There’s a fine line between determination and obsession, which Roy has crossed, jumped back, crossed again, and then stomped all over. This is the story of a man vs. a sail. Call me mad, but I happen to believe in the idea that it is possible for a sailcloth to harness the wind in order to do stuff. I don’t know where I got this crazy notion, maybe it was the sailing course I took, or the sailing holiday in Greece, or perhaps it’s just you know, being aware of things in general.
In case you haven’t noticed, the sail has been reborn. Or rather, sewn into different shapes and re-branded. This new generation of sail is for sun protection. It’s no longer a sail. It’s a SHADE sail. Made of sail cloth. In other words, it’s a sail. But for shade. In their new genre, these new shade sails are certainly more beautiful than their old cousin the umbrella and more cosmopolitan than the awning. They are more versatile than that, what’s it called, oh yeah. The SAIL. They are brilliant in their new role in suitable places -- those areas without regular periods of high wind and heavy rain. Because in their new role, you don’t actually want the sail to harness the power of the wind and rain. But it does. Can you guess why? Because it’s still a sail.
When Roy wants something that goes against nature, his solution is quite simple. He ignores the laws of physics.
When we first put up the shade sails in the campsite, they stood for a few days. Then the wind came and disconnected some rope. Roy fixed it. That’s determination. One morning after it rained, they filled with water and one corner on each sail was hanging on the ground. Roy put them back up. Determination. Then came the morning all the posts were lying on the ground and the sails were hanging only by the hooks on the barn and we had no choice but to take them down. This would have been the moment to admit defeat. Sails 3. Roy 2, and I thought the game was over. That was until Roy rocked up onto the lawn with fresh new containers and more gravel, and we find ourselves moving a tick beyond determination. Roy puts the sails up again and he’s feeling GOOD. After waiting just a few hours they have the emboldened effrontery now to fall over right in front of our eyes. It’s important to note that by this time, our guests have long left and we ourselves have only one week left of our two-month stay. Surely this must be the end of it.
But no. Apparently there is heavier rope and more gravel out there in the world, and damned if we aren’t going to use it. I ask Roy if this is a smart use of the little time we have left. I tell him we don’t need them. He looks at me as if I’m speaking Latin and I realise it is no longer about the shade. It’s now a battle of wills between him and the sails. There is no talking him out of it so I tell him he can do what he wants but I’m not getting involved this time. He’s on his own. Next morning while I’m having coffee… “Nicki, can you just hold this for one minute?” And before I know it, I’m an accomplice in his obsession.
As I sit here, they are up again. And we are leaving in 5 days. I don’t know which of us will last longer, and in my head keeps ringing the reputed final words of Oscar Wilde, “Either these [sailcloths] go, or I do”
