'Mid-life refit' sparks renewed love for cosy bedtime pals

TRIP to hospital has unexpected lasting affect on Andrew Gale, who's usually one to enjoy a bit more...freedom...while sleeping.

SO FETCHING: Andrew Gale is rediscovering the comfort of pyjamas. Picture: Andrew Gale

WHEN I was in the Water Police we had some pretty fantastic equipment.

Multi-million dollar vessels that were built to very high standards and fitted with all the latest technology.

It was fantastic to get paid to drive those boats.

Boats I wouldn't dream of owning and could only dream of having enough money to afford.

The Water Police don't have those boats for vanity however. They are there to do a job.

Unfortunately, when it "hit the fan”, we had a duty to perform and public expectations to live up to.

We had a sworn duty to protect life and property and I never worked with anyone who wasn't prepared to risk theirs to do so.

A major problem with any boat though, besides buying it in the first place is maintaining it.

BOAT is an acronym for "bring out another thousand.”

I've also heard them described as a "great big hole in the water you throw money into!” Both are equally apt.

When built, each boat had a projected life expectancy. Between five and 20 years.

Many of the ones with the longer lives, would also have a "half-life refit” at about 8-10 years.

Upgrading components and technology as well as engines, gearboxes, propeller shafts and so on.

Just like those beautiful and well-founded vessels I served on, the other month I realised I have come to the point of a "mid-life refit”.

Sort of like a "mid-life crisis”, except you spend heaps of money on medical expenses instead of a red sports car with a long bonnet.

So, I'm off to hospital. There's some "panel and paint” work to do.

Some plumbing issues to resolve and goodness knows what else once they take the cover off the engines, so to speak.

All manner of things from sporting incidents and decades of abuse.

The hospital where I will be confined sent me a letter.

It contained instructions on what to bring and so on.

I'm sure you've seen the sort of thing if you've been to hospital.

I read through the list and all was going fine until I got to a couple of items: Pyjamas and slippers.

To most people that wouldn't be an issue.

I don't think I've owned a pair of pyjamas or slippers since I lived at home with my parents.

Since then I've slept in a T-shirt if it's cold, plus boxers if I'm with company, but the rest of the time I prefer to feel the sheets against my body.

Ewww!! 'Too much information' I can hear people saying.

But it's my bedroom in my house so mind your own business!

It's not like I walk outside like that. Well not if the moon is out!

Slippers? They're for sooks.

I love the feeling of cold tiles and floorboards on my feet.

My Nanna had slippers. Yeah and Pop too. Red and black checked ones.

Huge slippers with his skinny ankles and shins poking out the tops. So pyjamas were bought, and a pair of slippers.

I got bargains too: $10 slippers and $5 PJs.

I'm wearing the slippers now. Don't they look great?

The pic is eerily similar to my memory.

Takes me back to before my Pop passed away.

Grandpa is back in town!