Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Diplomacy.


We are all up early to wave goodbye to 'The Font' who is heading off to Scotland ( again ) to take delivery of the long lost Danish chairs and the delayed Swedish sofa and oversee the hanging of the curtains. 

'The Font' will also try to hurry Phil, the heavily face furnitured joiner, along. He supposedly started work on the 2nd of February. After various delays he promised to have the built in wardrobes done by the 10th of this month. This has now slipped to the 24th and there is little faith that this new date will be any more final.  '' Don't worry. It's just the one bedroom I'll be working in. The tenants can move in and I'll just work around them. There'll no be much dust " he informs us in a way that causes an equal measure of irritated disbelief and admiration for his amazing other worldliness. Phil is a sensitive soul so there is a diplomatic balance to be found between hurrying him along and having him downing tools and stopping work under the 'pressure'.

'The Font' will also be interviewing new gardeners. The one who showed up while I was there last week looked at the hellebore's and bluebells, tutted loudly and suggested that the best thing to do was cover the whole area with polythene sheet and then put gravel on top. '' That'll make looking after it easier and you'll nae have weeds. I'll cut down the clematis while I'm at it ". A candidate who likes gardens and gardening might be a better choice.

Sophie's  post breakfast attitude changes from feisty defiance to horror as she recognizes that the standard of cuisine at The Rickety Old Farmhouse is about to take a turn for the worse.


She soon perks up. On our morning trip to the supermarket we discover Indian Curry .....


....... and Cheeseburger flavour crisps.


Green tomatoes make an appearance in the greengrocers.


For Angus it's a day for getting the pool opened and ready for the summer. The temperature has of course fallen today and the last thing anyone would want to do is go in the pool.


For the PONs it will be a day for exploring for 'exciting' things in the roadside verges and stalking C-A-T-S in shady places. The fact that there are never any C-A-T-S in the shady places does nothing to diminish the PONs sense of purpose. A more stealthy approach to stalking might improve their chances.


Tonight Angus, Bob and Sophie will settle in the snug to watch rugby. One of them will drink beer, eat pizza and try Indian Curry flavoured crisps. In the way of the world some pizza and crisps may also find there way to the angelic duo. 

These are back in the garden. The PONs noses may come face to face with them : http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2016/04/what-do-hedgehogs-eat/






11 comments:

WFT Nobby said...

I have a feeling that Angus and the PONs are going to have a better day than the 'Font'.

Taste of France said...

One must never be truthful with contractors and artisans. If your tenants are to arrive June 1, you must tell all the workers they will be in on May 15. And you can bet they will be working on May 15. The thing is, they never see their presence or work as being the least disturbing to residents, so why not coexist?

Angus said...

The problem comes when you've passed the entry date you've told the workmen - or in this case Phil !

Coppa's girl said...

It's all to do with the "artistic", sensitive side of all true artisans. They won't be hurried - after all Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will your wardrobes ! Hope all goes well for 'The Font', and the minimalist chairs finally make their appearance. Look forward to seeing some photos.
Would the excitement of curry flavoured crisps be considered a lowering of culinary standards at ROF?

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
There is an Aussie/NZ tv programme called '800 words' in which a leading character is surely Phil's inspiration (it's being shown here currently!). The good news is the work gets done. Eventually.

Rugby and curry chips? More my kind of time-spending than sorting out deliveries of exotic furniture!!! YAM xx

Poppy Q said...

Reading your post makes us wonder if anyone takes any pride in their work, or the services they provide. Customer care seems non existent.

Enjoy the rugby - sounds like a great evening to us.

Sheila said...

"I'll cut down the clematis while I'm at it" took my breath away. Have to wonder how that fellow stays in business with his kill/gravel scheme. The money is in repeat maintenance. Texans are friendly folk so perhaps they will enjoy having a Scotsman on the premises...for a short time.

The comments on the hedgehog article are interesting. People seem to go to great lengths to attract the little creatures to their gardens.

Good luck with the pool cover.

Julie said...

Leah joyfully rolled in a dead hedgehog on her morning walk, not the expected actions of a 'princess'.
It is sad to think that this is the only hedgehog I've seen around here for a year or so

BaileyBobSouthernDog said...

The difference in Sophie’s pictures hardly look like same girl. I want a hedgehog!

Angus said...

That's what a recognition that Angus is in charge of the kitchen will do to a girl !

Angus said...

The PONs are super jealous that Leah is smelling so fine !