I'm my fathers daughter, I wish!

I really like old furniture especially when it's made from wood.  I especially like oak in the form of the simple low key pieces. The type that  generally comes covered in a nasty dark varnish.  I recently bought a piece  at our local auction and have been reworking it - I learnt how to do this at my fathers side.  He was a serial furniture restorer /upcycler! and collector of bric a brac .... regularly attending the antique markets and auction rooms in Greenwich.  The best treasures though, came from Club Row market in Londons east end.  That's what he called it, but some of you may know it as Brick lane.   He'd be there at 5am to get his bargains and be back in time for breakfast with a car full of old furniture, fresh beigals (not bagels ...but don't get me started on that!), prawns for us and Jellied eels for himself.

He had the tools to deal with any job and the most amazing shed,  a DIY paradise.  In his time he restored boats, built pony traps, miniature gypsy caravans, kitchens! and this, one of my most treasured possessions.  He used to fire it up when i was a child.  Now it's mine, I  just polish (occasionally!) and admire.

Bits and pieces collected from all over, recycled, reclaimed and one of every size!  apologies for the poor copy, it's an old photo, pre-digital so I had to scan the original.

Anyway, here's what I'm working on.  I'm not sure what it's original purpose was, sewing box maybe.  Once the dark varnish is off it'll have that lovely honey coloured shine of old oak and the new owner will decide what they want it to be.

I've done quite a good job on it but I've a lot to live up to, so not quite my fathers daughter but I'm working on it!

George Bush waved to me

Obamas visit and talk of the 'beast' has reminded me of the time George Bush visited Tanzania.  During 2007 I had been working with Moyo and we were invited to the rather Grand Kilimanjaro Kempinski hotel to participate in a fair,  organised, so that the entourage could buy souveniers.  From a selling point of view it was a bit of a dead loss....  the numerous staff being stuck in meetings most of the day.  Barbara bush did come by through and bought some Moyo cushions,  similar to these.  She was very nice and bought one for each of her daughters.

At the end of the day we packed up and set off for home.  Walking with Ellie from Wonder Welders,  we found ourselves on a street corner, progress blocked by police ....the cavalcade was approaching - not just one but three beasts!.  As they approached the corner, caught up in the excitement, we both began to wave excitedly .... being the only two people on the corner Bush looked at us directly in the eye, smiled and waved back.  The moment passed,  the man and his beast were gone.  Leaving Ellie and I hysterical with laughter at the ridiculousness of  getting caught up in the moment and waving so enthusiastically to a man who's politics we didn't like or respect at all.   Welcome to the UK Mr Obama, it's great to have you here.

muffins

I'm not a big honey fan but we had a couple of jars in the cupboard that were no longer as runny as they should be and so had been discarded by the kids as no longer easy to deal with.  After trying to melt it out and wondering how many dangerous chemicals I was releasing by doing so, I cut the top off and scraped it out.  I made cinnamon and honey muffins - I'm telling you this as I wanted to do a first photo upload

getting started

I hurt my back recently, not seriously, but enough for me to need to take it easy for a few weeks.  I had been generally abusing it by heavy digging and awkward positions up a ladder  - more about my DIY atempts in a later blog! .  But looking on the bright side - the pain has forced me on to the sofa with a hot water bottle and lots of time to play with the computer.  I've always wanted to blog as a way of engaging in conversation in a bit more depth than is possible on twitter or facebook, so please please please talk to me.  Thats it first one done and dusted, see you later!