Started repairs to the two chairs and table top trim that are falling apart in the garden. I knew Annette had got some more wood and expected to be done in about an hour, after all it was just remove a couple of bolts and replace the broken strip of wood. This should have left me plenty of time to dig my bike out and enjoy the rest of the sunshine with a leisurely toddle over to Essington (if my knees held out).
I should have known better. Firstly the damn bolts had all fused together with rust and required some brute force and a heavy hammer to remove them. I then discovered Adam had still got my jig saw he’d borrowed about six months ago. Recovered the saw and found the right bits of wood and that part went rather smoothly. Took me 45 minutes to locate some new screws that would fit the holes in the cast iron frame and fasten it all back together. I wouldn’t really mind but, I used to have a box full of the right size screws, but now Adam has a bunny proof fence!
I was getting a bit wound up by now and the Anglo-Saxon phrases were flying thickly as I realised I would be lucky to get done before the sun set. Especially as I had tried to make the curved piece for the end of the table and despite my care in using the old piece as a template fate was throwing yet another spanner in the works. It was actually quite a good fit on the inner side and I just had to trim the outer edge before fitting it all in place, even though it was a bout a 1/4 inch too thick, I had plans to change it all so it wouldn’t be out of place when I finished. Not so. Trimming the last edge and it all split down the middle!
When I pick up the jigsaw and finished kicking the table I went and found a second piece of wood. No breakage this time but an old screw jammed in the table hole snapped the trim off when I tapped it with the hammer. I was pretty much expecting the worse by now and just wanted it finished. The wood didn’t split but, neither did it fit as good as the first piece. It would have to do I’d had enough.
A quick squirt around the garden with the hose and then last crack at internet for a couple of days before we go all Virginal. I think I should have got the bike out and left the sodding table.