Author: peterb51

5th April 2024

I’m at the hacking stage of my cold, the worst part. I can’t believe that with all the vitamin C and D that I have been taking I was still susceptible, but I try to ignore it the best I can. Over in my head I repeat “two to get, three to have, and two to go” so by rights it should be gone on Sunday, I will report.

It was a gloriously sunny day, still cold, but when that yellow thing in the sky appears, it’s a good sight to see. We took the dogs out for a walk, they had been trapped inside throughout the rainy period, I even imagined a smile on their faces.

We had knew that our latest long dresser had been sold, so there were a few last minute touches to do, like attaching the top, which was my job.

Kelli worked on the low entertainment piece that we’ve had for about a year. Trying several paint colours finally settling on a light green.

Once that was decided, she finished the whole thing very quickly. We dragged it into the house to take pictures

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I started stripping the top of the long dresser we picked up yesterday, the top was in good shape, and the old finish came off easily, which was a relief because it was a good make, and well built, sometimes it’s like scraping through glass.

I started the staining process on the small table commission, I want to get that out early next week. It’s typical that the bottom surface is better than the top.

4th April 2024

With the latest large dresser nearing completion, I had to nip along to Menards to get some drawer guides. These are plastic parts that fit to the back of the drawer. They slide along the metal or wood track and stop the drawer from tipping when it is pulled out. These often break, fortunately new parts can be sourced easily.

As soon as I got back Kelli wanted to drive to Hudsonville to collect another free piece. It had been difficult to find pieces for nothing, although she has tried several times, most have slipped through her fingers.

As we pulled up there was this tall bearded guy collecting his mail. He showed us a collection of furniture he wanted to get rid of. The dresser we were interested in was another long piece that weighed a ton. With a bit of effort, and the removal of drawers we loaded it into the truck.

Kelli also found another buffet that we will have to return for.

It was another damp day, but I fitted the plastic guides to the drawers and finished sanding the table base ready for Kelli to start painting.

3rd April 2024

It was shopping day, the first since I have been back.

My unsettled tummy is now a tingly nose, which is not so bad.

Nothing at Aldi had changed, the same shelves that should contain the items we want, but are empty, even my tea!

How can they run out of tea? The Americans don’t drink it, they have the foul stuff served cold, with ice.

They must have got the idea from the Boston tea party, serves them right.

I continued sanding the table base, a mass of turned wood, like a wood turner’s ego trip.

The weather today was snow, snow? Yes snow. Not the pitching kind, the wet, thick rain type, but snow nonetheless.

2nd April 2024

I’m still feeling a bit off, the scratchy throat has become a tummy ache.

We had to pick up a table from a recent customer who wanted it refinished. It was not an old piece, but painted in a bronze paint. I was excited that the top was solid, which allows me to sand it flat and remove all traces of the previous finish. The customer wanted the top stained black with painted black legs.

Once I got it home and removed the top I found out that it was not solid, it had solid edging veneered bottom but at some time the original top veneer had been removed leaving the cross banded veneer as the top surface. That was a bummer as cross banded material is not the best. Oh well I will carry on and do the best I can.

1st April 2024

And I’m feeling like crap. I woke up with a dry throat, the first signs of a cold coming, that got progressively worse through the day. I usually feel a bit rough the first few days back, but I put that down to travel scank. I cast my mind back to my journey, noting the big man whose shoulders I was in contact from Chicago to Grand Rapids, could he have given me this bug?

I then remembered another big man dressed in cargo shorts who gave me an exclusive view of his arse crack whilst loading things into the overhead compartment, but as we were not in any contact, I filed it away as an unpleasant visual image.

Kelli had a few errands to do, so I went along hoping my sickness would ease, but it got worse.

I managed to do a bit of sanding to the top of a large dresser, the latest in a long line of big bugger pieces.

I soon began to flag, I spent the rest of the evening wrapped in a blanket trying to stay warm.

31st March 2024

After the disaster of yesterday I was determined to do something. I set about sanding the solid edge of a large dresser that we shouldn’t have bought. It had a bit of wood in it, not much. The top edge was solid but the rest was MDF and chipboard with a very thin veneer. The edge was curvy and groovy which is alway difficult to sand even with fingers. I did a bit until they got sore, then got ready to go to Kelli’s mother for Easter Day lunch. We took the opportunity to take a few pieces of furniture that we’ve been holding, and store them in her garage. The the pieces were for a lady who was due to move back into the area during March, but this hadn’t happened, but we needed the space.

Whilst we were there we loaded up a long buffet that has been stored for quite a long time.

This will give us plenty to do this week.

30th March 2024

My first full day back, and I am straight into the action.

Kelli had sold a small dresser, but it needed a rail for the bottom drawer.

Somehow I made my way into the garage and found a suitable piece of wood, then I fixed it to the carcass, job done.

By lunchtime I was feeling sleepy, jet lag was not something I was particularly aware of, but I could barely keep my eyes open.

What didn’t help was Kelli putting a blanket over me, that was it, I missed the people coming to collect the dresser, and the whole afternoon.

I woke up just in time for dinner.

28th March 2024

I think I made a big mistake travelling on Good Friday. First the coach fare was higher than I expected, and it was fuller than last time.

The most noticeable were the crowds in the airport.

Normally I can be seated quickly when I have my breakfast, not this time. Although only ten minutes I was not used to it. The kitchen staff were on full power, almost double speed.

The food was good, appreciated after the early start. Nicola and Colin had driven up from Martock in the really early hours to take me to the Bath bus station. I had managed a couple of hours sleep, so the look of death was not quite so bad.

The lady coach driver was a bit abrupt, telling me off for not handing my case in the correct manner. I didn’t know there was a correct manner. I had gone to the trouble of saving my ticket to my wallet on my phone, but after showing it to the driver there was just an “okay”, no scanning of the code or anything,

I said my thanks to Nicola and Colin, thank goodness they’re night owls, now they could go and catch up on some sleep.

At 5.01am precisely the coach set off(she was a minute late already) the arrival time was 7.00am, I was interested to see if she could make that minute up. It’s those sad things I think about so early in the morning.

We actually arrived at 7.06am so with adjustments it was late by five minutes, I noted that down in my black book of irrelevant facts, and dragged my baggage towards the terminal.

That is when I saw how busy it was.

The waiting area was like a refugee camp, people from all over the world encamped watching the monitors.

I had listened to Kelli’s voice messages, eighteen minutes of news and stories of things happening in America. When I reply I can hardly leave three.

The boarding of the plane happened quickly, I had decided to book premium economy for the trip back to see what it was like. It was much much better, the seats were wider and reclined more, and the food was actually served on china plates with real cutlery. Yes, this is what I choose in future.

Arrival at Chicago meant a long walk from the plane to the customs area, thank goodness for moving walkways.

The customs area were quite different from the last time, gone are the booths, now there are doors that close behind you. Now I was totally at the officer’s mercy. Instead of being led off to some room for further scrutiny, I was approved and let loose.

My case appeared on the carousel as I approached, my good fortune continued.

The train took me to terminal 3 meaning I had to go through security again. Shoes off, belt off, laptop out, it’s a drag. At the other end it’s then a scrabble to get things organised. Ensuring that the belt goes through all the correct loops, not cool if one gets missed.

Then there was a couple of hours wait for the plane to Grand Rapids.

I was lucky to sit next to Mr large chest, throughout the flight his shoulders and mine were in constant contact, not very comfortable.

That was only tolerable because Kelli was waiting for me with her beaming smile.

28th March 2024

This was a day with no redeeming features. The day before, the last day, both apply.

It was raining, I awoke at 6.00am, listened to any messages, got up, had breakfast and had the bathroom cleaned by 8.00am.

There was little left to do except for finishing the packing. I was taking three pieces of luggage, one for the hold and two as carryons. I was certain the case going in the hold was under the weight limit. I was planning to wear most of my heavy clothes, part of my cunning plan.

Damian was planning to visit. He was going to drive up in the Series one Mazda MX5 that he recently bought and featured on his CarGuys YouTube channel, but he messaged me to tell me that it was too wet and cold, and would bring something else. A little disappointing, but it would be good to see him again.

We went to the Tollgate, a pub in Holt where I had a wonderful chicken pie with mash.

After he left there was a bit of a vacuum, I finished up the last of the food and waited for the time to leave.

I was pleased with what I had achieved, I had great times with my family and friends, and the garden is looking better,but the time went quick.

It feels strange coming back to the cottage, it doesn’t feel like mine, although it is filled with my things, I could be anywhere. Of course it could change, once I make the regular trips, but when I returned last October, it was the strangest feeling. I read all the comments our guests have left in the book, I’m glad they liked the place. I know they think the CD collection, it’s varied and interesting, and my books cover many subjects.

I turn on the TV and watch a couple of films, the rain is still falling depriving me of more outside time. I resign myself to the belief that on my subsequent visits I won’t have so much work to do and spend more time appreciating the peace and people.

I had to return the Shogun back to Ryan, he kindly gave me a lift back, normally I would make the walk, but this time I took him up on the offer. We hugged and said our goodbyes, he then drove off to continue his life, and football.

27th March 2024

I took the last of the rubbish from the shed to the tip, it was a wet day making it a miserable experience. I had to get some keys cut so I ventured into Trowbridge. It is a depressing place, the small shopping centre is sad with many places empty, and the expressions of the shoppers matched.

My keys cost six pounds, almost as much as the flipping lock, but it’s only money.

I gave the living room and kitchen a good clean, bagging up the recycling and rubbish.

The weather continued to be bad, but with the music and the vacuum blasting, I made the best of a bad job.

I had purposely kept my supplies low, meaning there was little to snack on.

I had my last fish and chips, savouring the taste, there is nothing like a proper English dish.

It is a short walk to the shop, but I notice that the return journey is a lot harder. The hill and steps are a reminder that I am older. I refuse to stop and rest, this body has to work for its reward.