Daft Darts

Sun.07.10.07. To create a stronger, firmer in addition to a cleaner assembly the underside joint of the framed collar has had a further application of filler. The 2mm recesses in the boot lid that will contain the flush fitting brass locker handles have been cut utilising the recently purchased chisels from Wickes. A supplementary socket to house the handle cup and hinge was drilled later, but possibly this section will need an extra reinforced plate to underpin, the now, quite thin 6mm plywood boot lid.

The Sunday afternoon darts match continues to grow boasting teams consisting of eleven a side 901. Having dominated the earlier rounds the Preacher has lost his way in the past few weeks. ‘Bradford’, normally solid, definitely peaked in July, Katie, plagued with present form, perpetually misses the board, Lowtie’s bizarre, unconventional diagonal style remains excruciatingly fruitless, the Doc, Nurse Brennan resemble fish out of water and Tall Danny is utterly useless. All his key bankers have seriously dipped in form compared with ‘team Chris’ whose members have confounded all the doubters. The tax dodgers who are normally pulling pints along with ‘faces’ have excelled particularly Still Waters, Serious John and also perpetually pissed Tattooed Matt. Visitors, Ringers alongside endless ‘subs’ have all pulled their weight pressurising the Preacher into mistakes. So much so, that for the past three weeks the Cheatham Cup has been retained by ‘knees up mother Brown’ Cockney Mick, Fat Dry Kenny  plus Si with his most recent, very impressive three dart finish. As each contest begins both teams currently have adopted the All Blacks Hacker; slapping knees, waggling tongues together with scary eye popping gesticulations that have raised the stakes from simple noisy barracking to meaningless empty schoolyard threats. Only ‘gun slinger styled’ Captain Salty refuses to bond with the rest of the team sighting dignity as an excuse or perhaps it is just embarrassment, most combatants having consumed ten ‘Stella’ compared with his gill of mild. Friendly enthusiastic rage eventually concludes with both teams ineptly fighting over double one until a lucky dart strikes victoriously home to end the misery.  

Mon.08.10.07. The reinforcement plates using 6mm ply were drilled filed then glued to the underside of bootbox lid. The brass hinges were subsequently installed being secured with the four screws provided; the complete unit was then masked with tape, the edges filled later rubbed down to achieve a clean, firm fit. The bootbox has had an additional rubbing down being prepared for the first coat of Hammerite both to seal but mainly to weatherproof.    

Discussing the painting programme, Nigel, of Penk Autos, now prefers to receive all of the panels of the vehicle simultaneously, namely, the body tub, bonnet, nose cone and the front and rear wings. By Thursday most of his local work will have left the ‘shop’, there then will be sufficient space to accommodate all of the parts. To transport the body sections Chris has already arranged to borrow one of Andy Lewis’s tipper trucks, which has a loading capacity that measures 8 by 6 foot. This is certainly large enough to accommodate all of the pieces with just one journey.  

I have also tried to keep up to speed with the logistics of the Beaujolais run by first of all again writing to Suzanne Riches, the Angers ambassadress, but she still has not replied to any of my requests. Secondly, Matthew Johnson of ADM generously will print the Beaujolais Polo shirts without charge because ‘Brad Europe’ will kindly finance the purchase: 10 shirts at £3.75 each, including 2 XXL shirts, one for ‘Big Dave’ and one for ‘Fat Dry Kenny’. Lastly, five double rooms in The Mouton Blanc hotel in Cambrai have been reserved on the 16.11.07., this includes breakfast and dinner.