I made my first visit to Menards since I got back, things were pretty lean in the garage. We were reduced to using dead squirrels to sand the furniture, and we were running short of those.
The old place hadn’t changed much except for the abundance of Christmas decorations.
The world always need more inflatable Santas and reindeers.
I wandered around collecting the items I needed working diligently from the list on my phone. I was on my own this time and not distracted by Kelli who always finds other things to buy, usually animal related, but not this time. Like a cruise missile I targeted on exactly what I needed, picking up a room filter for the central air system that wasn’t on my list, and also oil and screen wash that wasn’t noted, so I didn’t do a particularly good job myself.
But these were essential. As the truck is old I alway like to have a quart of oil ready, and as I had been away for a month I thought the vehicle needed a drink.
I keep forgetting to change the filter in the house, and I’m always shocked by the amount of dust trapped, I’m supposed to change it every three months, and it is noted in my phone but I alway forget.
After clearing the checkout and a hundred bucks lighter I was able to join the massive queue at the traffic lights. There is a lot of roadworks going on at the moment, meaning months of congestion and long waits.
The call of Plato’s was too great, Kelli had more clothing she needed to sell, so I was able to spend time at Starbucks waiting for her.
However the place I usually use was closed for renovation, so as an alternative I had to go to Target where they had a Starbucks inside.
Unfortunately the espresso machine wasn’t working leaving only the filter machine working. That severely limited my choice, however with a slice of walnut and pecan cake I made it work.
As I enjoyed my snack I watched as an old guy was attempting to repair the broken coffee maker. He seemed old to be doing this work, not that age was the issue, he looked like he should be sitting with his feet up enjoying his retirement.
He was brushing, and cleaning out the machine occasionally stopping to think of what else he needed to check.
Eventually, and by now I was down to the dregs, the old guy was ready to reassemble the grinder and test. The manager patiently waited for the sound of success. Just then Kelli messaged to say she was on her way to pick me up, and I would never know if it worked, fortunately I did hear the sound of something working, so the old guy rocked!
The clocks went back an hour this morning so we had breakfast, and a walk with the dogs all before 11.00am, unheard of normally.
We did our usual around the block and around the lagoon stroll. On the way back we saw a Buck and Doe in a garden standing motionless, almost mistaken as statues watching us, after a standoff for a couple of minutes, they both took off disappearing into the nearby woodland.
I used the sunny weather to plant seventy-five bluebells bulbs in the front wild garden. These were sent as to me as replacements for the previous batch where half came up as daffodils.
I cleared a space of long grass and loosened the soil and buried the lot. Now I will wait until spring to see what comes up.
We had someone come to collect a headboard the Kelli had painted whilst I was away. The guy bought it for his daughter who was decorating her room, the dark paint of the headboard would fit in with the moody decor planned for the room.
I cut the grass in the back, it was a bit long and as winter is coming the grass won’t get flattened by the months of snow covering.
I packed away the lawnmower and pulled forward the snow blower, getting prepared.
We then drove round to a neighbour to collect a dresser that we had been promised provided we got it down from the attic.
The entrance to the attic was by a fold down ladder, not the most secure structure to climb.
I climbed up with trepidation not sure what I might find. I struggled finding the light switch, but once the area was illuminated I could see the small dresser in one corner.
I removed the drawers, each filled with old VHS tapes which I packed into dustbin bags.
I had to lower the drawers one by one down the ladder to Kelli who didn’t want to step on it.
Finally I had to lower the carcass down the same way, fortunately it wasn’t heavy, and Kelli did venture on to one step to be able to receive it.
Then it was back home to work on various dressers in various stages of repair.
Kelli made a start on the repaint commission, getting the sanding and priming done before the darkness fell.
I like autumn, the leaf colours are fantastic, that is when they are still attached to the branches, when they are on the ground, that’s a different story.
Since I had been away the front lawn was covered, Kelli had been too busy keeping the business running to have time to sweep them up.
It was a good day for leaf clearing, it was sunny and warmish.
It was hard work with the big rake. Larry was doing the same, but he was sitting on his lawn tractor. I feel I’m more ecological by not using a petrol device.
I managed to move the leaves into large piles in the road awaiting pick up by the city.
We had a customer arrive to collect a queen size bed frame that Kelli acquired as a freebie.
They had asked if we could refinish a dresser for them, and they brought it with them.
This was a well made piece with a little bit of damage, but it should turn out good.
We had a dresser to deliver to a trailer park in Zeeland. This piece has been difficult to sell, Kelli had already re-finished the top from a light wood to a black stain.
Finding our way around these parks is alway a trial, the numbering never makes any sense, and we end up driving up and down the various roads in a hope of finding the correct address.
Luckily we found it, and unloaded the dresser to an excited customer.
Finding our way out was a little easier, we headed back home.
I had started work on a black dresser that needed help.
It was back to normal, that is driving to Aldi to do the shopping. My cold was still hanging on, and although I didn’t feel bad, my tired eyes made me look it.
I had to force myself to walk into the garage, but it was a pleasant experience because it was so tidy.
It even forced me to return things to their correct places, up to now an unknown concept.
My first job of this new era was a large black dresser that needed some veneer repairs to the top. Luckily I had some veneer that was similar which I spliced in. The drawer fronts were also in a bad way, but they needed to be stripped so that I could see the extent of the damage.
All three had veneer damage ranging from minor edge area to seriously large patches. There is still the decision on what finish the fronts will be.
My evening was much the same as last night with my eyes closing during a TV program.
I expect a couple more days of jet lag before I’m back to normal.
Whilst I had been away one of the under cabinet lighting units had come away from the double sided tape attachment, Kelli had solved the problem in her most pragmatic way, it did make me smile.
I did sleep well, waking up around seven there was not a lot of enthusiasm to get up straight away.
The smell of frying bacon smelt like heaven, even though I had been in the UK for a month I only had an English breakfast once. I was looking forward to starting again.
I was told there was a big surprise awaiting me, and I had no idea what it was.
Kelli wanted to show me a bed frame she had acquired, once I walked into the garage I saw what the surprise was. Whilst I was away, she had completely cleaned and reorganised the garage, gone were the trip hazards, all my tools were organised in boxes, it was amazing.
There was plenty of space to move around and even the bench was cleared of crap.
She had done a fantastic job, I was so impressed, she had done something that I had wanted to do for ages, and I had to go to England in order for it to get accomplished.
This was the best surprise I’d had for ages.
Kelli wanted to go and collect a dresser from somewhere in Zeeland, so I was straight back in it already.
She had already paid for one, but there was another potentially available.
When we got there, the one that we were there to collect was a piece of crap, made extensively from MDF, that was not what we wanted. The other dresser had a bit more wood in its construction, so we grabbed that one, it’s not brilliant, but better than nothing.
I didn’t do much for the rest of the day, finally falling asleep watching television, not my best look.
The streets of Bath were filled with young people, even at 3.00am.
Of course it must have been Halloween parties, that were turning out.
Nicola and Colin had driven up from Martock, encountering roadworks and the inevitable diversion, just to take me to Bath bus station so that I could catch the National Express coach to Heathrow, what an amazing thing to do.
At 4.00am the coach started the journey, just after 6.00am it pulled into the bus station at Heathrow. The driver struggled to remove my cases, but with a grunt and a drag he pulled them out of the storage hold and set them out on the pavement. I had to get some synchronicity going with the cases so that everything was moving in the right direction.
First I had to get in a lift to go down a level, not an easy task when other travellers wanted to do the same.
There was an endless corridor that led to another lift, this time up a level which exited outside terminal three.
I found my way to the American Airlines drop off counter, the lady looked at the weight displayed on the screen.
“ It’s a bit overweight, do you want to remove some items or pay?” She said seriously.
“I’ll pay” I replied, there was no point in moving things, as all my bags were stuffed full.
Then I was hit with the total, which was more than I anticipated, but I had no real alternative.
Having sorted that out I made my way to the security area, it was easier to move about, so I joined the queue.
For once I didn’t have to remove my shoes, just belt, watch and coat. I was taking two laptops which had to be placed in separate trays, so all this had to pass through the X-ray machine.
Then there was the scrabble to put everything back in place.
I had a good breakfast, well it was alright really, then the walk to the boarding gate.
I had expectations that being a Tuesday the plane would be empty, that was totally wrong, it was heaving.
Thank goodness the flight was smooth, I watched two films and tried to get a bit of sleep.
In Chicago, there have been major improvements made to the international terminal, the one everybody has to arrive at when entering the USA.
These improvements included a bloody long walk to the immigration hall.
This was the first time I was a green card holder, so I thought it would go smoothly. I was wrong, the customs officer stared at his screen, then asked me to stand aside to await for additional screening. After a ten minute wait, my documents were passed to another officer who led me to a side room, full of other poor souls requiring further scrutiny.
After a short uncomfortable wait, my passport and card was handed back. When I asked what the problem was, the officer handed me a sheet of paper that would explain everything.
It bloody didn’t, all it said was, the US have total authority to stop and detain anyone they want at any time.
I then walked to the carousel to collect the large case, and find my way to book my luggage on to the next flight.
There is a driverless train that moves between terminals, this is quick and easy, so within a few minutes I am entering terminal three.
I then have to endure another security check, removing belts, shoes, coats and laptops then walking through the scanners.
“Remove everything from your pockets” the officer bellowed.
I checked my pockets, all I had were some used tissues which I held firmly in my hand.
As I passed through the scanner I opened my hands to reveal the tissues to the checking officer and asking if he wanted to check them.
He did decline the offer, leaving me to redress and repack, I had made it into the domestic terminal.
The short flight to Grand Rapids, seemed to take ages. There was a flurry of snow when we landed, but it didn’t continue, so I was surprised when the captain announced that we would taxi to the de-icing station. By now all I wanted to do was get home, so I was frustrated by this delay.
Then it had to taxi to the take off runway, this took ages, at times I thought were were driving there. The plane was full again, and the eventual flight was very bumpy.
As we flew into Grand Rapids I could see the snow, Kelli had already sent me pictures showing our garden covered in the white stuff.
Seeing her in the arrivals area made the journey worthwhile, I was back, and glad it was all over.
My last day, with nothing in the fridge, I had breakfast out. I was recommended Hartley Farm, it was close and I had never been there.
I pulled into the car park, there were a few cars there already, good, I was hungry.
Unfortunately I was early, they didn’t open until nine, I had fifteen minutes to wait.
Apart from the cafe there was a farm shop, but with more building work in progress it looks like business is good.
Finally the door opened and I was ushered to my table. I ordered a Farm Breakfast with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, and waited patiently for the treat.
Other customers were arriving, most wore wellingtons and Barbour jackets, the farmyard gang arrived. I was surprised that they even brought their dogs in.
When my meal arrived I could barely hide my excitement, and dived in immediately, it was delicious.
My main last task was cleaning the bathroom, including the drains and everything shiny.
Then the only thing left was to try to close my suitcase. Thank goodness for stretchy zips.
I had my last fish and chip dinner of the trip, I did miss those
Now all I had left was to get to Bath bus station.
As the clocks changed last night I was awake early, I scraped the bottom of the fridge to find things for breakfast.
I had a full day of cleaning ahead, and a trip to the tip to dump the last of the rubbish.
I think I had a bit of everything, green waste, scrap metal and timber.
A quick stop at Sainsbury’s for cleaning material then I was set.
Louise came up to touch up some damaged paint work, now that looks better.
I was on my hands and knees washing the bedroom floors. Working my way down the stairs, into the kitchen then the living room, I had difficulty standing up properly.
I had a wonderful roast chicken dinner with Ryan and Louise, their three dogs welcomed me into the house with a rousing barking chorus.
Another Lifetime to go 