In search of Michael.

Tues.18.12.07. For the last few days I have been attempting to clean and polish the aluminium scuttle plus the engine floor panels. A coarse G4 rubbing compound was first applied to each panel using a circular rotational movement with a textured cloth: water can be used, periodically, as an additional lubricant to remove any blemishes or scratches.  Unfortunately, the metal has an unusual reaction to the rubbing compound in that, a residue of fine black powder is produced as the surface is cleaned. Removing this deposit has proved to be infuriatingly tricky. The ‘film’ that has subsequently formed settles in the surface imperfections dulling the metal causing difficulties when attempting to produce a high gloss finish. There has got to be a simpler way to complete this task?

After several visits to Aspull in search of ‘Manic Michael’ I eventually made contact with a neighbour who didn’t appear to know whether or not he was ‘away’ for a few days. The wrinkled old relic that I attempted to communicate with was very vague, definitely reluctant to offer any information. Upon my return the old gent, again, dropped from the sky but on this occasion he managed to inform me that Michael will return on Thursday. “From his holidays? Oh, perhaps he’s been to a show? Or maybe he is just working away?” Neither of my suggestions prompted any response so I would guess that he in fact has been visiting his relatives on Mars for a pre-Christmas lunch leaving his father behind to guard his rubber room. On reflection the old guy not only had more than a passing physical resemblance to Michael but he also displayed identical mannerisms; he was also able to compute ‘shut down’ to then remerge smiling with the smug satisfaction that only a toilet movement usually provides unwillingly replying with monosyllabic grunts. Aspull, after all, is the land of six toes. 

Weds.19.12.07. Alan of Catterall and Wood suggests that rubbing any sort of compound on the aluminium will expose the surface which would potentially create more problems, he recommends that once cleaned and polished it will be essential to cover the panels with some kind of sealant or lacquer as the metal will immediately oxidise forming a grey dusty layer that can be very difficult to eradicate. Having spent the last two days rubbing and polishing this information wasn’t the best news, but it is another typical reminder of wasting time instead of researching a task before attempting it.