Four Years Under Hay Street

Wednesday. Four years ago today the Nautilus took her first expedition aboard in Perth, beneath Hay Street Mall, and I have been at the bottom of the sea, and also in a basement, ever since.

I tried to count the parties I have hosted and ran out of fingers, then of Barnacle’s legs, then of patience. The management keeps the true number on this website, on a dial, and it goes up every hour. I find it best not to look.

In four years the Beast has not given up, and neither have I, and neither have the passengers, who keep putting my submarine back together at a remarkable rate. Seven out of ten, the management rates her. I would have said nine. But I have seen what the Beast does to a man’s confidence.

Barnacle polished all the brass for the occasion. All of it. It took him the whole night and he is now asleep on the sea chart.

Many happy returns, old girl. Same time next year.