Another Lifetime to go

16th July 2021

There was an optimistic air blowing about this morning, Kelli had an appointment with her doctor with a list of items she wanted answers to.

First we had to collect a free dresser from Kelli’s old neighbourhood, this was a mid century dresser that had seen better days.

It was a good positive start just to get her into the car and travel around. She had about five hours of sleep which was good, and she was feeling happy about it , although waking up at five in the morning was not appreciated.

We arrived at the surgery a few minutes late, so went straight in.

She handed him her list which he read and gave answers.

The first question was about hormones and could he check her for that.

Normally he will test her with a particular sample and test her muscle resistance to it.

He picked wheat germ oil, she placed it under her tongue, he then tested her resistance to it.

I could tell from his expression that this was a eureka moment as his reaction to it was significant.

This was the breakthrough we wanted to hear.

Many from our families had suggested that maybe, because of her age, changes to her hormones may be the reason for some of her condition, that had proved true.

In addition he noted that her adrenal treatment had taken it’s course and advised her to stop the supplements as they may be contributing to her sleeping problems.

This was a great relief to her and I could tell by her expression that maybe the light at the end of the tunnel was not a train coming towards us.

We drove home with smiles of relief on both our faces, now we have something new to focus on.

We unloaded the truck and then a drive to Zeeland to collect another dresser then get back as we were expecting a person to collect the dresser we had for sale.

Two ladies arrived just after two, and gave it the once over. I could tell that things were not right. They were muttering about the size, thinking it was not as big as they thought, bottom line was she decided to pass on it.

Kelli had kept the dialogue going with the lady that passed on it yesterday. We had a pine unit that I hadn’t started on that might have been of interest, but now the white dresser was back on the market her interest was rekindled.

She came back in the evening for a look at the pine unit, which was in good condition, but in the end her bought the white unit, but was still interested in the pine one.

So, to sum up the day, good result from the doctor, two pieces collected, one sold, therefore a good day for Bristol Cottage Furniture.

15th July 2021

Things were looking promising at the prospect of selling our latest dresser.

The lady arrived around ten in the morning, and was pleased with the piece. However she wasn’t sure her daughter would like it.

I suggested that she bring her daughter round to see it, which she thought was a good idea. So off she went, I was sure she wouldn’t be back, and told Kelli to contact the other person interested in it.

Later she had a message from the first person saying that she would be bringing her daughter to view the dresser again.

I got the little pot of touch up paint ready and waited for them to arrive.

I had a few jobs that I could get on with, later Kelli stuck her head round the door to say the person “had crapped out”

That pissed me off a bit, but that’s show biz.

I decided to get on with the repair work to the small pine dresser. There were a couple of drawer fronts that were damaged.

I set up the small router and cut away the broken area then set in a new piece. A bit of glue and some clamps and hey ho! It was done.

I had promised to spend a few hours sorting out what tools were left in Dave’s workshop.

It saddens me to be there now that most of the kit he accumulated has gone.

Rick had arranged a garage style sale in a couple of weeks at his local church, so I was helping to sort out things that were left into small boxes and carry them up into the garage ready for them to be collected.

Dave was a collector of everything, I came across a set to dental tools, a collection of match boxes and oil cans. I need a few more hours to finish that part then I’ll move into the next room and carry on with that. There will be lots of stuff that will be unsaleable, but as Kelli reminded me if her dad bought it there are bound to be others who will buy it also, I can’t wait to watch.

14th July 2021

The FedEx man was busy today, he even brought a mate to help him.

I was busy in the garage when the van pulled up. There was a bit of banging and rustling about in the back, and suddenly they emerged, one carrying a large box and the other a smaller one. I could tell the big box was heavy apart from it saying “I’m f***ing heavy” on the outside, his legs were bowing as he staggered on the drive.

He set it down just outside the garage, and the other guy put his on top.

I was excited, they were for me.

I found the Stanley knife and opened the smaller box. Inside was a dust extraction adapter for my planer. I was fed up with all the mess after pushing wood through it, now as soon as my portable extraction unit appears I can connect it up and contain all the crap that covers the floor.

I had seen a video of a person using the same Porter and Cable planer as I’ve got, and he showed how an adapter for a Delta model would fit perfectly. Both these machines were identical apart from the brand, so I ordered one.

It took precisely five minutes to fit the part to my planer, now I’m ready to chew wood.

The big box was my new all steel fire pit.

It is one that claims to be smokeless because it draws air from the bottom and burns with the fury of Satan’s arse. In the adverts for these smokeless burners there are three foot high flames, with a heat range which means you have to stand in the next garden, can’t wait to try that out.

Kelli had a good night of sleep which gave her a bit of a kick today. She was busy selling old clothes and home furnishings on Marketplace.

She also found the energy to clean the kitchen worktops, complaining about the state I’d left them, considering that I’ve been cooking meals, and keeping the business going I’ve had a good excuse.

I managed to finish another dresser today, it was not a masterpiece but it offered a few challenges. We took some pictures, and Kelli posted it on Marketplace.

13th July 2021

As an observer of my surroundings, and I am by no means a perfect example myself, I make note of things that intrigues me.

Since I’ve been in America I am more aware of the difference sizes and shapes of people that walk about in the stores I visit frequently.

There is a sense of threat when I see a very large person, often they have a mean look and not the jolly fat person they are often personified. Mostly it’s a diet thing, lifestyle sometimes dictate what food they consume.

Everything is either salty or sweet both the enemy of our bodies.

I saw an old guy, not that he was large, but he had to wear a very large shirt to cover his extended stomach, but his arms were so thin and lost in the excess of material. He looked so sad and frail.

He may have seen me in my “same shirt different day” logo (a joke that Kelli perpetuates all the time) he may have thought “Jerk! I would be seen dead in a t-shirt like that”.

As I said, I am fodder for others to observe me, and hopefully smile.

I am on day two of my antibiotics, Dhama, the oldest dog, was looking at me taking my pill and probably thinking “Oh no, he’s not on pills as well”

I have to go out and buy more chicken for Phoebe. The vet advised that we keep her on that diet for the next week, so there will be the smell of chicken boiling on the stove, a first, and I will be spending more time in the garage taping my mouth shut.

Where is this hot summer I have been expecting? If I wanted grey skies and rain I would have stayed in the UK.

I was going to get the tan back that I had for the first time last year. I now just have a water mark.

12th July 2021

I had to go to the dental practice to get a prescription for an antibiotic because I had a flare up of an infection in the tooth that I am due to have a root filling in. This should give me enough time to clear it up before the treatment.

I picked up the medication in the afternoon and started it straight away.

I finally started trials of my new paint spraying equipment. I’m sure it won’t take too long to get the hang of it. The hardest thing is to thin the paint down just enough to avoid sags and runs, I’m excited to perfect the skill.

Phoebe is a bit off her food at the moment, so Kelli called the vet for advice. She was told to feed her rice with chicken to see if it helps.

Chicken in our house? You must be joking.

We have the rice, tons of it, but thankfully Georgia came to the rescue. I collected some cooked meat from her, that smell? I remember that from Sunday roasts.

We chopped it into small pieces and mixed it with the rice. Phoebe scoffed it down, not leaving a morsel, so hopefully she doesn’t get a taste for it.

If it goes on too long, I will have to resist the urge to beat her to the bowl at each meal time.

11th July 2021

Well another day, and remarkably Kelli had a good night, maybe she took her correct medication, but I’ll take it as a good day for me.

Greer (Kelli’s daughter) and her husband Dylan invited me out for a belated Father’s Day lunch, which was unexpected but really thoughtful. We went to the Saugatuck brewing company, a place I hadn’t been since the start of the pandemic. I chose to have fish and chips for a change, it was really good, although a splash of malt vinegar would have made it perfect, but the Americans see that as odd. A bit like the English thinking that peanut butter and jelly are the perfect combination, and spread it on everything.

It was a fun time, and very odd not having Kelli with me.

We finished our lunch watching the Euro 2020 football final between England and Italy, I was explaining the rules for giving the Italians a good kicking, but unfortunately that wasn’t good enough as I learnt later that England had lost on penalties, boo!

By the time we got back, I learnt that we had sold the small cabinet and was being picked up later in the afternoon, another great result for the weekend.

10th July 2021

Well I spoke too soon, Kelli had a bad night, potatoes and all. She wasn’t sure she took the correct medication, as the one for stress was on the kitchen counter in place of her sleep one. Anyway she was in a bad mood and not very communicative.

I was working outside finishing off the shed. I had to fit a protective strip to the front edge of the new flooring I did a few weeks ago.

I also had to refit the bolt on the second door to ensure that both doors were properly secured.

We also had a customer arrive to collect the large glass door cabinet we posted yesterday, that was a good sale.

I managed to persuade Kelli to go to the local garden centre to buy plants for some planters we had.

She struggled though the ordeal and even found the energy to plant them when we got home.

I slapped a bit of paint on my planer stand, so just the casters to fit tomorrow.

9th July 2021

If someone told me that a potato could change the world I would probably laugh my head off, but this humble vegetable could be the saving of Kelli’s sanity.

We have constantly been searching for something to cure her insomnia.

She found an article on line entitled “Do you really eat a potato every night before bed?”

Apparently if a spud, with its skin, is eaten three hours after dinner it raises the body’s serotonin level that makes the brain “mellow and happy”.

This is a main ingredient in providing the brain with a calming effect aiding a restful sleep.

Well it did something, Kelli was a different person this morning. She slept longer than she had for weeks, and her smile was back on her face. Now I might be a bit premature, but she is determined to conquer her insomnia by being calmer, and if a potato helps, then I will boil a whole sack of King Edwards for her.

We will see how this night works.

8th July 2021

“Sorry your paving slabs won’t be manufactured until August” that was not something I wanted to hear.

I drove over to the landscaping company with the potential for exciting news, surely I would get a date for delivery, okay mine is not a big order (it is for me) but you can’t tell me that if Betsy DeVoss wanted some, they would pull out all the stops for her, as it happens she doesn’t need them so give them to me instead!

It was worth a try.

I knew my original paving colour would not be available until next year, but I’d hoped the alternative would be ready by now.

I drove back a bit depleted, it looks like an Autumn project now, but with the way Kelli is feeling we won’t be setting up the pool this year.

She had a really bad night, which means I have a bad night also.

She worries that she can’t get to sleep which then stresses her out meaning she can’t get to sleep.

We shared an interesting series of six lectures on overcoming insomnia. It covered the technical aspect of sleep, how you have to avoid negative sleep thoughts, and adjust your thinking about sleep preparation.

I hope Kelli puts this into practice.

7th July 2021

I decided to focus on moving some furniture project on. I finished off some repairs to a tall display unit. I had removed the back panel and painted it white to lighten the inside. I repaired the trim strip that hid the join between the back panel and the side piece. Then a quick wipe over with beeswax and it’s done, ready for pictures tomorrow.

My paint spraying equipment arrived with a lot of instructions to read I can’t wait to start using it.

With all the rain that’s been falling, the grass has shot up. Even the back garden that looks like Chernobyl’s top soil, is covered with green stuff.

Time to break out the mower.

I really enjoy using it, and I bet the neighbour’s are saying “ That Brit is showing us all up, ever since he had the front yard re-seeded he’s been out there twice a week using his poncy “green new deal” mower, I can’t stand it!”

It is true, I am out there twice a week cutting, possibly the best area of grass I have ever had.

I took a drive to Graafschap Hardware store to buy some shelf supports.

It’s an interesting place, a cross between a normal old fashion hardware store and an armoury. It has a large collection of weapons of all descriptions.

As I entered I was immediately accosted by a sales assistant asking what I was looking for.

Fortunately I knew exactly what I wanted, and told him. He led me to the place where the shelf supports were kept.

I don’t know what would have happened if I said I was just browsing, I would have been accused of being a federal spy and taken round the back and given a good kicking.

But that didn’t happen, I took my eight shelf supports to the registers.

“ Just these?” he mumbled through his thick beard. “ How much are they?” He continued.

I then walked back to the isle, pulled open the small drawer, memorised the price, and returned to the register.

“ seventy five cents each”

“ That’ll be six dollars plus tax”