Jackdaw 33

February 4th 2007
Well here it is a little late but what a crappy start to the New Year.
Shows are really down so I am sitting about doing nothing and no money to do it with. Deep depression is setting in so I can’t be bothered anyway, I think I will just do what I do normally and go to the pub!!! I need a holiday!!!! Or a win on the lottery!!!!! I believe I’ve got S.A.D.
At least Andy is back he has changed his email address again! (I think he is trying to tell me something). He should be starting on Jackdaw again this next week so that’s a bit of good news.
I mentioned about a car I got for the son (in fact I got 2 Metro’s off eBay. Well they were cheap). After a lot of messing about and the son failing his test and loosing interest, I decided to get rid and sold them both. I am out of pocket but at least I’ll have some space again when Jackdaw comes back.
There are problems with the temporary garage I put up, you know the one I thought I would need for a couple of months and its been there for over a year, well the wind finally decided to take the roof off so it has a bit of a skylight in it at the moment. Funny but I still have not found the 8 foot panel that blew away. I still have the empty garage in Aycliffe that i'm paying for but that needs some work on it before I can give it back to the council or they will charge me extra. It’s just a shame that Jackdaw will not fit in it as its just big enough for a car. So much work I could be getting on with but bugger it, I am off to the pub.

February 18th 2007
Things are looking up a bit. I put out a press release telling the world I have been doing Punch and Judy 30 years this year and I have had a fantastic response.
On Monday 12th I was working at as school near Andy's place and called in. It was getting a bit late in the day and Andy didn’t seem to want us there so we didn’t stay long. The old Cortina is just about scrap now the entire front end is out and it looks a bit sad now sitting there wrecked. Andy said he was hoping to start on Jackdaw soon so today I bid on some new bushes for the tie rod ends off eBay I am not 100% they are the right ones so I have emailed Andy to be sure. Still haven’t fixed the temp garage.

February 24th 2007
Won some tie bar bushes on eBay £10.29 including delivery (Seems a bit expensive for what they are but I need them). I was going to change the engine number on the log book for the Cortina but I have lost the new number so I will have to email Andy.

April 1st Sunday **** JACKDAW IS FINISHED **** Don't be Silly Its April Fools day!
No real news but I have now fixed the roof on the temporary garage and I have bought another compressor from eBay after those b******ds pinched the last one. It cost me £148.28 delivered.
Sorry I have been letting things slide a little with the diary, I have been concentrating on the Punch and Judy side of things as shows are very quiet. I am not making any money at the moment and it’s upsetting my system not to mention my drinking habits (no money = no beer) but with a bit of luck all the recent publicity we have done about being 30 years in the business will pay off.
I have not heard from Andy for a while and I am going to email him today. I have a gut feeling he has lost interest in Jackdaw so I am going to suggest I bring her back home. We will see how he feels.

April 2nd Monday
Andy replied to my email this morning and everything is still hunky-dory. I get complexes you know, unless I know exactly what’s going on I lose sleep I have just got back from his yard. He hopes to get on with things a.s.a.p. I took up the prop shaft, heater and front bushes and he reckons it’s only about 1 days welding to get the front suspension right. Next to find a petrol tank so it looks like I will be searching ebay and dipping into the savings again.
As soon as he has done fitting the major things to the point where it will move under its own power and stop
with its own brakes I will be bringing Jackdaw home.
I can then have a look at some of the fixtures and fittings that need doing. I can’t wait!