Author: peterb51

25th September 2025

I met up with Lloyd for our first breakfast together, and it was fun. 

We went to the Southside Inn, a place stuck in a time warp, but unlike all the big chains, typically American. It is a popular place judging by the number of cars in the car park, inside, the customers were also stuck in the same time warp, so I fitted in. 

We had the same in-depth conversations, in between forks fulls of hash browns and sausage.

After numerous cups of coffee, we went our separate ways, the whole thing lasted just over an hour, and it was enjoyable because, A) I didn’t have to make it, and B) I didn’t have to wash up afterwards.

Once I got back, Kelli wanted to go to Nature’s Market to look for a supplement to replace one of hers that has been discontinued. I urged her to hurry as I had my appointment at the “Geek” centre at Best Buy at 1.00.

I got there a little early, but was met by a chap that looked twelve with round glasses.

I explained the problems, and he flicked around the screen before announcing that the problems are because of the age of the laptop. Gave me some bollocks about hard drives slowing down if they hadn’t been used much, and really I should upgrade to a new MacBook. I had expected someone who could integrate the programs, with fancy shortcuts and magical key strokes, but no, what he was doing I had done many times myself. It was a complete waste of time, but fortunately I wasn’t charged for it. So I still have a computer that won’t shut down properly and a mail that crashes. It’s not the end of the world, but I would have liked to have sorted the issues out.

24th September 2025

I wanted to get back to normal, no trips to Goodwill, no visits to Menards, I just wanted to do something, and achieve a positive result.

So with that in mind, I wheeled out a piece that we picked up at a house clearance many months ago. It was in a state, but we believed it could look nice again. This was going to be a concentrated effort to remove the old finish and see it differently.

Kelli wanted to do something different as well.

She is into dying clothes, and today, armed with a bottle of green dye she was taking a brave step and change the colour of one of her newest purchases. She wanted me there for moral support, after all what do I know about that?

Setting out the components she found she didn’t have any salt, apparently an essential ingredient needed. I rushed down to the corner shop to buy some plain salt. On the way back I stopped at a stand by the side of the road that sold sourdough bread, I love sourdough, and as it was a local person making it, I shoved the money in the box and chose a cheddar and herb loaf, jum jum.

Now Kelli had all the things needed for the big event.

The dye was in, the salt was in, and the hot water was going in. A good stir to mix everything together, and then the moment came when the garment was submerged into the green liquid.

My job was to set the timer for thirty minutes, it was a tense time, but as it ticked away things were looking positive.

As the alarm erupted, out came the newly green garment ready to be rinsed.

I was very impressed, all the original colours were now more earthy and really nice. Kelli was relieved, and she was keen to do it again. Luckily one had arrived in the post an hour or so earlier, that was number two. That turned out good as well, now with all the excitement done, I could go back outside to continue working on the dresser.

It is an interesting piece, with a wavy front and drawers to match. I scraped off all the old finish, and repaired all the damaged edge banding, to a point when it started to look better all ready.

The drawers are the next big challenge.

When we collected it, it had been stored in a garage and the veneer had started to peel away, there was not much hope of salvaging those. 

With a heat gun I removed the damaged veneer, the raw timber will be sanded and painted, but there’s a lot of filling and sanding ahead.

23rd September 2025

It was a quiet day compared with yesterday, we decided to do other stuff, but of course Goodwill came into the picture, as always.

Another popular venue is Plato’s where Kelli had more things to sell. 

I decided to go to Best Buy, a store that dealt with white goods. I had read that they had a Geek Squad section there, so I thought I might go and ask them questions about my MacBook.

The moment I got there I realised that it was not that easy. There were two “kids” dealing with two old people, who obviously had tech questions. I noticed there was a monitor with names and times listed. With the next available spot one hour away, it was obvious that an appointment is necessary. So I left and headed back to Plato’s, but going to a cafe for a coffee and a cake, that happens to be near.

After emerging from the cafe, Kelli wanted to drive to her doctor’s surgery to buy a supplement she was low on. This proved fruitless as it was not in stock, and would take a week to get it. That was not good news as it was one she takes for sleep.

Whilst we were in the area we went into the Zeeland Goodwill and found a dresser that we hope to flip with the minimum of effort, in strict contrast to the kitchen island we delivered yesterday.

22nd September 2025

It was our seventh wedding anniversary, that has gone faster than I could imagine. We exchanged cards and read each other’s sappy words, and Kelli handed me a gift that she had made that was so amazing.

What she had done was searched through the collection of pennies that I have been saving, for coins that have significant date and mounted them in a frame. There was one from 1990 the year we first met, 2005 when we got together, 2018 when we got married, 2019 when we bought the house, and 2025 when we celebrated our seventh anniversary, it was such a great idea. She had used pieces of thin walnut to mount the coins, and I did wonder where those strips went, I was joking of course.

The next significant event was the delivery of the kitchen island. That was a task, we had to borrow the strength from the guy across the road who almost picked it up on his own.

Once we arrived there were two things that worried me, one, was stairs that we had to climb on to a deck, and two, the width of the stairs, luckily, after a lot of effort, and bursts of adrenaline we got it up the stairs. It was a lot simpler to actually get it into the kitchen.

We then had to go back to get the top and drawers. Thankfully I had pre-drilled the holes, so fitting the top was a lot easier than I thought.

That didn’t stop me sweating like a pig.

The lady was really happy with it, the colour was exactly what she wanted and it looked good in her kitchen, in some way it was sad leaving it, but I was glad that it’s done, now I can concentrate on something new.

21st September 2025

Final assembly day, doors and drawer fronts, these take a bit of time to get right. With shims and spacers, everything was aligned and attached. I drilled the fixing holes on the underside of the top and applied the final coat of wax oil, now we need to get it out of the garage.

Kelli messaged the lady to find the best time for collection, what came back was a rather vague answer, meaning she couldn’t get a truck until the end of the week. That went down like a lead balloon, we have other pieces to work on and it takes up a lot of space.

I will measure to see if it will fit in our truck, maybe part of it will if we have the strength to lift it. The top will have to be a separate trip.

It was back up to Kelli’s mums for ice cream after a trip to Goodwill.

I was startled to see a trans person, not the most attractive man trying to be a woman, which is a whole debate I don’t want to get into.

People can be who they want to be, and if that’s the life they choose, good luck to them.

20th September 2025

I am another step closer to finishing the kitchen island, and quite frankly, I’ll be glad when the bloody thing is delivered.

Everything has been painted, and we pulled the top out of our store room, and applied the first coat of a food safe wax oil. When the thing gets delivered, I will have to fit the top on site, it will be just too heavy to handle.

Of course we had rain this afternoon which put paid to doing anything outside, so I spent time on my laptop trying to get an install disc to work.

To most people it’s probably a simple task, but to me it will always end in failure and frustration.

In the end I decided to install the back up, just to prove that I can do that, which was successful, but I still can’t access my emails on it. I re authorised the laptop which I thought would solve the problem, but it didn’t.

I farted around with it for a couple of hours before closing it down, I’ll pick it up maybe tomorrow.

19th September 2025

It’s a very small world, and it freaks me out.

Kelli was invited by an old school friend to a launch of her first book.  It’s called Breaking Free , and her name was Ronda Busscher.

It’s a true story of her difficult life, Kelli knew a lot about it during their friendship, so now that it was in print, she wanted to attend the event.

I was happy to go along, as I’ve never been to a book launch before, I thought I might learn something.

Well the first thing I learned was to hold an event that is easy to get to. In fact I suggested that it would be a good second book to write.

It was way out in the sticks, the route was arduous, and without GPS we would still be looking for it.

Eventually we arrived at a place called Sandy Pines, primarily a golf course, but also an area of weekend cottages.

The launch took place in the club house, and as we entered, Ronda spotted Kelli, what followed was a selection of squeals and laughter, as I stood by, the silent observer.

There was a very nice cake on offer, and many people sat around cheerfully munching, holding their copy of the book. 

Kelli had a copy presented to her, which was a nice gesture. I did feel a little strange, but I had a second piece of cake by way of an excuse to do something.

Then it happened, Kelli was aware of this guy hovering in the background, thinking it was someone who wanted to talk to Ronda she thought nothing of it. 

Suddenly this guy came into my view, “are you Peter?” He said.

I took one good look and recognised him immediately, “Don Thomson!” I exclaimed, then we squealed and shouted, I couldn’t believe it. 

Out in the wilds, at an obscure event, and there was someone I knew, it was amazing.

It was even stranger, because we were due to meet up for a beer with Jim Vandragt a couple of weeks ago, but that didn’t happen because Don couldn’t make it. 

For those who don’t know who Don and Jim are, well they were both IT support for engineering at Herman Miller, Don was the manager and Jim did most of the work. I have known them since the 90’s and once we got into CAD they helped install and supported us.

So was it fate? Are we all connected by six degrees of separation? It’s a weird thought, but I seem to agree with it after it happens.

18th September 2025

Another doctors appointment for Kelli, so another trip to Zeeland, stopping off at the Goodwill store for good measure. Today there was no furniture , but that didn’t stop Kelli finding thirty seven scoop handles, guess what we will be putting on the dressers in the near future?

I was due to meet up with Lloyd for our regular chat and drink, so my time in the garage was limited. I was leaving the painting of the island to Kelli, so I worked on another tall dresser, scraping off the paint and applying a special primer.

I drove into the town, as summer has officially ended there wasn’t many people about, not that we ever had to fight for a table, but it was noticeable. 

Lloyd is very knowledgeable on American history so it a learning experience for me, but I do try to throw alternative theories at him occasionally.

I have concluded that he believed everything he has been taught, read or told without question.

I suppose that’s where we differ, he is a bit older than me, and I have to respect how he thinks, but it does lead to some interesting discussions.

When I got back home Kelli had given the island a second coat, so I hope we can finish it over the weekend.

17th September 2025

We finally got some paint on to the kitchen island, at long last, finally some colour.

The first thing we did this morning was a bike ride to the big lake. As it isn’t summer anymore, there wasn’t any security guard that we had to blag our way in.

It was a perfect day, clear blue sky, and water to tempt you in, until you felt it, it’s cold.

In the next week or so the snow fences will be erected and then it all downhill to autumn. 

The last job on the island was drilling the holes for the shelves, of course they have to be accurate otherwise there would be a rocking shelf, and nobody wants that.

So in the blazing sun, I had to lay down with a ruler in hand and a pencil in the other, marking the first hole position. I had bought a drill jig to use to bore out the others, that is a time saver.

Then Kelli started on the painting, first the doors and drawer fronts then the big bugger.

Luckily it is on a trolley, that makes it much easier to move. Tomorrow will be the second coat, then out will come the top, I can’t wait for that one.

16th September 2025

Finally the dresser that we’ve been holding for the past month was picked up. Now we have a bit more space again.

I was working on the kitchen island, I’m desperate to get it finished and delivered by next week.

I fitted the second door then noticed a few things I wasn’t happy with. A quick dimensional check showed a discrepancy of about an eighth of an inch. Once I planed that back, things looked a lot better.

It is a very heavy bugger, getting it off the trolley was difficult, I can’t imagine the total weight once the top is fitted.

But I made good progress, hopefully we can get paint on it tomorrow.

The news is still dominated by the Charlie Kirk assassination, charges have now been placed on the young man that is in custody. Both Kelli and myself still believe something is not right. So many ballistic experts have been analysing the videos and almost all have agreed on one thing, the guy they have in custody could not have done it.  Kirk was not hit from the front, it was on his right hand side. 

I cannot see how this would ever get to court as any lawyer would easily discredit the current account of what happened.

Someone will try to stop this guy going to court, there will have to be another “distraction” to take away attention.

It may seem that I’m becoming a bit of a whacko, but it’s all so clear, the authorities really think we are stupid.

I was impressed with the massive crowds in London, it’s about time, I hope the next one will be double in size.