They're Heeeerrr!!!
As mentioned previously, I am putting together articles for a series titled ‘From Field to Wall’. It may seem a bit surprising, but because of my poor planning (read: I only decided to write this series after returning from my Safari to South Africa), I am writing the last in the series of articles reflecting the arrival of the trophies in the US, their clearance through the various governmental hoops, meeting with Michael Coppersmith, checking that the trophies arrived safely, trucking the trophies from Coppersmith’s warehouse to our home, carefully working out the complexity that is removing the individual trophies from the crate and, finally, installing them into my trophy room/office. Odd though it may be to start by publishing Blogs and magazine articles relating to the end of ‘From Field to Wall’, I am a perfect reflection of the way famous directors and authors handle these types of issues. After my next Safari in 2020 - this one with Mark Haldane of Zambeze Delta Safaris in Mozambique (https://www.zambezedeltasafaris.com) - I will be publishing a series of Prequels!! I feel very smug to be in the company of such greats as Lucas and Rowling. But, back to the present.
As the driver, Benny, backed his truck towards our garage, I could not help being myself, and thus wondering if the trophies were still in good shape...
...the worry remained as we manhandled the crate onto driveway level...
...as Benny deposited the crate in its final resting place...
...as I removed the first of many, many screws...
...and lifted the lid...
...to find everyone home and safe, but reflecting a Tetris problem in reverse. How the heck do you get these guys out without breaking something??!!
The answer is, “thank you Paul Smith and all the staff at Relive Africa (https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Taxidermist/Relive-Africa-Taxidermy-South-Africa-180274468653002/Relive Africa Taxidermy) for packing these trophies so carefully, making their safe removal possible!!”
O.K. Now the work really begins...and here is my next nightmare...