Soft Shoe

At the tail end of last week the build passes a significant milestone, but not a normal 'we built something' one. Sparks (Project Manager) declares that there is now too much new and finished wood in the house (the stairs, the upstairs floorboards) that to continue clomping around in rigger boots would be to risk damage to the surfaces. The boys must, instead, wear trainers or, in Dad's case, flat soled desert boots. They buy a rubber mat for the front door to wipe away any grit from their boots when they come in and spend the first 2 hours of Monday having a massive 2-hour 'square away' clearing up tools, picking up offcuts of plaster board and sweeping up dust and rubbish. Sparks even re-arranges his tools and materials stack. It's like a different house.

Deefer

Christmas Shopping, Dad-style

Ha! (Says Dad) ... You ladeeez can keep your Paris and your Galaries Lafayette, your Chanel counter and your Fragonard! He is destined this morning to host a "Mulled wine practical day" at the Challock Forest - a gang of volunteers are due to assemble at the forest for a few hours of clearing scrub, having a bonfire, baking potatoes and warming their cockles on mulled wine. Dad's job is to bring the mulled wine, so the house is smelling very festive this morning, nice and early

In the event, it's tanking down with rain and only 2 volunteers show, so the session gets cancelled, and Dad must bring the mulled wine back home again (didn't hear him complaining, and it seems to have all gone by the time I write this - 25 past 5. ) He comes home via "SCATS" - old and venerable farmers' supplies shop in Canterbury (on Wincheap) - he needs good solid outdoor wear for these sessions restoring the sailing barge Cambria

So he spends a happy half hour choosing rigger boots, leather gauntlets, overalls, waterproof (hi-viz yellow!) strides and an equally bright waterproof coat. He is happy as can be. That's Christmas shopping Dad-style, says he as he struggles back indoors (where Mum is still cosy in pj's and we're all warm, dry and asleep) with bags of shopping in each hand. Good to see he's not forgotten us - there are dog sweeties too.

Think I'll stick to Paris and the girlie stuff! Rigger boots indeed!

Deefer