How to repair a market umbrella, and other useful information

Preparations for the girlbaby's 18th birthday proceed apace, and her list of requirements for the celebratory festival is getting longer... so far I've managed to find, amongst other things,  4 dining chairs (interior), 5 easy chairs (exterior), 2 sunlounges, 2 sunlounge cushion sets, (matching) chair pads for the outside chairs, a table, and 2 umbrellas, including one huuuge mint condition white canvas market umbrella, in full working order.

And some of this was done in the rain.

I also learned, incidentally, how to fix the problems causing most market umbrellas to be discarded.  If you take something to bits and see how it works, often the problem can be fixed with only minor attention.  In the case of umbrella #1, a 20cm piece of common or garden fencing wire.  This approach is not to be recommended with electrical goods.

The suitcase supply is still growing, my friend Obie takes a dark view of these things, and is watching like a hawk in case I disappear on holidays without him. I think the count for this year is 5 so far - or is it 6?  I'm particularly keen on the nice one with the initials, and the fabulous stickers for the airlines and shipping companies and destinations.

Found inside that one was what is known colloquially I believe as a 'ging' - imported from the UK, according to the label.  There was also an old cap gun which I rather like. 

I found some West German pottery, apparently in demand - who knew that the common description for the glaze is 'fat lava'? Apparently a mistranslation of the German 'thick glaze'.  ( Now you do.)  I have  2 large serving platters, one white, one clear glass, with a fine scene etched into the bottom of the glass, and  2 oversized glass brandy balloon candle holder thingys.  And continuing the kitchen theme, 2 Le Creuset French enamelled iron casseroles, large and medium. Yep, the gen-u-wine articles.

If this keeps going I'll end up cooking, which only leads to cleaning and thus is to be avoided.

Don't even ask about the virtually brand new lawnmower - we know what that leads to.

Quite a lot of the photos will count as the 'befores' in the before and after shots to come - if I ever get a minute to actually get some things done. 

This quilt rack was in pieces - do people not know about good glue?

I'm thinking of erecting the fabulous Black Wolf tent, found yesterday, to house the other projects while I get things sorted and put up the brilliant indoor/outdoor rollup sunshade on the back veranda.

Or maybe I'll just sleep in the tent - less housework...It would be like a holiday, without the suitcases.

and welcome to 2012.  Around we go again.



I've upgraded to (free) digital TV.  This venture into commercial television has been interesting for an ABC/SBS watcher.  I've learned a lot of things.

I've already watched a lot of the documentaries and (English) sitcoms on the national broadcasters.  In some cases, a long time ago and several times.  Some of the movies are old, but good - the Lethal Weapon series...ah, Mel, all that hair.  Seinfeld. 

Advertising is no less annoying.  I can tell you that it's time to worm your sheep, and apparently it's also a good time to buy a ride-on lawnmower.

I have a confession to make.  A neighbour very kindly helped me out some time ago by mowing my lawns.  He keeps saying that he hopes our other neighbours didn't get the wrong idea - nudge, nudge, wink, wink. I'm sure they won't, I say, in a slightly confused fashion.   Now I realise it's an ad. Oops, not usually that slow on the uptake.  Note to self, must make more experimental forays into the world outside.


There seem to be some no-brainers - the workout thingy which actually says in writing on the screen that the results quoted are NOT typical (surprise!).  There's an ad for an electric fridge.  As opposed to....?  I already have one. Have had for some time.   Ah, electricity, perhaps it's not everywhere in town yet.  That's the same ad which shows the fridge 'growing with you' (as you have kids, blah, blah,blah) but shows a different fridge at each stage - so presumably it doesn't grow with you at all.  Am I overthinking this stuff?

I'm having my annual at-home holidays.  Xmas and New Year - much goofing off, lots of reading books, pottering about, a bit of socialising.  I have lots of projects which are gradually being ticked off:  bit of a tidy up and a sort out; re-cover the cushions on the chairs out the back veranda and sort out the piles of stuff out there;  re-cover the cushions on the sitting room couch;  some mid-week opshop and tip shop trawls; some fairly serious woodwork projects with the help of a friend and her power tools.  And a bit of gardening.

I've started work on this footstool today.  It's a verge treasure and hopefully I'll finish it off in the next few days.