Another Lifetime to go

3rd July 2020

So I have this 4th July to go through again. Everything has ramped up to meet this date, and although I enjoy the getting together with my US family, it’s a reminder that my side is missing.

We are going through a hot spell at the moment which I love, it does drain the energy for work out of me, which in turn slows the output down.

We picked up a couple of things that we can transform, although some chairs Kelli was hoping to exchange for the ones we use, might require a bloody miracle. One of them was falling to bits, and I’m not sure I have the skill or the interest to do anything with.

I of course will try, but the finish of all three will have to be stripped back to make anything decent out of them.

We stopped off at Menards to buy some feather-edge cedar strips to re-side the shed.

This was going to be this weekend’s project, but no, it was not in stock, so had to be ordered, great news!.

Whilst we were there we bought more inflatable things for the pool. I don’t know how many more thing we need. It’s so full at the moment there is no room for us.

I bought a couple of small boats so we could have races, what a load of crap they were. They were clockwork, there was a cord at the front that had to be pulled out and then released. The length of the cord was quite short, it did not provide enough wind-up power to move the craft at all. All mine did was go in circles then sink, Kelli’s was a bit better, but ultimately they were useless.

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However the inflatable ring was much more fun, we could definitely chase each other round the small pool with those.

We had a second mat delivered to lay by the pool to stop dirty feet putting crap into the water. Unfortunately the dogs are shit scared of them so won’t cross, they stand at the edge just looking scared, I’m sure they will get used to them, they had better.

The garage has now a lot of stuff, and it’s starting to freak me out. I like to have things to work on in sequence, when there is lots, I don’t know what to concentrate on, so my head goes round in circles.

The only solution will be to move stuff into the shed out of my sight, then I should calm down.

2nd July 2020

We broke our golden rule of pool usage, that was to limit our time to later in the day. This was set because once we sat in the water nothing would ever get done.

Earlier I had sanded and stained two dresser tops including the latest re-veneered one.

I was taking a bit more knowledge of handling veneers to hopefully give a better quality product.

Kelli’s job was painting doors for an entertainment unit, that we had bought a few weeks ago. She was working outside in the blazing sun, this was too much for her, so she slipped away to change into her swim suit.

From inside the garage I could hear her slopping about in the water.

After the staining, I was a dripping mess, there was only one answer, and that was to join her.

We floated about for an hour then decided we needed food.

After lunch we started some work in the garden digging up some grass and lay mulch, within fifteen minutes we unanimously agreed to some more pool time, and that’s when we broke the rule.

More floating occurred, and at some point we both nodded off like a pair of old gits.

Later in the evening we took the dogs for a walk, explosions from fireworks were all around, and there was the most amazing displays from the fireflys.

1st July 2020

Kelli had found a couple of free dressers on Marketplace, the trouble was they were in Grand Rapids.

We set off in our newly fitted repaired truck. Not only were the brakes better the air conditioning was working after a squirt of refrigerate, and boy did we need it.

We arrived at the address that looked like a bomb-site. The house was on the corner with an entrance at the side. There were five cars in various states of dis-repair parked, making it difficult to walk towards the front porch where the dressers were left.

We both put on gloves and went to look at the furniture. The house looked very run down, and the furniture wasn’t in bad condition.

With situations like theses we don’t know the story of why these pieces were being given away free. It could have been the landlord clearing out an apartment. Was it an eviction? We will never know.

We managed to carry the dressers passed the cars, and into the back of the truck, tying the hatch back down with a bungee.

As we pulled away we noticed a group of four black guys loading, or should I say overloading an open back truck. It was like a scene from a silent movie, it looked like all someone’s worldly possessions crammed into one vehicle.

The truck was leaning heavily to one side as they we strapping it down.

It looked like they were trying to either make a quick getaway, or couldn’t afford to make more than one trip.

I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it outside of India who are the masters of overloading.

We debated if we should hang around and watch if the wheels fell off, but because this was a bit of a doggy area we decided to leave.

We did a little work in the garage before we got too hot and sweaty, and the call from the pool was too strong to resist.

It is a great way to end the day, looking up into the blue sky watching the birds circling, the water so warm it’s such a luxury.

30th June 2020

If the mail man ever passed the house without delivering something I’m sure he would thing we would be dead.

Kelli’s ears are trained to the sound of the post truck, and knows exactly when it trundles down the road. I find it highly amusing, as the routine is the same each day.

First the delivery is made, and Kelli scuttles out to collect it, then there is the look of puzzlement, as she’s not sure what it is. Then the opening occurs, then it is the realisation of what it is, then the joy of seeing it.

Today it was a carpet to go next to the pool to stop any debris getting into the water, next it was a cover for the pool, we are now all set.

We had to drive to Hudsonville to collect a project piece, that hopefully can be done quickly.

As we were having some issues with the brakes on the truck, we had arranged with Larry to get him to get them sorted.

We stopped off to pick up some new discs and pads then dropped it over to larry’s shop.

Half an hour later he called me over to show a seized brake calliper piston. This took a bit of strength to free it up, but we did it.

Once it was all put back together it all worked as it should.

I didn’t think that laying in a plastic inflatable pool could an impact on me. I’m not a great lover of water, and laying in the sun was something I tried to avoid, but I feel so relaxed just floating, and looking at the sky. We work until five then we spend an hour just resting, I never imagined that I would be doing such a thing at my age.

29th June 2020

As we slid open the sun room door, the heat hit us, it was eighty-four degrees and it was only ten in the morning and due to hit a high of eighty-nine. The pool certainly looked attractive, but we had things to do first.

We dragged the latest dresser into the living space to take pictures, it was our last chance to make a June sale.

Then it was off to collect some cleaning tablets for the pool.

Another delivery by Amazon brought us Kelli’s original float, this one was pink!

As soon as we were back home, I inflated it, this was going to be the one for me.

This was going to be a unique experience as I have never laid on a float before, ever.

I knew there was a technique to get on, as I had watched Kelli do it, I didn’t realise how difficult it was. My first attempt ended with me rolling off, and into the water, like I was thrown from a bucking bronco. It was all about balance.

My second go was a furry of splashing water and flaying arms and legs. I did eventually manage to stay on, albeit a bit precarious.

I lay for a while not daring to move, then it was Kelli’s time to mount hers.

Normally it is easy for her, but for some reason she was having problems. There was water splashed everywhere followed by hysterical laughter. She attempted it a couple more times, all the while I was getting splashed, something that annoys me.

Finally we were both laying on floats in a ten foot long pool side by side. This effectively gave us four foot of movement, which is laughable, but there is a feeling of calm just floating, even if there was nowhere to go.

The evening was a birthday celebration for Cameron and Kelli’s mum Georgia. This was a time for presents and cake. For most of the family it was their first chance to see the pool, no one wanted to jump in and go crazy, that is left for us to do on another day.

28th June 2020

“I think we should move the pool” my wife announced. “It needs to be on more level ground”.

I sweated profusely, even though I was still in the house. It was going to be stonkingly hot today, more a day for being in the water not moving it.

But I could see her point, a slight re-positioning would let the pool be more balanced, but in order to move it meant we had to empty it of 675 gallons of water.

All we had were two five gallon buckets, about five went down the dog bog , a couple went in the composter the rest went on the lawn.

By now the sun was blazing down, each trip with the bucket got a little harder. The water evaporated almost as soon as it hit the grass, we had created our own humidity chamber.

We moved the empty pool to its new place, and I took the opportunity to add more air into the bottom chamber.

I then worked on flower border, adding a new length of edging whilst Kelli re-filled the pool.

Of course the water was cold, that was evident when she let out a shriek as she put a leg in to test it.

After finishing the border I was also keen to cool off.

After a short time of acclimation I was fully submerged. The umbrella, or so I thought would shield me from the sun. However that only works when you are in the shade. I did forget that the sun moves and the umbrella doesn’t, the result was a red chest. It wasn’t as bad as the sunburn I had as a child where Calamine lotion was a regular in the medicine cupboard.

As the evening went on my chest grew brighter, at the end I felt I could have grilled a burger on it.

27th June 2020

It was another hot day, we needed some stuff from Menards and Kelli has something to collect that she had bought on Marketplace.

The skimmer arrived in the post, but still no cover or Kelli’s air bed.

I decided to sand back the top, and start again. I was encouraged at first, I applied the stain with a cloth, rubbing it in until it was almost dry, the top still felt smooth, so we left to do our shopping.

When we returned I was annoyed to find the edges had risen again, this pissed me off.

The lure of the pool was too great. Kelli had bought a float whilst we were out, which she inflated and launched herself on to the water.

Surprisingly there was plenty of room for me, so I wallowed in the warm water, sipping a cold beer, and letting my mind wander. The other jobs to do in the garden will have to wait until tomorrow.

26th June 2020

There had been heavy rain all through the night, and the day wasn’t much better. The pool was even fuller now, but it certainly wasn’t going to get used today.

I was having real problems with the top I had re-veneered, the edges of each strip had expanded slightly so I could feel it. I thought it might have been the high humidity that was the problem, anyway, I was not happy with it, so I had to think of a solution.

The rest of the dresser was looking good, it was just me holding the job up.

More thunderstorms rolled in during the evening, it was like a winters day, dull and miserable.

It had been one of those days, I was faced with stripping off the veneer and starting again, not something I would want to do, but I could not see any alternative.

25th June 2020

I never really act my age, much to Kelli’s tolerance, and I never make excuses for it.

In fact I over play it more if it gets noticed.

When the Imperfect Foods boxes turned up they were left in the garage where Kelli was painting. I walked out of the garage and completely missed them.

I then volunteered to carry them back into the house. I, of course, exaggerate the weight of the first box, like I do every time, and I just get the eye roll.

Later when Kelli walked across the road to get Larry to check the brakes on the truck, his mate, the one who sleeps in his van in Larry’ front garden, commented on my lack of strength lifting the box, as he had observed the FedEx man carrying both boxes with ease.

Kelli replied “Oh he was just being a dork, he does that all the time”

When she told me that, I just laughed out loud.

I will now look for an even smaller box to have fun with, just for his benefit.

We drove to Granville as Kelli had another clear out of her closet and wanted to sell her stuff at Plato’s Closet .

So that means sitting outside in the sun drinking coffee waiting for her to finish converting her old clothes for new.

With all the hot weather we are getting finally, I have noticed that I am getting a brown in places. Kelli calls it “A farmers tan” because I only get it where my body bits are exposed.

I noticed an area on my lower leg, just above where my shoes fit, was a little coloured. I did try to give it a bit of a scrub, but nothing came off, so I’m officially tanned.

From childhood I was only two colours, red, and white, now I’m three, I very excited.

The pool looked very inviting, the water warmed by the sun all day was just right for the inaugural splash. Kelli was the first, and after finding my trunks I joined her. Later on Cameron stopped by (with his trunks) and he jumped in as well, so it was like a family baptism.

24th June 2020

The inflatable pool turned up today, Kelli was beside herself with joy. The electric pump had arrived yesterday so there was no excuse for me not to inflate it.

I connected up the nozzles and turned on the pump. It made a lot of noise but there was little movement in the pool. Gradually there was activity, the pump was working hard. Every so often it overheated and had to be switched off to cool down. It felt like hours that I had to hold the connection together. The pool had three layers that had to be inflated, so I had to sit in the burning sun until completed.

Kelli started to fill it with water, that took forever, halfway through we had to stop to deliver a dresser to a person in West Olive.

This was one of the most fun one we had done, the extra work on the top really paid off, I was really pleased with it.

I bought the contact adhesive this morning to stick the veneer to the laminate top. Everything went well, I successfully got glue on my fingers so I picked up everything I touched, but apart from that it went pretty well. The trimming of the edges to matched the shaped top was a test that I passed, so hurray for me.

We picked up a take away from New Holland pub, and sat by our newly inflated paddling pool, it can’t get much better than this.