Time is the problem. It‘s running out. The editor of this excellent mag is getting nervous because there are only two weeks to go to the next deadline and I have nothing to write about. The problem is that, whereas these articles have largely been written well after the event. They have gradually caught up until now you are up to date and I‘ve done nothing since I last wrote. So I‘d better get on with it and this article will be a diary of success or failure on the progress front.
Saturday
It‘s Sue de Nime‘s birthday today and there‘s a party tonight. Not a good idea to turn up covered in oil so no serious work today. However I thought I‘d get a photo of the carpet set now it‘s been vacuumed. Not a pretty sight! But how to get a photo of the whole set. No problem, set it out in front of the garage and climb on the roof to get an overall view. Good idea but how to get up. The ladder is underneath much P6 panelling and believe me it‘s not coming out. OK, resort to the step ladders. Not really high enough but the get me waist high to the garage roof and I can scramble from there. The photo shows what a write off the carpets are so it‘s going to be a search for a new set. Watch this space. Seasoned readers will know what comes next! I can‘t reach the step ladder on the way down. Serious embarrassment solved only by much hanging from soffitt boards and praying before letting go. No damage except to the ego and even that not too much as no spectators fortunately. Master plan says much work tomorrow. Off to the party.
Sunday
Complete write off. See last night‘s activity.
Monday
Ditto. See Saturday.
Tuesday
Bowel symptoms receded. Head clearing. Got an hour and a half to spare from work at lunch so set off home to clear accumulated rubbish from around the car to get a good start this evening. Fell among road works on the way home. Arrived there just in time to drive on past the gate and go back to work the other way. Evening better though. Home just before six and had tea. Got stuck in at 7.40. At 7.50 phone rings."Where the h**l are you? You should have been back at work at 6.15 and we‘re all waiting." B*gg*r!
Wednesday
No enthusiasm. Home too late anyway. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Working all three days. Very late. Even late to the pub on Thursday. My wife went away for the weekend on Friday and no opportunity to go to the pub. Work is the curse of the restoring classes. One bright spot though. I was able to take advantage of the absence of the nearest and dearest to put the hub caps through the dishwasher. Good job. I can recommend it.
Sunday
Dad‘s 85th birthday. Down to Nottingham for festivities. No work today.
Monday
Noggin and natter night. It should have been video night but I don‘t think anyone knew who‘s turn it was to bring a video. (it was yours! Ed.)
Tuesday
Movement at last. Decided to strip the paint from the aluminium boot and bonnet. The plan had been to remove the loom but when I looked at all the hundreds of wires crammed into the fuse box I chickened out. I had half an hour at lunch time to find the Nitromors which was in the garage somewhere. I remember buying it. Big orange can. Couldn‘t find it. Tuesday evening back to the search. With a big torch I systematically searched the entire garage inch by inch. Found two gallon cans of oil, two gallon cans of antifreeze, three gallon cans of paraffin, two gallons of turps substitute, half a gallon of white spirit, one gallon of carburettor cleaner and finally one large orange can of gunk. It seems what I remember buying must have been the gunk. Rats. OK then, either I didn‘t buy Nitromors in which case I need to buy some now, or I did in which case I can‘t find it so I need to buy some now. Off to the B&Q where I find that it comes in little green cans not big orange ones. Must have been the gunk I bought.
Thursday
Finally did something. I applied copious stripper to the boot lid panel and waited. Much spectacular bubbling rapidly occurred allowing the top coat to be easily removed. Two more coats saw off the undercoat and primer and revealed a pristine aluminium surface which came clean as a whistle when wiped with white spirit. I took a few photos for Tony before hurrying off to the Bee‘s Wing for the usual Thursday night libation. So keen now I stopped off in the garage and did a bit more at 11.30 on the way home.
Friday
Playing golf this afternoon. Not too sorry when the weather forced an early finish. Hastened back to the garage to strip some more. It seems that even in one of those troughs, which must afflict all restorers I suppose, it only takes a little success to restore the enthusiasm to the full.
Tide?
Oh yes! That takes care of time but what of tide you ask. Well on Noggin and Natter night I elected to go in the Stag which you may recall has been banished to the great outdoors because of spreading P6. It started and ran beautifully and accelerated brilliantly towards the roundabout. The brakes were also pin sharp when I trod on the pedal which was when the four gallons of rainwater sitting in the rear passenger footwell formed a tidal wave and relocated to the front. I leave the rest to your imagination.