25 May 2023

Drifter

Shirley joined me on  the scaffolding this evening but you might say she cheated because she clambered out of the front bedroom window instead of climbing up the ladder like a professional.

We were both anxious about the return of the scaffolders. They dropped the scaffolding down last Friday so it's possible they could return tomorrow (Friday) to disassemble and take it all away. I don't wish to pay any more than I already am doing.

 Herself had volunteered to clean  all the windows - six in total. She did a good job of them and I was pleased to get the help. In the meantime, I was still dabbing away at the tiny crevices and holes in the pebble-dash texture of the rendering - still trying to achieve the best coverage possible.

We finished off as darkness began to descend around ten o'clock. It's only a month till the longest day of the year here in the northern hemisphere when the sun will hover over The Tropic of Cancer before migrating to The Equator as it has done each year since this planet was formed 4.5 billion years ago. 

In terms of weather, I have had a fantastic week for painting our house. There hasn't been a spot of rain and most days have been warm and sunny. To tell you the truth, I have enjoyed it. Patiently dabbing away, sometimes lying on my back or belly. Listening to birds and watching the world passing by in our street. It reminded me of that old song made famous by by The Drifters - "Up On The Roof"...


I feel I have achieved something, something that is visible and real and to tell you the truth, I am quite proud of myself. I had hoped to take photos to share with you and I will do if the scaffolders don't arrive tomorrow morning.

It was nice to have a break at teatime today. We drifted down to Frances and Stew's house for our evening meal and of course Little Phoebe was there at the head of the table. Her vocabulary and expression grow with each passing day and she remains a source of tremendous joy. She knows she has a baby brother or sister on the way.

22 comments:

  1. For retired educators, tasks like this where we can immediately see the fruits of our labor and effort are rewarding. It sounds like perfect weather and ambiance too.

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  2. Even in summer we are in deep darkness by 10pm. I do remember visiting the UK in the 70s and playing badminton with my cousins at stupid o'clock and being amazed it was still light.
    We expect photographic evidence of your decorative efforts.

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    1. I love our endless summer days here in England but we pay for them with the long nights of wintertime.

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  3. You are far too young to have listened to the Drifters! How did you meet up with the Drifters. Good job on the painting.

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    1. I was ten years old when The Drifters had their chart success with "Up On the Roof".

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  4. I'd not heard that song before, but I wonder about the Drifters - in the photo of the album cover, there's four of them, while on the Youtube clip, I count five.
    Anyway - well done, you and Shirley, for getting such a massive job done, window-cleaning included!
    My normal work is not physical, as you know, and it is maybe for that reason that every now and then I really enjoy a job that involves more my hands (and maybe my arms, legs and back) than my mind. It is satisfying on a very different level, isn't it.

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    1. Yes - it is satisfying on a different level - to actually see what you have done. The Drifters' line up changed through the years. They called on many different singers. In that sense they weren't like most pop groups that tended to stick with the same line-up.

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  5. A good job well done gives a sense of satisfaction. Enjoy the feeling.

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    1. In teaching you could never really see the results of all your hard work.

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  6. Gosh. I couldn't have told you that it was The Drifters but I recall the song well.

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    1. It was written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin.

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  7. Very sensible of Shirley, climbing out of the window seems a much safer alternative to a ladder. Most of my windows either open inwards or slide, so are much easier to clean.
    Good to know that you've finished - you can be justly proud of your achievement. I know we're all looking forward to seeing the finished results.

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    1. The scaffolding is still up.I must get out there with my camera today.

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  8. Congratulations on a job well done. There was a time when I wished I had become a house painter, you look back at the end of the day and can see what you have done.

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    1. I agree.It must be nice to have a job like that.

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  9. Yes. You will get pleasure every time you look at what you have accomplished.

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    1. I doubt that a professional would have done the job as meticulously as I did it.

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  10. I would love to see pictures! It does give a sense of satisfaction to do a job like that.

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  11. Glad the weather cooperated to help you get this huge job done. Good for you, Neil!

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  12. I like Laura Nyro's version best - I thinks she plays all the instruments and all her own harmonies - one of the few recording of a song not written by herself. But then, I like almost everything by her. For a time she was married to Jackson Browne.

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  13. Many years ago when the Beaner and Timmer and Judy and I had been out somewhere we came home to our house and I immediately climbed up on the roof to get a better view of a distant lightning storm. None of the others would join me and because I had left my cigarettes down below (yes, I once in my past was a smoker) they finally lured me down. To this day, I get emails from either Tim or Jeanne (their real names) telling me: "Stay Off The Roof!!!"

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