It's been a busy few weeks of manscaping for Keith. Danny got a quote for painting the cab and a stripe down the side...$2000!! Which is fair enough, but Poustie said: "Nah, do it yourself". So Danny has been working very hard painting and wet sanding a few coats of white and the stripe. Still negotiating on the blue on the cab, but thanks to all your hard work Danny - he's going to look great. (See facebook page for pics.)
Poustie has practically finished in the engine bay and cab, so last night Danny and I started carpeting the foot well with our choc brown auto carpet from Clark Rubber, Rothwell. Took a while to work out the best way to do it, but it's going to look great.
Today, Poustie is fitting some of the windows (although we can't find one of the small bedroom ones ??) and also the outside access door for the gas bottle. Danny has recycled and pained the old one. As requested, I went to Clark Rubber to get some bailey channel for the window cavity and a variety of engine hoses.
Keith is definately on the downhill reno slide now - thanks to Poustie, and ofcourse, the continuing weekly efforts of Danny.
Over the past few weeks, Danny has been very busy with Keith. First he took the roof off...
Then Danny and Cousin Todd did some of the aluminum trim,
Danny sicaflexed the trims...
Then Todd did some window bracing inside and took the floor out.
Then Pouste came back! He told Danny about his plan for the underfloor wiring and water pipes and then he and Danny spent a couple of days tidying all the chassy up. Danny black-jacked...
And Pouste soldered, clamped and fitted all the 20 lights!
The Year 1 mark has just passed with Cousin Todd and Danny continuing re-cladding. In the last couple of weeks, they have finished the door side and me and Danny the other side. Next will be the roofing and bed cavity. Can't wait for it!
Week 49:
Cousin Todd rings to say he's got a weeks work in Dysart so won't be able to start on Keith. Feelings of disappointment, but understanding of the need for him to go.
Week 50: Moreton Island Getaway! Danny and I take the Suzi over on the MiCat and get bogged after only 10mins on the island and pulled out by a massive, yellow truck. We set up camp for 2 nights at Combyouro Pt. - No one is there and cruise around some of the island, taking photos and shooting a short film (and getting bogged 2 more times):
Week 51:
7:30am Danny and Cousin Todd commence cladding! They get a side done and it looks great. I am very excited and take lots of film footage. (Danny will upload soon, eh?)
Week 52:
Cousin Todd rings to say he has the flu. Can't come. I go up to Mitre 10 and get some more rivets, drill bits and 2 cans of Sars. I feel disappointed, but Danny says: We can do it! I am willing to give it a go and borrow another (very dodgy) ladder from Steve & Roxie across the road. 6 hours later, we have most of the other side clad with a little help from Jean, Danny's mum who popped in. My talent is holding cladding, not riveting cladding.
Unfortunately, Danny and Todd used the longer sheets of cladding on the first side, so when we get to this side - they are not long enough. After dismissing the idea of ordering some more from Camec because: A they don't deliver B we don't have a vehicle long enough to transport it. So Danny makes a join up on the bed cavity and there is a join on the other side anyway, so big deal.
But we get to near the bottom, and there is not enough cladding left to finish it. We then remember the checker plate idea of Pouste's (who also was the one who knew about the different lengths of cladding!). So we will checker plate the bottom of the two sides and all will be cool and groovy.
Todd is 'penciled' in for next Sunday, but Danny is going to have a crack at the checker plate. Pouste is gunna loan us his...something or other to do the job.
So alls well, that ends well.
Cousin Keith's wife said: The motor home is 'a bit rough around the edges. Just like Keith was!'
Week 48:
In just over a week, Danny and Cousin Todd will start on the un and re-cladding of Keith. To say "I can hardly wait" would be a huge understatement. (Danny is off to the National Boccia Championships with Rob from work on Sunday till Friday).
I spent some time over the Easter Break sitting in Keith with Indigo Velvet; drawing up a potential interior layout and having discussions with Danny about what windows to buy. I think we will put the window back in the bed cavity, so we get a view and a feeling of space up there. Looks like we only have to buy a big one for over the kitchen from Camec.
I also made a friend from Germany on fb, who posted some interesting pics, inc her Ford Transit (below)...
And a couple of groovy retro interiors.
Happy Boccia to Danny & Rob and look foward to you coming back to work on Keith!
Danny and I have been thinking lately that we need to get on with the re-cladding of Keith. But...Poustie is so busy still. What to do?
Then, Danny runs into cousin Todd's missus, Jill at the shops and he says: how's Todd and she says: he's not up to much. Then Danny comes home and we both think: Hmmm. Todd's a builder, maybe he might be interested in working on Keith with Danny. Danny gives him a ring and says: Come round. Todd has a lot to do on Sunday with his kids. See how it goes.
In the meantime, Danny and I decide to give the yard a bit of a clean up. We already did the old work bench and a few other bits and pieces from the front and loaded the Suzi up. On Sunday, we go to the Reddo Tip - Trip #1. Then I do the weeds and bags of 3 big crab grass, while Danny gets on the chainsaw and the mower. A few hours later and it looks pretty good. Time to load up the Suzuki again.
First the tarp over the roof basket and then the first layer of branches. Danny secures this with rope and then starts adding the rest of the greenery. I put the white bags of grass etc inside the bag, seats up.
Back to the tip - # Trip 2 and the Tip Lady says: "Wow". She is impressed with the load on top of the Suzi.
So Todd rings back late Sunday arvo and says he is free to pop in on Tuesday morning. So on Tuesday, I text Danny at work to ask if Todd came round and what did he think about Keith? This was his reply: "I told Poste. Todd and I start on 7th of May. 2 to 3 days work should do it. Poste said he will still help with Keith". I text back: "Hooray. U Byoody!"
Week 42, 43:
So one of the maxi taxi drivers we use at work asks me today: "How's the motor home going" and I say: "Well, we have to be patient and do other things.
So as part of our physical preparation, Danny and I decided to join a small gym a few streets away. It's in a cute, old corner shop. I have tried the gym thing many times, but either found it boring after a while or the staff a little too smiley and enthusiastic. This gym is different. Lots of oldies and you get some two-on-one with a trainer, pop in during the week and go to an outside group boxing class one night. That was last night. I have some work to do on my (girlie) push ups, jumping in the air and general fitness. But it was good. Real good. My goal is No Bra Fat by Christmas. (And maybe some core strength too).
We have some ideas about getting rid of stuff. Will let you know the details when the time is right. In the meantime, here is one of my favourite pics I found whilst googling the net for Ford Transits.
I personally really like this colour scheme, but what about you?
Moreton Island Getaway! Danny and I take the Suzi over on the MiCat and get bogged after only 10mins on the island and pulled out by a massive, yellow truck. We set up camp for 2 nights at Combyouro Pt. - No one is there and cruise around some of the island, taking photos and shooting a short film (and getting bogged 2 more times):
Cousin Todd rings to say he has the flu. Can't come. I go up to Mitre 10 and get some more rivets, drill bits and 2 cans of Sars. I feel disappointed, but Danny says: We can do it! I am willing to give it a go and borrow another (very dodgy) ladder from Steve & Roxie across the road. 6 hours later, we have most of the other side clad with a little help from Jean, Danny's mum who popped in. My talent is holding cladding, not riveting cladding.
A they don't deliver B we don't have a vehicle long enough to transport it. So Danny makes a join up on the bed cavity and there is a join on the other side anyway, so big deal.
So we will checker plate the bottom of the two sides and all will be cool and groovy. 
First the tarp over the roof basket and then the first layer of branches. Danny secures this with rope and then starts adding the rest of the greenery. I put the white bags of grass etc inside the bag, seats up.
