Wednesday 1 June 2011

In Which We Lose Much But Find The Loo-People

Firstly – thanks for comments. Yes, the postman asks after the worms every day, Jean. They seem to have become a mascot at the sorting office. I envy you your worms, JP. I think our lack of worms might be down to the fact that we have so many blackbirds here (I thought they were territorial but ours have declared a truce).

Gilby – I think you are right and that the use of the computer can add a bit of oomph. However, lots of people think it’s cheating – anyone agree? I think your technology skills are pretty good, Heather – blogs, Facebook etc.

Glad you like the title, Gill – am I brave enough to go with it or will I chicken out? We shall see.

Yesterday was a really weird day. We are back in the kitchen (pure heaven) which means emptying all those boxes stacked in the garage. So really the day should have been filled with exciting finds but we seemed to spend it looking for things.

This was the first culprit.
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A perfectly ordinary glass stopper. This was discovered on Monday, all on its own and we both remembered it as part of a decanter that went to the charity shop ages ago. So out it went. Yesterday we found this.

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one of my lovely oil and vinegar bottles, minus a stopper. No problem, we said, it’s in the rubbish and we’ll soon find it. Many hours later, covered with old tea leaves and coffee grouts, we gave up. Hours wasted. Then I decided to take a break and write my blog. The camera was nowhere to be found so we both searched for that for another hour, to no avail.

However, searching in the far corner of the shed (OK, we’re desperate by now) I found the loo people, who haven’t been seen for years.
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They were made as a joke for a daft Christmas competition which was based on the idea of making a contemporary version of the old fashioned toilet roll dollies. Do you remember the ones with crinolines which covered the roll? These two are the Grand Master and Mistress of the Sink Plunger and they were presented draped over large plungers with loo rolls down their shafts. They didn’t win but got a good laugh.

I think the heavy hand-stitching (over a photo printed on cotton) is quite interesting and might pursue it for more serious work.
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On the subject of loos, ours in the big bathroom is almost square. I liked the angular look of the basin and it came with a square loo.
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You don’t actually notice this fact when it is in operation but one thing made us laugh. When the plumber was fitting it he told us about a bathroom suite with a really square loo, called the Matisse. Clive and I went away and spent a hysterical ten minutes designing the Picasso loo.
Anyway, you’ll be glad to hear that, towards the end of the day the camera was discovered under the cat (Smudge was sitting on my desk in a patch of sun) and Clive found another rubbish bag and came in bearing the stopper.
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Then we found these beauties blooming away quietly, so all was well in the end.
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Here’s a couple of quick kitchen pics – not quite finished as we’re waiting for tiles and the blind man (remember him?) to come.
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I am pleased with it – I had sleepless nights about mixing the black lacquered wall units with the oak (thought that was boring on its own) but it looks fine. What a relief. ..
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Difficult to photograph as it acts like a mirror. Will do better pics later - just off to do some shopping and have lunch at Pizza Express.

10 comments:

Gill H said...

Hi Maggie - so glad you have got your kitchen at last - looks very smart indeed. Your 'lost things' story reminds me of an acqaintance telling me that they lost the tiny cruet set from a very expensive dinner service in a move. 10 years later they used the same removal people for another move and they found the set in the bottom of a tea chest still wrapped in newspaper! Can you believe it? I look forward to your next book. Gill

Digitalgran said...

So your day turned out well after all Mggie? I love the Loo dollies:) My SIL still has one of the crinolines in use :)
Love the new kitchen too, mine needs doing.

Digitalgran said...

Also meant to say it annoys me when people think using the computer is cheating. I think it's just as much an art toll as a paintbrush or pencil and takes just as much time to get it right.

Heather said...

Lunch at Pizza Express with a kitchen like that?!! Shame on you Maggie!! I would expect very trendy, cheffy morsels to fly onto the dining table. It looks really good and I'm glad you found all your lost things. Love the Loo People - the faces are wonderful.

Robin Mac said...

I envy you your skill with making art on the computer - go fo it! The kitchen looks super, I am so glad you finally found all the missing objects - we took years to find some of the bits we put in 'safe' places while we did our kitchen! Cheers

JP said...

Hi maggie - like you nearly finished is the operative word but compared to managing without a kitchen this is heaven!!!! your new kitchen looks very smart!

Diane said...

Maggie and Clive your kitchen looks just perfect. The colours are great. Our renovations are coming along very slowly. The builder comes in most Saturdays but has had to stop while we wait for the tiler. He is been 'so busy' but will fit us in when he can spare a day!!!!
Our worms had to be purchased although we had to go and collect them. We actually have 2 worm farms. One is for surfact worms (purchased) and one for ordinary garden worms. They both do the same thing though so I am not sure what the difference is.
I eventually completd my C&G level 3 machine embroidery in craft and design so now can do my own thing and play. I have received the certificates so I know it is real.
Looking for ward to seeing your next step in the renovations.

JP said...

the kitchen looks really smart - the wall units look good with the oak base - a brave but very goood decision - I am beeing very indecisive about these very smart mosaic red tiles but it feels a bit bright!!! - I can just about remember where we have put everything!!!!!!!!!!!!

scooter said...

Fantastic kitchen! Well done. And I was mesmerized by the story of the missing items...I kept waiting for the moment when it was revealed that the Loo People had spirited the stopper and camera away. (I think I read too much into the title!)

Fun reading. Thanks, Maggie!

Cleta

jude said...

Looking good Maggie (you, Clive and kitchen!). Just returned from Estonia - icons on tap, a splendid artistic bookbinding exhibition and more yarn than you can shake a stick at...