I finished reading “4th Protocol” – interesting the way it started out with two separate story lines that eventually merged into one. Seemed like a tame ending, until the twists were revealed.

I have continued having some problems with the Sandvox software (and SVP Plugins) that I use to construct this website. I found out that the latest version of Sandvox (which I upgraded to yesterday) is incompatible with the SVP Plugins, and SVP have no immediate intention of patching them. So, today I will have to re-design the site to remove the dependence on the SVP Plugins (especially the “accordion menus”). So those who have been reading this blog before now will notice a change in layout – sorry for any confusion caused! Just realised that I will also have to re-design several other websites I maintain and which use the SVP Plugins – damn! (PS: 2019 - redesigning the website again since Sandvox seems to have gone "belly-up" as a company, and doesn't respond to enquiries. So doing it all again in EverWeb software. Much better software, and hopefully more long-lived).

During the heavy rain today, I could really notice the different way that the rain is running off the newly-painted roof. Rather than having the rain spread evenly across the roof and then continually drip from the edge of the overhanging roof onto the steel deck below (as shown in the left diagram below), it would pool into large “bubbles” on the roof, and then all of a sudden that water would run quickly across the roof and over the edge. But because the curved edges had also been painted, the water clung to the curved edge through surface tension and then curved back under the drip line and hit the wooden and glass parts of the wheelhouse, rather than dropping straight down onto the steel deck (as shown in the right diagram below). Over time this constant wetting (and later drying) will have a deleterious effect on the condition of the wood and the beading around the windows, so I need to think of a way to stop the water curving back under the drip line. An engineering challenge! I was planning to lacquer the wheelhouse woodwork in the near future, but perhaps I should resolve the rainfall runoff problem first.

Later in the evening, Iain called from across the canal to remind me that the gas was being connected tomorrow morning at the house (what would I do without those guys!) and also to say that the car seller had called to ask when the balance of the money would be paid. Iain said that would be when he produced the Control Technique. The seller then said that he had had the car inspected but that he could not get the CT yet because it needed a wheel bearing replaced. He asked whether Iain thought we would be prepared to share the cost of the repair, to which Iain replied to the effect that "No way, sport. It's the sellers responsibility to have the vehicle in a condition which will enable the CT to be obtained". The seller then said that he was concerned that he would pay for the cost of the repair, and then we would back out of the deal (which I guess is a reasonable concern). So, I emailed Rita to ring them tomorrow and ask how the CT was coming along. When they told her about the wheel bearing, she should just repeat what Iain has already said, but also reassure them that as soon as it has been fixed and the CT obtained, then we will pay the balance of the money to complete the deal. Hopefully, that will give him the confidence to go ahead with the repair and get the CT so that he can then get paid the rest of the money. In no circumstances will we pay for the repair or pay him before he gets the CT. I didn't mind advancing him the money for the CT, because it was a small show of faith and the amount would be deducted from the final balance. However we are not willing to pay any share of the repair, because he could then do a runner and have had us pay for the repair on his car. Probably a remote chance, but better safe than sorry.