I wait with great anticipation to see what Gaelikaa has to say on the topic she suggested for today.
My Wildest Fantasy
Way back…. More than half a century ago, I was often asked what I would like to do when I grew up. Over the years the answers changed as often as Irish weather.
Like most young people I also had the equivalent of a wish list of fantasies.
1. To sing an aria.
Not just any old aria, but O mio babbino caro from Gianni Schicchi composed by Giacomo Puccini, just like Kiri te Kanawa in this short snippet with the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir John Pritchard. Alas, my vocal voice never quite came up to scratch. It was fine in the bath when the house was empty 😉 only because there was nobody about to hammer on the door and complain!
2. To build a Kit car.
I felt I could do it. I may not have had an academic brain, but I did have determination and sticking power.
In earlier years we had an old Barr Lock typewriter in the attic. It had stopped; locked, never to go again…. ‘till I came along! I took it apart, cleaned and rubbed it down with an oiled cloth and put it back together again. The ribbon was about the only thing that didn’t need cleaning or renewing. Once up and running I set to work and typed out a prompter’s copy of the script for Juno and the Paycock, matching page with page to the printed copy. It allowed me to interleave the numbered pages with a blank sheet for keeping notes of moves, ‘business’ and where props should be. Success!
One of my brothers bought a tiny second-hand Fiat car. After about six months of driving it, he decided to do a ‘Barr Lock’ job on it. He was very methodical in the way he took it apart. Every nut, bolt and screw was placed in rows as they were removed. The place looked like a hospital theatre! I often stood and chatted while watching and taking note of how he did it. I was fascinated and I suppose it was the kernel to this fantasy.
Building a kit car takes a lot of time – hundreds if not thousands of hours of labour are involved, as well as a substantial financial investment. This is not to mention the work space, tools and equipment required.
Chris Humphreys’ NG TF Sports Car
It was back in the days before we had the internet, so research was limited and I did not have the space (a dedicated garage or workshop) needed. The frame and many of the mechanical parts would be heavy and cumbersome and need to be kept in good condition while working on them. It is important to have the space/garage dry and properly secured. Lack of necessary muscle required to complete the task, was another minus quantity, since my muscles were like sparrow’s kneecaps, so my fantasy was abandoned to the barrel of unfulfilled dreams.
*
*
*
The Loose Blogging Consortium active members at the moment are: Conrad, Delirious, Maria/Gaelikaa, Magpie 11, Maria SilverFox, Padmum, Paul, Ramana, Rohit, WillKnott, & Little old me. We try to go live with our topics on Fridays, but life sometimes interferes and prevents posting until later in the weekend. That way you have an extra excuse to relax with coffee and enjoy the offerings.
I would think that your wildest fantasy would be to sit down with a relaxing glass of “Red Top.”
I misread, and wrote about the wrong topic today. :S
My neighbor built a kit car. It took him about a year and a half. Actually, I don’t think he is completely finished, but it is driveable. It’s very cute. 🙂
Red Top – Only if you were there to join me in a glass!
All you need is a wee bit of space, then you could work away at your car while singing like Kiri. I’m sure there’s a spare toyboy you could call on for the muscle…
Delirious – I was distracted by the phone and forgot you! 🙁 I so want to tease about having a senior moment. 😉 Your post was a little scary but thankfully all worked out in the end.
speccy – Maybe if I tried to build a helicopter maybe the Toyboys would come running!
Oh, you must have had more than two wild fantasies. What about travelling the world or living in a luxury mansion? A shame about the aria though. To sing an aria and do credit to it would be quite something.
Interesting PARTIAL look at your wildest fantasies.
I had a dabble in the car messing about years ago, not a kit car, but an old decrepit Morris Minor.
One wild paint, rescued brake cylinder, new wheels and wheel spacers later – looked great – then a front wheel fell off. When I was driving. And towing a motorbike. And in the boot was a spare engine but no spare wheel. Dear oh dear.
BWT – Wow! That was a close call. Maybe it is just as well that I never made my fantasy a reality.
My husband built an airplane in our garage, not from a kit, but from scratch, laying carbon fiber over foam. It took him years and years. I have christened him the Green Baron as a result. Lucky to have survived that episode of our lives.
Irish American Mom – Well done to the Green Baron! My dream will have to remain so, as my hands would no longer cope with the heavy work.
Is Ambitious by any chance, your middle name? I am impressed. I wish that I could have had such really wild fantasies!
Ramana – No, cause I couldn’t spell it! 😉
Grannymar–when we were kids we had a doctor who was very keen on refurbishing cars. He would dismantle the old cars and then rebuild it in a room next to his clinic where he could pop in between a stomach upset and a chest infection to fine tune the alternator. The only thing is every few months or so he would have to break down an external wall of his bungalow to drive the just-like-new car out!!
Padmini – Can you hear me laughing? I love that story and must remember to share it with my brother.