I sincerely hope that by the end of three weeks worth of work on this, it’ll be done!? I just need to paint the internal door faces, and hang these two doors.
A little Health & Wellbeing footnote: I had two pints of beer/lager (Moretti), at the fireworks last night. This morning I feel fairly shite. Quite depressed. Is that a result of the drinks?
Doors done, and attached.
Rather annoyingly, the doors on this model don’t really work as intended. But never mind. Maybe if I ever do another similar project, I might do the doors better?
A three-quarter view.
So, here are a few views with the roof on. I guess the model is, essentially, finished now? I could add interior detail – plan chest, easels, shelves, etc. But I think that’ll be something I’ll return to later (if at all?).
I like this view!
I’ve got a little painting to do: the brick foundation, concrete slab, etc. And I might add guttering. But the model is, for now, ‘completed’. Time to move on to something else.
A roof-off view, looking inside.I like this shot!
This final snap is taken through one of the east face windows. And I like it! It’s nice to be able to visualise the interior.
I’m tempted to make claymation style Seb & Teresa figures, to go inside…
On this US election day, which – according to a news bulletin we just saw – looks likely to return über narcissist and known criminal, Donald Trump to the Presidency, I needed to remind myself that truth and beauty and goodness have also come out of the US.
Our first full day back home, after the barge experience. I’m painting the first of three doors. Look at those very cute little hinges!
I’ll prob’ do two coats of green, and poss’ the same number for the internal off-white face? Mounting this door will be interesting! The pins or nails supplied are too long for some of these mountings. They’d protrude!
First coat of green.
I might have to do some kind of trial run, or mock up? As I don’t want to butcher the model at this stage. I’m also not sure how I’ll fix it in place. Poss’ I can cut the nails/pins down, and superglue them in situ’?
Do I have it opening internally or externally? The equivalent door on the old/original shed opens inwards. But this loses us precious internal space. I’d rather it opened outwards.
Nearly mounted the door…
How then mount it? So the cladding doesn’t interfere with operations? Hmmm…
Rather annoyingly, if not unexpectedly, mounting the door hasn’t been straightforward. Just as with hanging a real door, it’s always tricky.
Another view.
In this instance, the fixing points in the structural frame were above hollows, as opposed to being over/through structural beams. I’ve had to glue in blocks, for the pins to mount to.
And in doing so, a bit of damage has been done to some cladding. Hey-ho! It’ll just need patching up, I s’pose!? I’ve had to order new micro drill bits, as I can’t find any of my old ones.
After a leisurely and pleasurely mooch around the charity shops on Ely High St, where we picked up an item or two of clothing and some art books, we popped into Topping. Formerly my favourite bookshop in East Anglia. Poss’ even the UK?
Why formerly? Because I no longer feel welcome there. I shall relate today’s experience below. Sadly it’s not the first time I’ve left the shop thinking maybe I won’t go back.
On my very first visit to this in many ways splendid bookshop, I was offered a complimentary coffee. That was a great move on their part. For a few pennies outlay, they shot up in my (already very high) estimation – not just for the amazing selection of books they have – but for the friendly welcoming atmosphere.
Nowadays, when we visit, we might occasionally want to ask for a complimentary drink. But I feel that I ought not. Teresa always asks me to ask. But I don’t want to. Why? Because I feel we’re putting them out. I feel we are not welcome. Why do I feel that? Well…
Wow! Found at Ely Oxfam.
I believe that I’m made to feel like a cheapskate interloper, for occasionally asking for a tea or coffee when we visit. When the complimentary drinks are their damn idea!
Is there an unwritten rule that for every request for a warm beverage I must buy at least one book?
Today’s visit included a request from Teresa that I ask for a drink. I flatly refused. She had to ask.
She’s already used their toilet. With no untoward effect. I went to do likewise. I’d normally ask at the counter. But there was nobody there. I encountered a lady member of staff en-route to the loo, and politely asked could I use their facilities (as I’ve done on many previous occasions).
No, I couldn’t, as that’s whither she was bound. So I stood outside in the corridor. Waited for her to finish, and then went in. She told me it was a staff loo. I said I’d been allowed to use it before. And she grudgingly assented.
Later, she tutted loudly/audibly, as we left the upper floor of the bookshop. I’m not sure why? Perhaps because we left the tea tray upstairs? I’d usually return it. But on this occasion I just couldn’t wait to get out of the shop.
I thought about complaining to the lady on the desk/till, downstairs. But I didn’t. Instead I phoned another branch of the bookshop. And related my experience, and how it left me feeling.
The guy I spoke to, Duncan (in Edinburgh!), was very polite. And said he’d raise the matter with their Director. Good! I don’t enjoy being made to feel unwelcome.
I might make an inventory of books I’ve bought there, and tickets we’ve purchased for their author talks (which include Rick Stein, + book; Nigella + book, Paxman + book, Melvyn Bragg + book, and many, many more).
I used to recommend Topping to anyone bookish. Now I’m less inclined to do so. And I used to feel happy to pay the full RRP, which Topping always ask, rather than get a book cheaper – often much cheaper – via Amazon. I no longer feel that way.
If I’m not welcome at Topping, despite all the years of buying from them? I’ll shop for books elsewhere. It makes me sad. As I love Topping, the bookshop. But I very much dislike the snooty disdain with which I’ve been treated on more than one occasion, by more than one member of staff.
Hey ho!
But our visit to Ely was – apart from this – very nice. We had chips n’ sausage, from the very good chip shop on the market place. We went to Ely City Centre Cycle Shop, where I bought an Airfix model, and Teresa looked in the haberdashery section. And we finished off at the Antiques place, followed by Peacock’s.
It might not be obvious. But in the above pic, the railway is at the left, and the A5 is on the right. Three modes of travel run in parallel for a stretch, at this point: rail, canal and road.
It transpired that the turning point Tim and Hannah were aiming for wasn’t a turning point – at least not for a 70 footer like ours – after all. Fortunately there was a Marina hard by, where we were able to execute a three-point turn.
Tim and Hannah – mostly Tim – have been doing most of the food, whilst we’ve been on board. We did a tuna pasta lunch today.
Tim has also been doing the lion’s share of pilotage. Everyone else, save dad (and poss’ Sofi?), has had a go. Whether very briefly (Teresa), or for a few hours (me).
Tim cooked a fab breakfast for us all. Then about 9.30 am, we set off. I did an hour, the. Tim did an hour.
Hannah took over briefly, later on, as well. We had one iffy moment, where passing another boat, and going under a bridge, we were momentarily grounded. I’m told Claire is piloting the boat now.
Our local Tesco superstore has a little used book stand. I’ll usually have a look at why they’ve got. And typically it’s all of no interest to me. But on the most recent visit, they had a few artier titles (should I have got the Howard Hodgkin book, I wonder?).
Anyway, I got this book, on oriental rugs. I love traditional rugs, from the Old World. I also got a paperback edition of Kerouac’s Dharma Bums. Thinking I might give the latter to a young friend or relative (Sam, or my Godson Ailwyn, perhaps?).
Love this one.
Truth be told, I’m not blown away by the choices of rugs in this book. They’re fascinating, by and large. But also not to my tastes. But the same is true of the vast majority of rugs on any given trader’s website.
One of the best in this book.
The above is gorgeous. And would be almost perfect, if it were the right dimensions, for our art studio.
A Chinese seat-back, which I love.
Most of the rugs are Persian, some Indian. Not many are Chinese. The seat-back above is a rare example of the latter.
There are some nice spreads.
At present I’m just bathing in the opulent magnificence of the collection, from a purely visual and aesthetic perspective. I might take this book with me, today, on our brief barge break? I may even read some of the text?
