Cheer Up - It May Never Happen ..

There are some 10 BILLION rocky planets in the known Universe - Some of them may have intelligent life eh.

Our 'Mother Country', Non-EU Britain - after 13 years of Tory rule .. is now full of advice on how to turn-down the temperature of your heating boilers - turn-off the radiator in the bedroom - draw the curtains to reduce heat loss and buy a "Wearable" HOT WATER BOTTLE to cuddle in the house to keep from freezing. - Wrap up in a 'neck warmer' and use a thermos flask with a hot drink for comfort - because wage earners there can't afford their energy bills.

Here in NZ I like guns and watches, and performance cars and motorbikes and quality antiques and quality food. (And being warm in winter).

- Don't forget those flood victims here up in the East and North of the North Island who will still be shovelling mud & sewage sludge well into next winter.

ANYTHING that gives pleasure deserves to be treasured as we are only here once.

The first job is to look after the essentials but then - try to make life fun for everyone.

The antique percussion pistol above is an English .44" caliber smooth-bore muzzle-loader with Birmingham Proof marks. It is in fair condition considering it would be nearly 200 years old ..

The watches with the pistol, loaded 'in tandem' are SEIKO quartz movement "Tankos" that pay homage to a well known Cartier Tank watch designed back in 1917 by Louis Cartier, who was inspired by a then new Renault TANK 

.. I reckon they look BRILLIANT.

Wouldn't it be great to possess an original Cartier Tank wristwatch? .. but, failing that degree of wealth - it amuses me to put one black faced & one white faced SEIKO Tanko onto a cheap 'Nato' strap and talk to folk about why I'm wearing two watches on one wrist ... before showing them the other wrist.

I'm H - A - P - P - Y, I'm ... (does my ulna look fat in this?)

I bought those two used watches separately from sellers in INDIA -  they can be sneeringly called "Bombay Specials" by arrogant watch snobs but I'm very happy with the various watches I have from India. - Now, SEIKO date from 1881 in Japan and they make quality watches at a good price ... mostly - but their 'budget' bracelets are cheap & nasty crap and they seem to insist on using a rather soft glass for their windows.

WARNING WARNING These "Tank Watches" are built to be decorative and functional BUT they are by no means 'TOOL WATCHES' and are therefore  not water-proof. - I gave myself a scare this morning while hanging-out a line of washing to sterilize in the sun ... my old plastic pegs were grubby so I washed them-off under the garden tap and then noticed that my Twin-Tankos on their Nato strap were splashing it all over. - Uh Oh .. but I put the rig in a sunny window for an hour and so far so good.

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Now there may be the odd deluded dickhead out there scoffing at me for buying old used watches from India .. but consider this - Can you buy NEW antiques? - If you want to enjoy the quality and design features of earlier times, such as original Colts revolvers - they will be SECOND HAND USED & OLD.

YOU AINT GOING TO FIND A NEW ONE from 1849.

Many watch people seek to buy the Rolexes as the best luxury brand to aspire to - but there are SO many 'homages' & look-alike "Relaxes" - that I'd really like to own a Grand Seiko 'Spring Drive' before I go up the chimney .. Quality combined with Technology.

Bear in mind that even genuine 2nd & 3rd generation Colt S/A revolvers were built from parts sourced from  A Uberti Srl.  ITALY .. and how many "Microbrand" and Swiss Watch makers buy all their components or assembly from Chinese factories.

Marty K.