Another tuttle

Mon.20.08.07. I have started the umpteenth dashboard design buying yet another piece of MDF drawing out the ‘definitive’, ultimate, authoritative, decisive, conclusively final proposed pattern. For the eventual representation there is still a strong possibility of using the timber provided by Alain Luzan. The wood is only 10mm in thickness but could be laminated at either end enabling the ‘batwing’ configuration being carved out, included in the whole piece. The timber has a naturally strong yellow/honey colour that could be enhanced by applying a light stain followed by several diluted layers of oils or beeswax. This could be a bold, winning statement promoting the colour theme of green and gold, or an expensive, fundamental ‘faut pas’, but I am prepared to take the risk.  The console is pretty much finalised with only the major decision of whether or not to integrate dashboard timber into the façade. However, this is fraught with danger: to use too much would be excessively ostentatious (in this situation ‘less’ may, in fact, be ‘more’). Additional ‘R and D’ is the order of the day.  

I have been in touch with Suzanne Riches who is Wigan’s ambassadress in Angers in the hope that some hospitality can be arranged on Tuesday 13^th. November. I have briefly explained the present itinerary of our trip as well as the suggestion that we can transport ‘in house brewed’ beer, organic pork, a selection of pies together with other local delicacies from the Oak as a gesture of goodwill, or perhaps, better still, ‘trade’ for their produce, wine, pate, and cheese. 

Tues.21.08.07. I have been on a spending spree buying many of the missing cables in addition to other various sundries. Paddocks have supplied, an accelerator, brake and choke cable, an angled speedo drive, a HT set, another set of plugs, an automatic gearbox wiring loom, a fan belt plus various clips and bolts for £65.43; less the discount for the return of the unused middle section of SS exhaust pipe. The Welsh MG Centre has ripped me off for ‘second hand’ petrol filler assembly at £34.08. John the paint has provided three folded mild steel sections to be fabricated into the dashboard retaining brackets for £6.00.   

Weds.22.08.07. I had spent most of the morning then into mid-afternoon cutting out the instrument apertures as well as shaping the console, only to find later, having been summoned to Westmead, to discover the horizontal attachment bracket had been re-modelled. As a result the dash and console at present, does not fit but requires altering accordingly or transformed completely. Colin has prepared a reinforcement piece that also doubles as the front location face for the lower plane of the dash, combined with the holding mechanism of the steering column; the piece runs the whole width of the scuttle floor. An upper section, that mirrors the lower, will be added later allowing the dash when in position to be supported on every edge of its parameter.

The other purpose of the journey to Standish was to collect the Mk2 seats from Terry the trimmer.  They need to be precisely located in the tub to assist the sighting of the steering column. Terry has had the seats for about 15 months but has not yet started the recovering. We are rapidly realising that he does not want the job; we have again wasted valuable time. Just as Danny, Terry has ignored phone calls and requests to begin the work. Even though it is late in the day, with very few other options, they are both swiftly edging toward the fuck off bin to join the fast growing band of unreliables, shysters, Billy liars and bull shit merchants.

Suzanne Riches has responded to my e’mail sounding quite enthusiastic about our visit to Angers. She has a meeting with the ‘twinning commissioners’ tomorrow when she will present our case. A rendezvous with wine growers, cheese makers and other local food producers can also be arranged along with accommodation for the night.