In 1879 Thomas Eddison improved the light bulb that James Woodward invented (bet you didn’t know that!). Since then, us humans have stayed up way past our bedtime getting up to all sorts of mischief; this was especially true when somebody discovered out how to make lights flash in a strobe. Since having the electrics on Kudu in pieces, I’ve resorted back to old fashioned living. Going to bed just after it gets dark, and waking up just as it becomes light. In many ways that was quite a nice way to live, it’s certainly more healthy since evolution hasn’t yet caught up with Eddison. Sadly, in many more ways, it was bloody well annoying. Past 10 o’clock I couldn’t see a thing apart from the glow from the laptop, but not any more. I’ve finally got the electrics back in place. Well, almost, instruments and lights are working, but no navigation lights as yet.

Also, today I have installed two thirds of a long awaited addition to Kudu. A stereo. I managed to get a car amplifier off ebay for £10 (Phase Linear), and some speakers for about the same. I’ve installed one, and I’m pleased with the sound. I’ll be adding a bit of pillow filling to the “boxes” though, to calm down the wooly bass a bit. I can’t tell you how happy I am with this. Music is a huge part of my life, and to have it back will make a vast difference to morale. But, fear not fellow sailors, I promise not to be noisy at anchorages!

Starboard side speaker install.

In all, it’s a happy evening on Kudu!

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