Month: June 2023 (Page 1 of 2)

Missed out on the last week of the build. Spent 7 more days in hospital with COVID. Had a temperature of 38 degrees and an oxygen level of 92 and called the ambulance. By the time I sat in ED for a few hours my 02 level dropped to 88% and they had to put me on 3 liters of oxygen. Seven days of three different antibiotics, antivirals and intravenous steroids to bring my level back up enough to get off oxygen. The bones are now there. Still lots to do but have run out of cash as you do with these projects. Would need another sheet of hardwood ply to finish the wheel arch covers and storage over the seats, paint the interior doors to match the walls which would require a shed to keep the doors open, Have to drop the fuel tank and attach a spigot for the diesel heater fuel line, new tyre and rim, and a wheel alignment possibly.

Time to sacrifice the goat and see if everything fits. Bulkhead attached, seat needs to have the top cut out and re-varnished, the draws go in later tonight. All going well.

I can only sand and varnish so much. COVID’s been knocking me around. Knee hasn’t been much better. Too much over doing it and not enough rest. Crashed out at 530 last night. Probably be the same tonight. Had a short walk today along the beach and the knee just didn’t want to work. More rehab than I hoped in the near future. One more week of work left on the van, then back on the road.

A morning breakfast and walk along Kingston beach.

Had a more productive day. Started out catching up on smaller jobs and almost had the furniture built. Dry fitted the bulk head and bench seat and started on the cupboard internals. Many, many coats of plastic primer, etching primer and flat black to finish off the maxi air vent surround building up layers of paint. Finally fitted the brushed stainless ends to the flooring.

Began today with setting up a rough pattern out of MDF before moving onto a final paint job of the walls before laying the vinyl flooring and starting to cut the bulk head and seat.

Wasn’t of much help today COVID had me with head spins, 02 level still low effecting concentration at 95% under load.

Been in hospital for the past 3 days with COVID. It didn’t really hit me like I thought it would. Slight tiredness and a dry cough.. One of the guys here came down positive and the hospital said I should come in for a checkup and I came back positive aswell. They were more worried about me getting rejection or pneumonia and pumped me full of Remdesivir. Still a little tired and unsteady on my feet. My mate has been hard at work installing the walls with backing insulation and installing the ceiling. This was the last place Id ever thought I would catch it. Not much between here and Antarctica. From what I was told being a transplant patient I would have ended up on a respirator. Wouldn’t let them put me on oxygen unless I dropped to under 90% oxygen level and refused a wheel chair. After 12 years on nasal prongs and 4 in a chair they were going to have trouble convincing me. Took me a little effort to keep my level above 92% but managed it.

Still having a little trouble concentrating but back into work tomorrow. I was going nuts inside a small room for the three days.

The next two days I will be doing the top coat of the wall panels. I choose the color Immersion, an off black to make the hardwood ply stand out.

I was sitting around the fire watching varnish dry after the umpteenth time of sanding and rolling with two beers in me and saw the anvil and hammers for the first time out of context.