Another month

Burlington Diary October 2007

Mon.01.10.07. I cannot remember the number the absurd amount of times that I have stated that “This is a very momentous month” so I won’t bother.

The bootbox has been glued and screwed to strengthen and reinforce. Having bought a fibreglass repair kit from ‘John the Paint’ I began to cover all the exposed plywood laminate edges. In theory this replicates the original method of protection it has stood the test of time, the years of damp, neglect, lying forgotten, abandoned in a leaking crumbling shed. The only problem is that I have never used the stuff’ before, as per usual the process of applying layers of glass and resin is much more difficult than it looks. The matting was far too dense, the resin mixture to strong, consequently folding the fibre over the corners was problematic. Air bubbles, blobs of glass with very clumsy methodology concluded in a disastrous outcome. Lumpy edges that should have been smooth, spiky outcrops of thread drips the size of stalagmites was the result: such a promising morning had turned into black afternoon. I need start over again possibly to make a fresh box tomorrow. As ‘Lyn Dad Pills’ always said, ‘Haste makes waste’.

It was only when I had left the Oak that I realised why there was such a healthy gathering of bodies on such a seemingly quiet night. As well as David, Chris and I, the Preacher, Lowtie, Danny Brennan and Captain Salty all pitched up. The early conversation began with the match analysis from Sunday’s marathon darts game, eleven aside 901, segwaying neatly into the much later sing along to Hendrix, The Dubliners accompanied by various other 20 verse Irish anthems, an over-served Cockney Mick falling offavva ’is chair in due course concluded by a forgotten ride home with Harry the Rat. It only occurred to me later the genuine purpose of the ‘grand meet’. It was all about ‘Keswick’, Philips annual ‘middle aged back slapping tour’. Unable to bring up current matters, whilst I was there, they waited until I had left for home to discuss travel arrangements and the like: the cowards. 

02.10.07. Having spent so much time constructing the bootbox with the supporting frame the choice to scrap then to re-start could have been a mistake, so I decided to spend at least one hour in an attempt to rectify the mistakes from the previous day, if ineffective, a visit to Savoy, to run the ‘Meatloaf gauntlet’, would be required. But, by using an electric drill with a two inch wire wheel most of the rough glass from the sides was successfully removed. The fibreglass on the base of the box had been laid properly so only needed some light sanding to produce a level ‘bump free’ surface. Copious amounts of wood filler were then applied to the edges and walls that had suffered extensive damage from the action of the wire wheel. A further build up of filler will be necessary not only to create a perfectly flat surface but for strength. Nonetheless, the box has been salvaged.

I, disappointingly, suspect that Chris is having a quiet week. The body tub has still not been lifted from the chassis this operation remains the most crucial drawback to legitimate progress.