Monday 26th January - Morning

Monday Morning starts

Tom fails the ‘alarm test’ (he wanted in early at 7am so we issued him with keys and instructions) and is treated to the sight of Mark in his towel coming down from the shower (why is someone always in the shower when these things happen?). Mark sorts him out – thanks Mark!- and the day starts.

Just Baz & Joe today - Tom leaves for the day by 8am to go somewhere else, but not before getting a team of electricians started. They have come down from the West Midlands so a long drive (and potential communication issues – see previous posts), but they are staying in Reading during the week so clearly a serious effort at our project which is encouraging. Their job is to sort all the new wiring that will be needed for heating, lighting etc.

In addition, persons unknown are working their way along the balcony and filing down the bolts used to hold on the flip down chairs normally at the back. The place stinks of burnt metal.

Fire alarm goes off again, fortunately before Music and Movement. It’s the same sensor again so we’ll maybe need to rethink leaving it live. The alarm going off does not affect the activity in the church at all. Work takes precedence over personal safety clearly.

Meanwhile Joe has been busy with his crowbar and the platform/stage as we know it does not exist any more. Again, slightly painful to see it go with all the memories.

CABLEGATE – continues!
Malcolm, the night caretaker, calls – Our alarm company report a fault on the telephone line. Go to investigate and yes, Joe has, for some reason, disconnected a live set of telephone lines – not really sure why. This has taken down the alarm and all internet connections.

Very blessedly the Electricians are happy to help out and put it back together – what could have been a very big problem is made in to a tiny one – thanks men! It was encouraging to talk to someone at church on Sunday who confirmed that ‘wrong cable cutting’ was not limited to our project and in his office all the magnetic doors were locked shut by a bit of errant snipping.