Dale R. Hamilton
04-29-2004, 10:00 AM
I toil my life away at a govt issue steel desk at a tombstone post in Tennessee. But frequently my thoughts go back to a job offer a few years back- that I didn't take- maybe I should have. Let me tell you about it.
SWMBO and I were on Malta, doing the usual touristy things and naturally gravitating toward the harbour. We came upon a a spanking new dghajsa-say DY-SA- a maltese-built rowing wherry, not unlike a Venetian gondola. But more importantly, the builder was there earnestly applying yellow paint to her stem with his finger. His name was Freddie and he spoke a little English. Freddie built these beautiful boats in an old bomb bunker left over from the Brits when Malta was a naval base. He also made a little wine in the back of the shop- to which he promptly invited us to sample. Now Freddie made 5 different red wines- and of course, we had to try all 5 before we made our choice. But he didn't label any of the identical bottles. For a refill I had to taste all 5 wines again, before I found the exact same one. Delightful- we were in boatbuilder heaven discussing methods, materials, and wine. Freddie had heard of epoxy technology ans was anxious to acquire it for his shop- and I was thouroughly familiar it, and described its many applications. It was on maybe the third round of drinks- not counting all the tasting- Freddie makes me an offer that rings in my ears today. "You move to Malta, bring Gwendolyn, and we work like hell in the mornings building boats, and in the afternoon we drink wine", Ah........
SWMBO and I were on Malta, doing the usual touristy things and naturally gravitating toward the harbour. We came upon a a spanking new dghajsa-say DY-SA- a maltese-built rowing wherry, not unlike a Venetian gondola. But more importantly, the builder was there earnestly applying yellow paint to her stem with his finger. His name was Freddie and he spoke a little English. Freddie built these beautiful boats in an old bomb bunker left over from the Brits when Malta was a naval base. He also made a little wine in the back of the shop- to which he promptly invited us to sample. Now Freddie made 5 different red wines- and of course, we had to try all 5 before we made our choice. But he didn't label any of the identical bottles. For a refill I had to taste all 5 wines again, before I found the exact same one. Delightful- we were in boatbuilder heaven discussing methods, materials, and wine. Freddie had heard of epoxy technology ans was anxious to acquire it for his shop- and I was thouroughly familiar it, and described its many applications. It was on maybe the third round of drinks- not counting all the tasting- Freddie makes me an offer that rings in my ears today. "You move to Malta, bring Gwendolyn, and we work like hell in the mornings building boats, and in the afternoon we drink wine", Ah........