A lesson on self-reliance Column #3 � by jellyby jelly

Item posted: Thursday 23rd February , 2012

A lesson on self-reliance Column #3 � by jelly

So, the broken hose situation presented me with something of a problem. My water tank was empty and I had washing up to do, in order to cook a nice Valentine�s meal. Resigning myself to the fact that the marina was unable to fix the hose pipe fitting that day, I thought about my options:

1. Move the boat round to another berth next to a working hose pipe
2. Go and buy bottled water
3. Wait for it to be fixed and do without water
4. �improvise

Option #1 would have been an arse, as I had nobody to give me a hand väskor kopia and didn�t fancy my first attempt at single-handing Miley on a freezing, dark, pushed-for-time winter�s evening. Option #2 would have also been a bit of a trek to the supermarket and back, and would then have taken more time to relay refilled bottles of water between the tank and a hosepipe further up the pontoon. Option #3 is never really an option. I live on a boat. If all else fails, I expect myself to�

�improvise. Hello option #4.

Living on a boat, there is always something that goes wrong. And it always occurs at the least wanted time � this situation is a case in point. But sometimes, that�s the fun of living this lifestyle. When the gas runs out, it�s not like I have a gas company to call and complain to; it�s a trek down to the fuel barge to buy and fit a new gas bottle, no matter the time of day or state of my half-boiled rice. When the damn Eberspacher (see, I told you there would be many mentions of Schnebby) dies at 9pm on a literally freezing winter�s night, there�s only one thing for it� take the thing apart.

There�s something very rewarding about feeling self-reliant. So when that hose pipe fitting froze and broke and presented itself as a problem, I instead saw it as an opportunity. One torch, one screwdriver, one cold pair of hands, an inquisitive dog and fifteen minutes later, I had managed to work a bodge around the broken section and had fresh water going into my tank � albeit a very slow trickle that took the best part of an hour to fill up.

Now all I have to do is train my dog, Bosun, to live up to his name; surely he should have done all the fixing? But what better way to celebrate Valentine�s day than to go against the stereotypes and be a girl that can bodge things. And yes, the meal was lovely, thanks.

P.S. The marina fixed the hose at 8.30am the next morning.


Reader comments

Claire France, Milton Keynes

February 23rd, 2012

Well done on blasting another stereotype out of the water, and good luck with getting Bosun to earn his keep. We've been trying to train Grom as a PC engineer for 12 years - still no joy.

 

Leave your comments here:

Name:

Location:

E-mail:

 

(Your email address will not be displayed)

Comments:

Check this box if you would like to be added to our mailing list

Please enter the captcha text below, then press submit.

 
 
<< back to blog page

Article by jelly

jelly shares insights into the life and loves of a liveaboard writer, sailor and young entrepreneur.

Recent Blog Entries

Blog Archive

2022

April

2021

November

2015

April

2014

February

2013

July
April
March
February

2012

December
November
October
August
July
April
February

2011

November
April
February

2010

December
November
April

2009

October
July
January

2008

December
November
October
June
May

2007

September
April
March
February