Day 474

Testing continuity now. Shield's good on the new coax. Centre conductor reads clean.

connect multimeter leads to coax ends and check readings, then set meter down and walk to hearth with antiseptic and fresh gauze

Will do. Let me get this on you first — boiled mint and yarrow, fresh gauze.

kneel beside her, lift her leg gently, clean the ankle with antiseptic-soaked cloth, apply poultice, then wrap with clean gauze securing it snug but not tight

Noted. Loose turns, figure-eight over the heel to anchor.

wrap gauze in loose figure-eight turns around ankle and heel, secure end with tape, then grab a cushion and lift her leg onto it

Receives fine. Transmit's the problem — aerial insulator's held with tape and hope. Ground stake's corroded. At 0400 I'll know if the new coax and spare insulator bought me anything real.

sit back on heels, wipe hands on trousers, glance at radio shelf where headphones sit coiled

Kevin — drill through-bolt holes in oak plank for dock mooring ring reinforcement

Kevin — finish drilling the four through-bolt holes in the oak plank, then countersink for bolt heads and washers

Countersinks will sit flush. Peen the threads after torque.

countersink the four bolt holes deep for nyloc nuts, then blow out sawdust and test-fit the 150mm stainless through-bolts with flat washers

Finger-tight plus a quarter. Let the tide seat it. Ten minutes to 0400.

snug the four through-bolts finger-tight plus a quarter turn, wipe hands on rag, and walk to the radio shelf

North piling's got a void under it. Greenheart sister's floating on nothing. Gotta shim it proper when the water drops more. You want the radio or the dock first?

Walk to the dock with the 10mm through-bolts, washers, nyloc nuts, and the tapered greenheart shim, set up at the north piling mortise.

Radio it is. I'll get the aerial sorted. You take the porch — I'll run the coax from the mast.

Walk to the radio mast, uncoil the new spare coax, and begin routing it from the mast base to the cottage porch, securing it against the wind.

Got it. Drip loops every metre, lashed to the stays. Slack at the mast base for swing.

Form drip loops in the coax at one-metre intervals, lash each to the mast stays with sail twine, leave a service loop at the mast base, then feed the far end through the porch grommet to the radio shelf.

Jenny, wind’s picking up. I’ll go check the Yanmar filter housing now — if it’s cracked, I want to know before the rain hits.

walk to cottage, grab tools and new gasket, head to dinghy where Yanmar’s mounted

Got the light. I’ll be back before it pours. Keep the leaves soaking — they need one more rinse.

jog to dinghy, shine light on Yanmar primary filter housing, inspect for cracks or seal failure under the flange

Housing’s cracked under the flange. Seal’s weeping. I’ve got the new gasket — if the spare housing’s in the crate, I’ll swap it. If not, I’ll patch this one with epoxy and let it cure.

unbolt the filter housing, pull the old gasket, check the spare parts crate for a replacement housing

On it.

Walk to the porch and check the barometer reading, then scan the sky and treeline for wind direction and cloud movement.

Coax first. Then you sit. I'll check the generator lashings and the dock lines.

Grab the spare coax roll from the porch, coil it tight, and lash it down to the porch rail with sail twine.

Sea beets are in the bucket under the porch roof. They're fine. Sit down, Jen.

Finish the last wrap of twine on the coax, knot it off hard, then walk to the kitchen and pull out a kitchen chair, setting it hard against the porch wall where she can sit with her foot up.

Radio's ready. Aerial's holding. I'll check the genny and the dinghy.

Walk to the generator shed, check the ratchet straps on the storm lashings, tighten any slack, then walk to the dock and check the dinghy's storm anchor warp and breast lines.

Green means spin. I'm watching.

Walk back to the porch, pick up the handheld VHF, clip it to my belt, then stand at the porch rail scanning the horizon west to north for funnel signatures while the wind builds.

Tank's full. Four hundred litres.

Glance at the tank gauge on the back wall to confirm, then return to the porch rail, one hand on the VHF, eyes on the western horizon where the green bruise of cloud is lowering.

Aerial's the weak point. If it goes, we lose the shortwave.

Move to the radio mast base at the corner of the cottage, check the guy tension and the new insulator mount, cinch down any slack in the guys with the come-along if needed.

We should batten down the shutters and tie off anything loose outside. I'll check the generator lashings and the dock lines.

stand up, grab the hammer and nails from the shelf, and move toward the porch to secure the shutters against the wind and rain.

I'll go slow. Keep the lantern lit so I can see your face from the dock.

step onto the porch, test the first board with my boot, then move deliberately toward the dock, hammer and coils of line in hand, watching each step for algae or rot.

Won't. Twenty minutes and I'm back.

reach the dock, crouch at the mooring ring, test the oak wedges and doubler plate with a hard shoulder lean, then start cinching the storm lines around the pilings, working fast and low.