Gus

Today is a day of celebration and sadness. Im having electricity connected and on this day also having to farewell an old and trusted friend. Now mind you it has taken some time for our friendship to develop. When i first moved here; a feeble attempt to escape the city and embrace country life I had no idea just what i was letting myself in for.

Gus and I met the first evening i moved here. He was old, so old I wasnt and have never been able to work out just how old he is. He was well known , inspiring either awe or disdain. Yes he smelt disgusting, made noises that could wake the dead and drank. There had never been middle ground with Gus. Either he worked with you or he was the curse of your life.

As the crew worked through the day to ensure that come nightfall I could finally flick a switch and turn night into day and embrace all that electricity can provide; i was a bit unsure how to advise Gus that I was moving into the modern world.

Now how do you tell a trusted friend that their years of assistance, their strength, reliability and need was no longer required. Do I hope he doesnt notice, do i keep up the pretence that nothing has changed.

He meant i had water pumps that worked, comfort and warmth when the storms arrived, light that allowed me many hours of reading.

Maybe Ill just retire him and hope he understands when I enter his shed for the last time and unhook the lead and cover him up.. oh i know its just silly to worry what a generator thinks but to me he will always be Gus my tried and true friend.