Episode 2
So life has moved along, Rebecca has
delivered a big healthy boy, 10lb (4.5kg) birth weight; at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
on the February 22. We are all pretty pleased; his sisters are thrilled to have
a wee brother to play with. I am thrilled that Rebecca is still in one piece and
the wee man is healthy. Rebecca is thrilled as new mums tend to be. We have
named him Adam. I think both Rebecca and I were relieved that I made it from
Nigeria in time for the birth.
When the wee man was seven days old we hopped
in a hire car and drove down to Hampshire to show the baby to his grandmother
and check on the boat. There seems to be some law of nature that the boat industry
cannot complete any work to schedule. I have worked in major engineering
projects for most of my work life so am realistic about delays from design,
client decision, materials supply, weather etc. However how dropping a new 110HP
engine into a space can be delayed three months is something of a surprise even
for me. The work is progressing and the standard of work seems fair but the schedule
is out the window. Dark Horse does now have a new engine (Yanmar 110hp) and all
associated bits (exhaust, filters electrics, sound proofing, etc.) new prop
shaft, bearings, and a new Brompton Autoprop. All the through hull fittings
have been replaced (or nearly all, no point in finishing the job of course) AC
shore power has been sorted (almost), new DC distribution for both 12v and 24v
(nearly there), fuel tanks clean, hull grit blasted, forward hatch reseated. The
large double quarter berth is now a large double cockpit locker. Time was of course
to short and before I knew it I was flying back to Nigeria to earn a crust
leaving my daughters new son and long suffering Rebecca to fend for themselves.
New Son
Old Engine
New Engine
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