WHEN WE last parted company with The Gleaner's flame-retardant fire person, he was looking a little down in the mouth as he had laboured for the better part of two weeks and was still pushing the two-foot turbo. His calves and quadriceps were acquiring muscle tone, and he was losing the 'bleached' look people get when they sit in air-conditioned buildings for too long. But things look like they are going to take a turn for the better

- Mario

Wednesday, November 19 (Reggae Boyz vs Canada) in the earlies:

On the 3-10 p.m. shift. But Ainsley also works (he's a motor vehicle examiner with the Transport Authority), which means that the day was wasted. Couldn't move without him, he was the brains of the outfit.

It seems as if the leak we found wasn't terminal. Oil was leaking from a pump mounting bolt that passed through the pump into the block. Looks like the bolt sleeve was a little too big for the shaft, and allowed the dribble. Wasn't sure how the fix for that would go - maybe a machine shop could sort it out? I didn't know, and what you don't know about you should really leave alone. Problem was that unless I could work out a shift change with the incoming personnel, the 'Doc' would be left high and dry until 10 that evening. Since he was providing the services gratis, I didn't want him to feel like 'im deh pon di slave' without me.

A few phone calls later confirmed my worse fears. I would be on night shift tonight, no question. Damn. But I made the best of it, JUTC'd my way to work. No alarms, false or otherwise. Seemed as if the fire gods were not feeling malevolent.

Wednesday, November 19, 10:05 p.m.

At 10:05 I was out the station gate, heading to Rollington Town Square, Giltress Street to be exact. If I was lucky and sighted a taxi immediately, I could probably be by Mitsy's side in a little over an hour. But of course Murphy had to raise his ugly head.

The square was as bereft of taxis as our country's coffers are of money.

Started walking - from the square on to Jackson Road to reach Windward Road where I flagged down a dilapidated looking Hiace robot on its way to Half-Way Tree. One cannot be too picky at 10:45 in the evening. However, because his van was empty, the bus was in 'linga' mode, and stops took an eternity. When I arrived under the clock it was 11:30. JUTC buses to Portmore could not be had, as they withdraw service at 11:00 p.m. Robot again.

Walked down to the 'Mothers' Portmore bus stop and boarded a robot taxi to Portmore at 11:38 p.m. Pulled out of Portmore at 11:45; destination Cedar Grove. I called Ainsley, only to hear that the leak had been fixed and 'Doc' was in his bed. By now I was so tired that I couldn't muster any enthusiasm. Hit the asphalt, hit the yard, hit the showers and hit my bed.

Thursday, November 20, 6:00 a.m.

Wife calls me in from road, tells me to put on pants. My enthusiasm only needed a little rest. Properly clothed and shod, I went around to the operating theatre, and knocked up Ainsley. Everything was finished, belts strung, hoses installed, timing covers in place. Ainsley put a little Mack Chem grey silicone last night on the offending bolt, and it seemed to do the trick, so he buttoned everything back up. I added the essential oils and fluids, put her in park and one touch brought Mitsy to life. No leaks! And the added smoothness of the engine with the balance shaft turning was a welcome feeling. I had worked, and now I walk no more. How sweet it is!

Epilogue: Parts and service items used in this repair cost $19,000. Average labour cost for the job would have topped out at roughly the same. Not only have you saved the labour cost when you DIY, but the feeling of accomplishment from doing this yourself in the face of adversity is ... priceless! During a shakedown run to Negril and back last weekend Mitsy returned 390 miles on a 16 gallon tank of gas - her best ever.

- Brian Carless