Week 49
One of the people I read is Umair Haque. I'm not sure of his background, but this week he revealed a side of himself that I hadn't seen before. In a lonely childhood, he was often left alone and had read many philosophers' works by the time he was 10. I couldn't find out how old he his but in some of the Google photos, he looks to be in his 30's or early 40's. But that is neither here nor there - I was surprised to learn that he has only recently discovered the joys of owning a dog!
Snowy, not unlike Boeke
Boeke
As I grew up, I found myself surrounded by kids who had bought into these mechanisms of denial about mortality, time, dust, being. They threw themselves into consumerism, or religion, or ideology, or “achievement.” And I found myself even more alienated than before — because I wasn’t interested at all. I saw these things as what I still do — defense mechanisms, ways of not confronting the terror of the human condition. And so I was even lonelier.
Until I met Snowy. One of the things I’ve recognized this year is that I see that same haunted look of existential despair in every little doggie I meet. You see, they don’t have defenses against it. They don’t have time to invent the silly superstitions and excuses and make-believe fantasies we do. Put a Burberry coat on a dog — and he’s still just a dog. Tell him he’s chosen — and he’s still…just a dog.
He used part of an Albert Camus quote "just walk beside me, and be my friend" - it reminded me of all the hours of walking with Ozzie and Zoey - and now Boeke.
But, I digress - this week was all about painting the boat - again!
A particularly tiring, but satisfying week - painting (touching up) the boat.
We kept saying "last year", but it was actually in March of this year that we last did it! So, in that regard, The Covid Year has indeed been a long one.
Barring any mishaps, I'm planning on leaving the boat in the water next year - and we'll have an early start in March. I only went early because the shed was otherwise booked until June. This would have meant paying extra to get the boat out again. Luckily there was a cancellation.
This was the worst spot - caused by a crack in the filler - so we made it bigger, treated it with Rust Killer and refilled it...
We also tackled the windows with Rust Killer.
And we checked the rules for the Gas Installation again.
The main change is that "under no circumstances" can the gas cylinder be inside the boat.
Apparently, this came about because people were having problems with changing the cylinders over - if it wasn't reconnected properly then the gas could discharge into the boat.
(I was a bit annoyed about this - but now that I have joined the ranks of the "Grey Plague", I guess I have to make allowances).
So I'm getting a quote on relocating the cylinder - with a new pipeline.
The bayonet gas valves are also no longer allowed...
It will mean a new hatch cover on the foredeck...represented by the yellow cloth
...which comes out into the foreward berth - into a seldom used cupboard - on the right in this photo...
The copper pipeline will then go behind, under or through everything to the gas stove. The rules state that "if there is only one appliance using gas, then that appliance may have a stop valve near the appliance" - this means that I won't have to go outside each time in order to turn the gas on! (the gas stove is just to the left of this photo).
...so no more boots on board whilst doing the finishing touches...
I figured out a way to get the doors back on my own. Otherwise I would have had to ask Janny to help me...
...and the clean-up
I have to put the tarp back on - to protect the doors from the weather...
Nice work.
ReplyDeletePlans once boat is in early???