Another moment of Gestalt

                                     Burlington Diary December 2007

Mon.03.12.07. It was confession time at the Oak yesterday afternoon with Chris stating, quite emotionally, to Jo, that the project has been a real life line for him over the past couple of years. Being aware of this not such obvious revelation, the annoying delays and aggravation that I have experienced as all become quite clear. The suspicions of the past have presently taken on the form of this unambiguous announcement which, strangely enough, has liberated my frustrations and eagerness to ‘complete’. I assume the term ‘lifeline’ actually involves for Chris, a forced change of lifestyle that the Burlington project has demanded together with revitalised forgotten skills that often boost self worth along with confidence. There has been no interest, necessity or reason to sustain any contact with the very people who in the past have made Chris’s life unbearable. My basic knowledge of the ‘car trade’ has taught me, if nothing else, to trust no one. The business must have a greater proportion of shysters per square mile than any other commercial enterprise. For the previous 30 years Chris on a daily basis has had to ‘mix it’, ‘dodge and weave’, ‘bob and duck’ with the best and worst of them. It is true that over those years he has made a chunk of money but having done it he is perhaps now driven by other factors. Chris has become the archetypal example of a person who has suddenly seen the light, ‘done got religion’ or as simply ‘wised up’. He is the prime candidate who exemplifies the values of intrinsic as opposed to extrinsic motivation. The theory states as follows, that ‘people’ perform at their ultimate best by one of two influences. Outside forces such as monetary reward, based upon high achievement leading to the larger the purse has always been held as the primary means by which a person increases their productivity: carrot and stick, fourth lace hole or toffee, slavering dogs etc..explains extrinsic motivation. But during the 70’s another hypothesis was gaining in popularity; one that suggests that, ‘people’ will function at their optimum if personal ambition is inherent from within: in other words, intrinsic motivation. It is a matter of creating an environment in which self fulfilment is paramount. Personal development, a thirst for knowledge and understanding, gratification via acquired skills all become sufficient reward for ones labours, as opposed to a fat bank balance. For most of his working life Chris has been obsessed with material gain achievable by accruing ‘dosh’, but it appears recently there may be a wind change whereby the satisfaction of  surmounting all the difficulties of the ‘build’ have superseded  any cash return. The beauty of the machine in which he has had the greatest of input is now a certainty. He is savouring every moment, perhaps for the first time realises why it has given him so much pleasure. It is another moment of ‘gestalt’.     

After a fitting at Westmead the tunnel covers have needed some slight alterations but at present should be ‘fit for purpose’. The boot box has been glued and screwed; it now awaits the fitting of the door.