It’s streetlight update time again, with your host… me!

I claim that I’m one of the few people on this planet to currently have a Thorn Beta 79 lying at the bottom of their stairs. First off, let me explain what a Thorn Beta 79 is… it’s one of these. A particularly boring looking, but functional streetight. Now recently, a nearby streetlight post was hit by a horse box, causing its Beta 79 to loosen, and for the past few days has been dangling by its wire.

Now, some strong winds over the past couple of days have seen this poor thing’s swing get more and more violent, and the sharp edge of that swan-neck would eventually cut through the wire, causing the lantern to fall to the ground. I was correct, and just an hour or two later, it was on the floor. I was amazed to find it in one piece.

I picked it up, and carried it back to Mercuryvapour Towers. I thought it would be best to collect it and store it somewhere safe, instead of the delightful little children coming aolong and kicking the living shit out of it, leaving bits of glass and plastic all over the road.

And no, I’m not going to keep hold of it, as much as I’d like to. It’d be a nice restoration project, mainly because it’s in such a state. The lantern has been exposed to the elements for at least 10 years (probably about 14 or 15), and considering it’s made from fibreglass, it’s umm… very itchy. The fibres are shedding like nobody’s business, and even though I wasn’t holding it for very long, I was picking bits of fibreglass out of my hands for hours after. The gear tray is rusted , and it can barely support the weight of the components it contains.

But, I decided that it’s probably best to do the honest thing, and let them know where it is, and let them dispose of it in a secure, yet unfriendly manner..

I attempted to phone the council for them to pick it up, and they’re closed until Monday, therefore it’ll remain here until then