Hi guys,
I have just assembled some two thousand and still sorting my accumulation this week received another death sentence from the specialist on one matter the last one on this came in 1986 when I was given three months to live and I asked SWMBO did she want to accompany me to Hong Kong she declined so I ended up for only another hundred dollars with around the world open ticket as far or anywhere the Airlines went and spent 7 weeks travelling. In the middle travelling from N York to London diverted with bad weather to Frankfurt then to London had prebought for little extra money a rail pass first or second class anywhere in England so I criss crossed England then to my name family who left Scotland in 1840 for Australia as free settlers, also had purchased a three times Boat pass took me to Ireland to visit Donegal another ancestors home stopping at Inniskillen? on the way where my wifes many ancestors lived the Wales etc etc. I remember clearly B&B in England, Ireland Scotland and Wales being around and up to 12.50 pounds and less in punts in Ireland. Very memorable. My Dads family all had Carcinoma of the Prostate on their death certificates so always plenty to think about. With my Dad he ended up unbeknown to me with the same King Urologist at 92 my Dad had lost the plot in some ways so after I had taken him for his last visit after his op it dropped that this was the guy I had suffered that diagnosis so many years ago and successfully put out of my mind but retained the death threat not so well. So I gave Dad the keys of the car said go sit in the car Dad I will only be a few minutes then said to the Doc standing back from him he 5 feet 6 inches me 6 feet two now incredibly angry, he said why should I take a good look at you I said cause I must be a walking miracle you gave me this death sentence in 1985, he said he had never given a diagnosis like that in his life, I took a step forward to go ring his neck managed to stop so full of hatred and remorse for my unchristian feelings I said then you are calling me a liar turned around and so puffed up with pride and anger just made it through the door out.
Why I mention this is Dad in his 70,s ripped out all his 40 odd fruit trees garden, replanted same number of fruit trees and laid new paths etc he was a prodigeous gardener (no weeds ever lasted), my Sister had bought next door severely frowned on when she said what a waste of time you will never enjoy the fruits of your labour.
Now here I am an incurable collector faced with downsizing when? tidying up my blanks turning blanks etc thinking like the song this could be the day that I die but as an full time optomist saying what if the several Docs are wrong?
Bonus right now is I have refound some extraordinary blanks accumulated over twenty or more years. Certainly the hundreds of larger turning blanks will go and quite a lot of machinery. My workshop is the equivalent of thirty metres long, ten sheds, a shipping container 20 foot plus full of smalls etc. None of my blanks except some exchanges have been cheap I always looked only for the best so when I send pics it simply says see my predicament dont let this happen to you. I used to explain to herself this is a form of Superannuation for me but the lingering fear is she will sell for the prices she thinks I paid. When she saw the Cocobolo she said they will go well with the other blanks for my parquetry floor in the house when you go.
Kind regards Peter 79 in two weeks.