First – it was Bob Calvert, as an attentive reader pointed out (see IaD 26). Lockhart? Where did I get Lockhart from? – Well his “other” bizzare prog rock release (which Tam did have) was “Captain Lockhead and the Star fighters” – which includes such classics as “Catch a falling starfighter…” .
Second, sad news here at Glen Rosa, where the Really Tall Steps just broke an “ankle”.
I’m sure there is a technical name for the struts that flex alarmingly (probably saying more about my weight issues than step design), when I start to climb these old friends. And alarming is not a big enough word for when one of them went “snap” (more like “BANG” actually) during an ascent.
After a cold shower and some cardiac massage I was able to take them to the ladder vet, where the prognosis is, rather like treatment for a horse, poor. However while the official story says this injury cannot be meaningfully fixed, I feel I owe these ocassional guest stars, at least an attempt at a Tony fix, or at least a happy retirement into old age, rather than straight to the fire pit taht the books recommend.
Luckily my, build a toilet and mezzanine floor in the giant Pend/secret base/rehersal/workshop plan is coming along, and I can see that some fixed steps (no flexing) will be needful, so an opening is coming up, if I can just nurse them along.
Third: “Hello local Post office- I’d like to send a package to Canada, what will that cost?”
“How big and heavy sir?” I describe it, ” You want Track and signed sir, 5-7 days”
“Hello it’s me again, this is the actual packa,ge, although it’s not quite ready, I thought I should maybe just check the size and weight”
“Yes sir, it’s within limits, £xx postage, track and signed”
“It’s for a birthday, when do I need to send it?”
“It takes 5-7 days sir”
“Hi, can I send this to Canada track and signed please, it needs to be there in 11 days”
“No problem sir, that’s £xx it should be there in 5-7 days”
You may notice a common theme here, at no point does anyone say “seemingly there is a world wide shortage of shipping and we are having to despatch using row boats”.
After 11 days my tracking was suggesting that it might have left the country, but maybe not. By Day 13 Canadian tracking was suggesting that it had still to arrive (13 days is a very reasonable transit time for a sailiing ship in the 18 60’s). By day 16 Canada had it, but internal Canada delivery is 7-10 days (perhaps a world wide shortage of Huskeys? too)
I am NOT BEST PLEASED. If you wish to complain to royal mail, “late” does not even start untill 25 days after the last delivery date (day 32 from post) and you are told a complaint will not even be considered if submitted earlier.
But Covid! Yes I know, but covid, I’m not a total sociopath, but would it be beyond reasonable to let the customer know, that “some delays possible”(website only not in post office) equates to , our latest delivery time may be out by a teeny month or so!
Ok, enough ranting for this week. I’d like to extend a big Thank you to all my early supporters for the Firewalk, I really was not expecting anything at this time, just trying to “raise awareness” as they say. There will be further press on these pages, be sure of it.
Next week on IaDL : how bout a song?
Dalmallyfest the Asylum 