INSOMNIA SUCKS. As does back ache.
Thought I would take e time to reply to your comments in person.
Well well well where do I start....
Previously I have only ever dipped in and out of your build thread but when you went on the US trip I decided it was too good a read to skim read so saved it for a rainy day.
I never envisaged the rainy day being catching up on all 73 pages from start to current in a pretty much non-stop 72 hour period with the odd meal and drifting in and out of sleep here and there to keep me preoccupied both before and after an op on a broken ankle!
Thought the colour choice would appeal to you...... There are many threads out there that one discovers that make for great reading, either as entertainment or education. I do my thread report as both, but more importantly as a record of the stuff Idid do.... I never keep a record of what I spend on the hobby, on purpose as it would scare me, so one can at least add up on here what you spent.
Any way caught up I have and glad to be reading in real time at such an exciting point of getting the engine back in.
Perfect time then.......
One thing that strikes me after reading it all is how humble you come across and no doubt are in the real world.
Thank you.
During your US trip you said several times that people were reaping rewards for their hard work and generosity, I'm not sure if you realise it yourself but you're firmly in that category too.
Again, I can only respond to what I see and experience. I know that some of the stuff I get to do is directly proportional to the hours of insomnia I put into the day job.
I don't know why but based on progress levels I always thought that you had retired let alone getting all this done as well as full time work and even more intense - applying for and getting new jobs as you've gone through the truck build process too!
Yup. And interviews are the bane of my life but need to be done. My last job was a perfect job, having a really challenging job academically with a boss that both trusted and liked me, thus leaving me alone to get on and make a difference, unfortunately the American parent company shut down Europe and the U.K. Leaving me redundant again. Fortunately I had another job after one interview and this new job is possibly the most challenging job I ever had.
In my eyes you're without doubt living the dream....
1. You have a wife who cares and understands your passion and it's obvious you are very grateful for that.
I am always massively aware that there are so many people out there who do not have that privilege, and she allows and encourages me to do stuff as I let her as well. Like getting her to go to Thailand to backpack with a friend for a month.
2. You have an amazing garage and yard space to get things done.
Thanks in no small part to her finding it
3. You have a great friend in Martin who I pictured as a neighbour originally due to frequency of helping each other out let alone 15 miles apart.
When needs must.........
4. You have made many more friends around the world during your truck build progress.
5. You embark on crazy side projects that you actually complete. (I have so many on the back burner that just sit around and parts get sold on)
To me the side projects that I share on here are necessary to keep me sane, but often needed to meet another end. We are not one dimensional, so multiple interests make us what we are.
6. You've travelled and have amazing memories and met good people as a result of your hard work.
7. You get to go to good boot sales / swap meets regularly.
And Charity Shops........ Remember that technically a pair of Irregular Choice (Google it) shoes that Nicola gets for £15.00 at a Bootfair or some brand new Clarks shoes for £2.00 at a charity shop, theoretically puts £40.00 or so back in your pocket. I bought a new, unused table saw for £20.00 last year after my last one eventually died after many years of use........ Look at his one and do the maths.
www.machinemart.co.uk/p/cts10d-10in-table-saw/
8. You live near to Rochester which is one of my favourite towns due to its high number of vintage / antique / tat shops. (Is that old shop that's practically falling down with all sorts of stuff strewn over tables perfect for rummaging through still there?!)
Yup..... That Funky shop is waiting for you. Along with many other quirky charity shops, and an array of things to keep you busy for 6 hrs, not bad for a short high street.
9. You own an amazing truck that seemed perfect to me before you'd even started.
LOL.... Yes, it was perfect, but never buy a car on a rainy day. That said, the resto has turned into a bigger job as I found more and more bodges, and I am still to start bodywork.
10. Once complete you can say that you know your truck inside out, you made all the decisions by yourself but you've also learned so much and made some good helpful friends along the way.
Yessir !!
It is my hopes and dreams that I can live the life you're living if not straight away then as soon as it's possible. I'm sure many others reading this have the same thoughts.
Like everything in life, you just have to do it. It is often about perspective. But I will say, do stuff while you can, and remember, you will reap what you sow.
I hope to catch up with you in person at some time - I dare say you'd be swamped by people at a show or meet so as strange as this sounds when I'm back driving again I'd quite like to head down your way one weekend just to join you on some kind of car related day whether it's just observing or passing tools or making tea or whatever just so I can meet you in person and experience your life / workshop ambience for a bit.
Kettle is always on, and Nicola always has biccies stashed somewhere.
Any way I'll shut up for a bit now and try and keep up with progress regularly rather than reading 70 odd pages altogether again!
As mentioned, thank you for taking the time to reply on here as well.
Thought I would take e time to reply to your comments in person.
Well well well where do I start....
Previously I have only ever dipped in and out of your build thread but when you went on the US trip I decided it was too good a read to skim read so saved it for a rainy day.
I never envisaged the rainy day being catching up on all 73 pages from start to current in a pretty much non-stop 72 hour period with the odd meal and drifting in and out of sleep here and there to keep me preoccupied both before and after an op on a broken ankle!
Thought the colour choice would appeal to you...... There are many threads out there that one discovers that make for great reading, either as entertainment or education. I do my thread report as both, but more importantly as a record of the stuff Idid do.... I never keep a record of what I spend on the hobby, on purpose as it would scare me, so one can at least add up on here what you spent.
Any way caught up I have and glad to be reading in real time at such an exciting point of getting the engine back in.
Perfect time then.......
One thing that strikes me after reading it all is how humble you come across and no doubt are in the real world.
Thank you.
During your US trip you said several times that people were reaping rewards for their hard work and generosity, I'm not sure if you realise it yourself but you're firmly in that category too.
Again, I can only respond to what I see and experience. I know that some of the stuff I get to do is directly proportional to the hours of insomnia I put into the day job.
I don't know why but based on progress levels I always thought that you had retired let alone getting all this done as well as full time work and even more intense - applying for and getting new jobs as you've gone through the truck build process too!
Yup. And interviews are the bane of my life but need to be done. My last job was a perfect job, having a really challenging job academically with a boss that both trusted and liked me, thus leaving me alone to get on and make a difference, unfortunately the American parent company shut down Europe and the U.K. Leaving me redundant again. Fortunately I had another job after one interview and this new job is possibly the most challenging job I ever had.
In my eyes you're without doubt living the dream....
1. You have a wife who cares and understands your passion and it's obvious you are very grateful for that.
I am always massively aware that there are so many people out there who do not have that privilege, and she allows and encourages me to do stuff as I let her as well. Like getting her to go to Thailand to backpack with a friend for a month.
2. You have an amazing garage and yard space to get things done.
Thanks in no small part to her finding it
3. You have a great friend in Martin who I pictured as a neighbour originally due to frequency of helping each other out let alone 15 miles apart.
When needs must.........
4. You have made many more friends around the world during your truck build progress.
5. You embark on crazy side projects that you actually complete. (I have so many on the back burner that just sit around and parts get sold on)
To me the side projects that I share on here are necessary to keep me sane, but often needed to meet another end. We are not one dimensional, so multiple interests make us what we are.
6. You've travelled and have amazing memories and met good people as a result of your hard work.
7. You get to go to good boot sales / swap meets regularly.
And Charity Shops........ Remember that technically a pair of Irregular Choice (Google it) shoes that Nicola gets for £15.00 at a Bootfair or some brand new Clarks shoes for £2.00 at a charity shop, theoretically puts £40.00 or so back in your pocket. I bought a new, unused table saw for £20.00 last year after my last one eventually died after many years of use........ Look at his one and do the maths.
www.machinemart.co.uk/p/cts10d-10in-table-saw/
8. You live near to Rochester which is one of my favourite towns due to its high number of vintage / antique / tat shops. (Is that old shop that's practically falling down with all sorts of stuff strewn over tables perfect for rummaging through still there?!)
Yup..... That Funky shop is waiting for you. Along with many other quirky charity shops, and an array of things to keep you busy for 6 hrs, not bad for a short high street.
9. You own an amazing truck that seemed perfect to me before you'd even started.
LOL.... Yes, it was perfect, but never buy a car on a rainy day. That said, the resto has turned into a bigger job as I found more and more bodges, and I am still to start bodywork.
10. Once complete you can say that you know your truck inside out, you made all the decisions by yourself but you've also learned so much and made some good helpful friends along the way.
Yessir !!
It is my hopes and dreams that I can live the life you're living if not straight away then as soon as it's possible. I'm sure many others reading this have the same thoughts.
Like everything in life, you just have to do it. It is often about perspective. But I will say, do stuff while you can, and remember, you will reap what you sow.
I hope to catch up with you in person at some time - I dare say you'd be swamped by people at a show or meet so as strange as this sounds when I'm back driving again I'd quite like to head down your way one weekend just to join you on some kind of car related day whether it's just observing or passing tools or making tea or whatever just so I can meet you in person and experience your life / workshop ambience for a bit.
Kettle is always on, and Nicola always has biccies stashed somewhere.
Any way I'll shut up for a bit now and try and keep up with progress regularly rather than reading 70 odd pages altogether again!
As mentioned, thank you for taking the time to reply on here as well.