This is after

I forgot to take a before shot but this little desk was a complete wreck. eaten out with woodworm, one back leg half eaten and the other missing, no top or back and no cornice on the top section. As with all French country furniture the bits you don't see were done with the roughest old wood imaginable so I used some old roofing timber for that and it matches the few bits of original that were left. Lots of new bits later, a bit of stain and lacquer and its done. Shame I managed to get one back leg a couple of degrees out of vertical but then, thats character init?

Slow down, you're going too fast.....

... ye gods I hate this getting old bit. I REALLY object to the whole idea. Nobody offered a glimpse of what it would be like before we signed up. In fact, I don't even remember having a contract, I reckon I just got dumped.

Everything I try and do takes for ever. I'm only 65, what will it be like when I'm 90? OK I know that it the back that is making things worse but even so, its very frustrating. Work a bit, sit a bit, work a bit, move around a bit, work a bit......... grrrrrrrr.

If I believed in anything outside the here and now, I'd be having a few words in his/her/its ear - if he/she/it had one.

Its a good thing I don't have to worry about an hourly rate any more - I reckon it would be about €1.

and then there were two..

.. right then two legs done. Just the cornice to make and its back to the land of those with income. It has been suggested to me that the one in the middle is not very well finished!! Must try harder.

Yippee....

,,,the lathe is going round. I can't believe its been seven months since I did any work. Thank you back.

Anyway, I am restoring an old walnut bureau and both back legs were eaten away - one was missing and the other fell off as I moved it. There is a bit of wood to replace here and there!!!

This 'ere is half of one back leg. I am swapping between the lathe and the floor in the utility room so the back doesn't spend too long in one position. This morning the leg, this afternoon the floor. Hopefully I can finish the one leg tomorrow so at least the bureau can hop. Should have it walking by the end of the week.

Yum

First rhubarb crumble of the year. last year we had to put all the water on the roses and leave the fruit and veg to care for itself. So we didn't even get one helping as the plant was too weak.

However, this spring its looking good and strong so I am allowed to eat it. A small raspberry one to use up the rest of the mix too.

How I like my puds.

All friends together

The ducklings are now a bit big for the blue box so they have a new home, with a pool for a dip. They have yet to discover their water wings.

It has caused considerable interest amongst the other members of the family too. Typical ducks, they are messy buggers and just love to cover themselves in various unmentionable substances. Hopefully they will USE the bath. We have lined the whole area in plastic on the assumption that not all the water will stay where it is.

How could you...

...I can just hear it now.

When I mentioned the chicken / duck processing area now being created in what used to be half of my workshop, it rather assumed that there would be some chickens or ducks in attendance.

Sadly, in order for this to happen, they have to a) get hatched b) grow a bit and c) well, you can guess that bit.

Problem is that, like chicks, these little ducklings are just so sweet. However, fortunately, they grow up into great big christmas dinners and nature takes over from sentiment.