting in many changes to our order. A pleasant, soft-spoken man he was tall, smart and knowledgeable. At last we have found someone who actually appears normal on planet Triumph. I entered the stores through an adjacent door to check our assembled order.
The storeroom was lined in an organised manner with a multitude of dexion shelves each itemised, packed with branded, industry standard parts. As we travelled through the invoice each component proved to be, as described by John, correct in every detail. Borg and Beck, Lucas, GKN, Vanderville, Spax, Girling, Stanpart, they were all present and brought a satisfied smile to my face. Since the original request many more items had been added to the list. Namely……
Due to the scale of the order John gave us an additional 5% discount. The total bill for the invoice was £1059.72. (I hope money well spent). During the intervals whilst collating the stock I managed to sniff around the stores to unveil even more treasures. Good wire wheels, stunning minilites, re-con gearboxes and heads, carefully packed upholstery and racks of branded, top goods. Finally, after six months of sheepdips, bullshitters, anoraks, liars and thieves we have struck gold. I thanked John for his help, advice in particular his patience. I returned to Standish, unloaded the swag and waited for the phone call. Around 9pm Chris confirmed that he was pleased with the parts and said, enthusiastically, that “at last, we’ve won one!” d’accord.
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