Authors: Peter Lynn
Date Submitted: May 31, 2004
Article Type: Journal

Having Scottish ancestry, as I do, can have consequences at times—-like the apparently inescapable genetic programming by which hands are very reluctant to reach into pockets. Of course, the Scots aren’t the only nationality with a reputation for being canny, the Dutch are also renowned for arms that become inexplicably short on occasion.

Anyway, I’m blaming a combination of ancestry and long association with the Dutch for a decision we made a few months ago to build a computer-controlled laser kite cutting table rather than buy one off the shelf. So, the laser head itself was ordered from the U.S. (second hand of course) and duly arrived.

Unfortunately, it was damaged in transit and wouldn’t fire. The supplier said was the shipper’s fault and the shipper said was the supplier’s fault because the packaging was inadequate and its insurance company wouldn’t even acknowledge the shipper existed; and at our end, Elwyn said that Jenny was sorting it, Jenny said Chris was, and Chris said it was up to Elwyn. After three or four months of all this duck-shoving—-during which I played my usual supportive role by yelling at everyone indiscriminately—-and with all other avenues exhausted, it was last resort time.

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