I have to admit that the Room Outdoors Project has taken an inauspicious turn. I shall explain.
Everything started well when
I ordered Loads of Wood from a local timber merchant - apparently everyone is making improvements to their homes and gardens so materials like decking are flying off the shop shelves, presumably like so many large, unwieldy broomsticks. I was advised, therefore,
to submit my order early, even though work on this latest project won’t be starting till mid-June. Ever obedient, I did as I was told, negotiated the complicated one way system at the timber merchants, paid the bill and booked delivery for last Saturday
morning. After which I proceeded to forget all about it.
Come last Saturday and a ring on the door-bell at 9 a.m. I was still in my dressing gown, half asleep
after a particularly restless night, so I wasn’t best pleased to open the door to find nobody there. We have had a few instances of late with youngsters knocking at the door, or ringing the door bell, then running away. When I was a littl’un, this
“game” was called (for no apparent reason) Knock Down Ginger - I understand it dates back to the 19th century. Who, or what, Ginger is, or was, remains shrouded in mystery. I can’t remember ever playing Knock Down Ginger myself, being far
too law-abiding.
I was about to shut the door when a fella appeared at the garden gate, carrying some kind of package and waving at me. Well, in my defence, I
was tired from my sleepless night and a bit grumpy on account of apparently being caught out once again by Ginger and his mates. “I’m sorry,” I called out, “but if you’re selling something then you need to know that we don’t
buy on the door step.”
To his credit, the smile didn’t slip from his face, even very slightly: “It’s me, Andy,” our visitor
said, “and I’ve already sold you something....” Yes, indeed, I had completely failed to recognise Handy Andy who will be building our decking - and who had kindly arrived to take charge of unloading the materials when the lorry from the timber
merchant turned up. The package he was carrying turned out to be a brand new tarpaulin he had bought especially to protect the wood from the elements. Embarrassed doesn’t begin to describe my feelings.
The Room Outdoors Project, once completed, will enable me to wheel Mr B out into the back garden onto a beautifully constructed deck. Where now he is largely confined to one living room, a whole new room will open up to him.
I am reminiscing about the days when I was still a Working Gal and the many summer evenings we used to spend over dinner served up in the back garden. It was (almost) like being on holiday but without the long wait at the airport either end of our time away.
I am already making plans for people we can invite over for afternoons / evenings of cheer and chatter.
Our Foursome have given the Room Outdoors Project
their whole-hearted blessing, despite the fact that it involves spending some of their inheritance. Moreover, they have come up with all kinds of ideas for further expenditure involving new garden furniture, lighting, heating and exotic planting. Our Boy has
gone a step further and sketched out plans for a Garden Room, an extension to the Room Outdoors. But with a roof.
Me, I can only handle so much at one time. I
will wait till the Room Outdoors is built and then think through the options. You know it makes sense.
Meanwhile, in a bid to curry favour with Handy Andy so that
he forgets my unwarranted accusations, I have made sure to find out his beverage of choice - strong builder’s tea with just a splash of the White Stuff. Being a coffee addict I am not the best tea brewer but I will do my best to keep him hydrated while
he works his socks off on the Room Outdoors.
It really is the very least I can do...