A treasure chest.
Royalty commanded my presence in the stable workshop; so I pitched up as requested and required. I wish I could ‘paint’ – the camera does not do justice to the scene which met my aging eyes. Holding court on a workshop stool, dressed for party perched royalty, her abject slave laying billets of various wood across the workbench – colour, grain figure, feature and texture was of great concern. Eventually a selection was made and royalty departed the fix. ‘K’ and I looked at each other for a second; smiled, shook heads and buckled down to task. Uncles, Godfather and devoted artisans. As it turned out, it was an interesting job. I couldn’t count the number of ‘boxes’ I’ve made, but ‘the chest’ required some thought, the domed lid seemed to present some problems. Simple geometry and common sense solved the puzzle. !80˚/3 = 60˚. Three runs: one at 90 and 30; one at 30/30 last one 90/30. A most satisfactory curve was produced. This dictated the radius of the internal semi circle, which in turn decided the size of the ‘box’ it sat on. With two of us ‘at the bench’ it took two coffee refills, a short break, only a little cussin’ lots of laughs and – it was done, glued and clamped – ready by afternoon tea time – bar the straps, hinges and finish. The smile of the ‘princess’ was worth the small trouble and one splinter.
I bring this to your attention, because I feel there is a lesson in the something-nothing tale. We are beset by many aviation administration problems; brought to us by ‘royalty’ demanding all manner of things which must be done. The key is to define the exact nature of the ‘problem’ then find the most simple solution – the KISS principal (keep it simple stupid): work out how best to construct it, even if it defies ‘habit’. Many hands make light work with a laugh along the way.
“Old fool’s lost his marbles” says the mob; “wandered”. No I ain’t – just trying to point out that by working together, intelligently, calmly and to a single purpose; the CASA yoke may be thrown off; maybe even a modicum of sanity can be installed. So long as this industry remains divided, pursuing ‘individual’ agenda’s and ‘arrangements’ the chances of real reform are somewhere between slim and anorexic. This battle cannot be won by whining in the lunch room, snivelling at meetings or trying to make ‘friends’ with the powers that be. Work out the material, find the tools and get on with it – but ‘KISS’. All together now – Reform and how to achieve it.
Royalty commanded my presence in the stable workshop; so I pitched up as requested and required. I wish I could ‘paint’ – the camera does not do justice to the scene which met my aging eyes. Holding court on a workshop stool, dressed for party perched royalty, her abject slave laying billets of various wood across the workbench – colour, grain figure, feature and texture was of great concern. Eventually a selection was made and royalty departed the fix. ‘K’ and I looked at each other for a second; smiled, shook heads and buckled down to task. Uncles, Godfather and devoted artisans. As it turned out, it was an interesting job. I couldn’t count the number of ‘boxes’ I’ve made, but ‘the chest’ required some thought, the domed lid seemed to present some problems. Simple geometry and common sense solved the puzzle. !80˚/3 = 60˚. Three runs: one at 90 and 30; one at 30/30 last one 90/30. A most satisfactory curve was produced. This dictated the radius of the internal semi circle, which in turn decided the size of the ‘box’ it sat on. With two of us ‘at the bench’ it took two coffee refills, a short break, only a little cussin’ lots of laughs and – it was done, glued and clamped – ready by afternoon tea time – bar the straps, hinges and finish. The smile of the ‘princess’ was worth the small trouble and one splinter.
I bring this to your attention, because I feel there is a lesson in the something-nothing tale. We are beset by many aviation administration problems; brought to us by ‘royalty’ demanding all manner of things which must be done. The key is to define the exact nature of the ‘problem’ then find the most simple solution – the KISS principal (keep it simple stupid): work out how best to construct it, even if it defies ‘habit’. Many hands make light work with a laugh along the way.
“Old fool’s lost his marbles” says the mob; “wandered”. No I ain’t – just trying to point out that by working together, intelligently, calmly and to a single purpose; the CASA yoke may be thrown off; maybe even a modicum of sanity can be installed. So long as this industry remains divided, pursuing ‘individual’ agenda’s and ‘arrangements’ the chances of real reform are somewhere between slim and anorexic. This battle cannot be won by whining in the lunch room, snivelling at meetings or trying to make ‘friends’ with the powers that be. Work out the material, find the tools and get on with it – but ‘KISS’. All together now – Reform and how to achieve it.