Well there it is, the first week of my new adventure over and done with.
A little over a week ago I packed up and left home heading for my new home for a few months on the Isle of Wight. For those of you in the US of A, it’s a little island just of the south coast of England. For the most part it’s a sleepy little place where time hasn’t moved on since the 50’s. However there are also areas which are still thriving in the wake of a recession, which feels like a very distant threat here.
My reasons for leaving home are many and numerous and do not need to be explained. I wanted to get away to see if I could stand on my own two feet. So far it seems to have worked. I’ve got a job at a local museum where I have been volunteering for the last few years. The owner actually offered me a job for a year. I turned him down as I’m hoping to be of to Uni in September. It was so hard to say no but I need to try going as far as I can in education before I try carving an honest crust.
The week hasn’t been all sweetness and light, I have suffered a wee bit but it just goes to show how unfit I am. There have also been occasions that have caused my heart to skip. Noting serious and we laughed after.
You see the museum restores Tanks so a lot of the work involves working with very heavy equipment and parts. The engines I have been working on this week all weigh in the region of one and a half tons. This means working on and around them can be dangerous. The engines in question actually belong to Churchill tanks of the period 1940-45, as you can imagine it has been quite an honour for me to get to grips with them. It is also amazing that 60 odd year old engines are still useable. Of the 6 that are at the museum we have to build 4 running engines for a buyer at a cost of over 10 thousand pounds. But you wouldn’t believe it to see the old rusting blocks.
Anyway next week should be good as we have to start getting ready for the show season which starts the week after next. Its especially exiting as I get to see the Monsters of the battle fields of the past in action. I might even get behind the controls if I’m lucky.

Anyway I hope you are all of good health and fine spirits!