Uncle Albert, Alchemy & Ritual

[Timbo]

Major changes over the last few months have meant I'm under a deal of pressure. Please try to contain yourselves ladies, but Uncle Albert is being divorced.Fortunately, by means of the 'Old Boy Network, I found him a damned good solicitor who specialises in care of the elderly. When I say 'damned good' I mean 'damned good'. When a problem arose two days before Christmas at nine o'clock at night I emailed the solicitor and was surprised to receive an answer by one thirty in the morning-problem sorted.

 

Uncle Albert, more Steptoe than Finny, is taking it all in his stride, thinking it a prime opportunity to transfer money to any available publican. I have managed to stop his gallop though. With the aid of my other half and my daughter a line has been drawn which Uncle Albert may not cross to protect my health. The old boy is having a spot of bother understanding that the days of being waited on hand and foot are over.
"Tea! I want a cup of tea!" demands Albert.
"Kitchen is through there!" my reply.
"I'll do without!" Albert's reply.
"Suit yourself"

An hour will pass.
"Any chance of a cup of tea?" asks Uncle Albert.
"Yeah, kettles in the kitchen. Everything is laid out next to it so you can find it." the reply.
Uncle Albert pulls a face and goes back to tormenting the dog. Another hour passes.

"Tea! I want a cup of tea!" demands Uncle Albert.
"Do you?" I ask surprised.

Finally Uncle Albert drags himself out of the chair & heads to the living room door.
"While you are up, go to the loo, get changed & wash your hands!" I tell him as I walk behind him.

When I've helped him change, he heads back to the living room.

"I thought you wanted a cup of tea?" I ask as he passes the kitchen.
"I do!" says Uncle Albert.

"Good. Kitchen's here, make me one while you are at it!" I say as I stand behind him to fill his specially adapted kettle.

The old bugger does not want to go into a home, so I'm afraid he's going to have to get up off his backside & do something himself to make sure he doesn't.

 

Over Christmas a haemorrhage in my right eye has given me the appearance of a 'B' Movie zombie. However my birthday on New Year's Day brings me a present from my daughter which is a thing of wonder. A fantastic aid to relaxation first thing in a morning. A moka pot! Carefully measuring out the coffee beans and blending them to my liking (Sumatra and Kenyan Pea-berry this morning), like some Middle Ages Alchemist I grind them and add them to my shiny device after the freshly drawn water. Placed on the stove I wait for pressure to build before reducing heat just as the delicious hot coffee magically appears in the top chamber. This little ritual helps me focus first thing in a morning and make sure I take my own cocktail of pills and potions. The fridge door opening is the signal for Dylly & Toby the beagles to sit by their bowls waiting for their breakfast of milk.

 

Royal Tudor is not far from my thoughts. Uncle Albert is determined he will be boating again this year...even telling me he is going to buy a tent so he can sit & watch me work on the boat. Unfortunately until the major reconstruction work is finished I won't have the time, space or the ability to look after Uncle Albert & work on the boat. When the weather is warmer & its time to do the finishing & varnishing then I'll bring the old sea-dog down to inspect the work and spend some time annoying everyone else afloat!

 

Right time to walk those dogs! Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous New Year!

 

 

[Hockham Admiral]

Just lovely, Timbo!    :clap

[BroadAmbition]

Good Stuff

 

 

Griff

[BrundallNavy]

It's still far too cold for varnishing Tim. I'm sure I can find you something else to do.

Doug.

[BroadScot]

Tim,

 

I dinny watch "B" Movies  . I do hope the eye is on the mend.

 

Iain.

[Timbo]

The eye is well on the mend, although the other half's Dad, aka Ben Gunn, did threaten to get me an eye patch today.

 

I'm all ready for instruction Doug. I was bought some wet and dry paper, some clamps and a Swiss Army knife with a special tool for extracting Herbert Woods Tupperware out of Proper Wooden Boats   for Christmas. Just waiting to acquire that additional cover for the bow a sheet each of 15mm & 5mm ply, a softwood beam for the cockpit floor and some suitable timber to rebuild the dinette seat...then its all systems go!

[grendel]

Tim, you need a good saw, leave the tupperware embedded to seal the hole and just trim it off flush with your hull.

Sandpaper - thats no way to treat good timber, you want a cabinet scraper, it removes a fine amount without raising the grain.

I'll have to try and get up there sometime and show you.

Grendel