My Next Project.................

Here's a picture of one of my spare bedrooms.

Apart from the fact that it's now looking a little 'tired' - I am planning to completely change the use of this room.

You may remember I mentioned that I will be having the wall taken out between my dining room and kitchen.

This bedroom is directly above the dining room and the wall that's being removed is beneath the one where the headboard is now. It will be quite a job as it will need a RSJ (reinforced steel joist).

To allow for sorting out the electrics, the floorboards need to be lifted right where the bed is.(groan!)

I am taking this opportunity to change the use of this room to a work room for me, as I am hoping to get back to restoring my little 1950's dollies......................

I love making their little outfits!

I also collect 1940's Topsy dolls..............

and very occasionally, bears..........

As well as using it as a work room, I will also need to make space for a foldable single bed.

When my son and his family visit, they use my bedroom as it's a better size and there's room for the travel cot.

I don't need a double bed in here (unless I get lucky! ;O) so a single will be fine for me to use when they're visiting.

These wardrobes are opposite the bed, these will be moved from here.

See all these cases and boxes on top?

These are absolutely full of vintage dolls' clothes, hand knitted dolls' clothes, and the large white polystyrene box is crammed to to the top with vintage dolls' shoes!

There are also some large size coffee tins, these are excellent for storing other useful bits and bobs.

I cover them in pretty wrapping paper, here's some on the shelf in my bedroom..........

The work room will be light and airy, and there will be plenty of room for my desk and sewing machine. The room is approximately 3.2m x 3.5m, (10ft 4ins by 11ft.)

I've also got plenty of free standing bookcases that will hold all my fabrics. (These are currently stashed in another bedroom under my granddaughter's bed!)

I'll try to keep my camera handy, so that I can give you updates.

In the meantime....................

Can any of you dear bloggeroos tell me the best way to paint my vintage suitcases?

Next time, I have another funny story about my dear old Mumsie, so don't forget to pop back.

Dollytub Cottage

I'm Loving Angels Instead - Part Three

This is Part three of my quest to find a Handy Man following my advert placed in the newsagent's window.

Local Widow seeks Handy Man, must be fit

Apply in person to Dollytub Cottage

If you have read my two previous posts you will know by now that this has not been an easy task.

Surely there must be someone competent out there to clear my back passage and trim my bush here and there as required.

So far my search has not been fruitful, not to mention dis-heartening!

Yesterday there was a knock at the door, I peeped round my net curtain, as yer do, and saw a young man standing there.

He must have only been about 25, and a strapping example of one of Lincoln's Finest. I'd seen him a few times around the neighbourhood, most notably playing "sucky faces" with the young lasses outside the off-licence.

Well, thought I. This looks promising.

How wrong can a girl be?

"Hello missus," he beamed.

"Have you come about the card in the newsagents?" I asked.

"Yes missus."

Obviously not much of a talker, or maybe the girls outside the "Offy" have worn out his lips.

"Have you done anything like this before?" I enquired

"No missus."

(Are you getting as bored as me with this conversation?)

"Well, you certainly look fit for the job. Come in and we'll have a little chat."

"Right" he said as he came across the threshold. He didn't even bother with the "missus" this time.

I took him out to the back garden. I pointed up to the guttering,

"D'yer see up there, there some moss growing up there, so the rain is running down the wall?"

He had a quizzical look on his face,

"Yeah?"

I continued, "So the gutter needs clearing."

"Oh yeah, yeah," the penny's dropped he's nodding vigorously.

"Would you be able to do it?" I asked him.

He looked round behind him, then realised I was talking to him.

"What, missus - up there?"

"Yes, Ducky." I'm nodding now, thinking he's at last cottoned on.

He scratched his head "Up a ladder?"

"Well, yes. It's the only way."

"Aw sorry, missus. I don't fink I can do ladders. I gets dizzy, see?" he says.

(Quite a long sentence that time!)

"Never mind. I can probably ask the Window Cleaner to do that job."

(I don't know why I said that, the Window Cleaner doesn't do ladders either!)

Never mind, I thought. I'll show him my back passage.

Now, I don't know about you, but when I'm doing a bit of DIY, I'm a bit of a messy cow, err creature.

I'm not very good at clearing up the trail of devastation that I leave in my wake.

So I do tend to pile things up in my back passage.

"What needs doing here then?" he asked me.

Obviously he's a bit lacking in initiative. Never mind, I thought. I'll be here - I can supervise.

"All those tins of paint will need taking round to the front of the house and put in the rubbish skip. It's coming Tuesday."

He looked at me, apologetically, "I can't do paint. It's me dermatitis, see?"

"Oh well, never mind. I'll take them round myself. You can take that pile of rubble there, I've got a wheelbarrow."

As soon as the words left my mouth, the look on his face said it all.

"Don't you do wheelbarrows either?" I asked.

"Oh yeah, I do wheelbarrows." he answered.

Thank God, we're finally getting somewhere. I almost jumped up and down with delight.

(I really must get out more!)

My joy was short lived, however. He continued...............

"It's the rubble I won't be able to manage. I've got a bad back."

Good grief, this young chap's got more problems than I've got!

Maybe he can manage the gardening.

I don't know why I kept making excuses for him, and trying to find something he could do.

I decided to take him round to the front garden and show him my bush.

"Can you trim my bush?" I asked him.

"Sorry, missus. Plant allergy, hay fever and everyfink."

"So, you won't be able to mow the lawns either?" I don't know why I asked.

He shook his head.

I told him as gently as possible.......

"Well, I'm sorry, I really am, Ducky. I don't think you'll be any good to me."

He looked crestfallen.

"I don't think you're much of a Handy Man" I said.

"No?" he said.

"What makes you think you're handy?" I asked.

"Welllllllllllllll..................

I only live round the corner."

I suppose you don't get much handier than that.

(Oh the old ones are the best!)

I think I'll go round to the newsagent's tomorrow and ask Legover Linda to take that card out of the window.

I'm Loving Angels Instead - Part One

Now that I live alone since Mr Dollytub passed away, it is necessary for me to set up a "Help" Network.

There are many jobs, both large and small that we all need help with from time to time. Usually this help is from our "other half" . Or sometimes our dads, if they're young and fit enough.

My Dad may well be fit enough, but likes to conserve his energy for our very frequent family celebrations.

(You may have read in a previous post that my dear old Daddio needs all of his energy. Not only does he have Mum to consider, but also his 'girlfriend' Janet. )

see here

No!......not THAT, I mean on the dancefloor!

In my case I needed to find a trustworthy car mechanic to keep me on four wheels.

Now, for some reason, it has always been my experience that when a car mechanic is looking at a lady's car, they always tut-tut, shake their heads, and then do that sucky thing they do whilst taking a sharp intake of breath.

Then they make unhelpful comments, like...........

"What muppet did this for you last time, luv?"

and

"Well, I can do it, but it's gonna cost yer."

And then, to compound our misery, when you ask when they can do it, they flick the pages in their diary, back and forth, and come out with something stupid like,

"I can do it for you the Candlemas after next, but you'll have to bring it early."

"Early" to a car mechanic means after half past nine when they've eaten a hearty breakfast at

Gwen's Cafe. (Pronounced "Caff" a la Eastenders)

So, imagine my joy, when my BFF, Carol told me that her brother-in-law is a mechanic.

I was so happy, I could have done a few cartwheels, but not with my back!

His name is Les. His nickname is "Brum".

I thought that was a clever nickname, like what we call a car when we're little kids, ........

Brum, Brum.

But when I heard to him on the 'phone, I realised that his nickname is because he comes from

Birmingham!

He made no daft comments and even offered to take it for its M.O.T.

He also checked that I had enough anti-freeze in without being asked.

He did the job the very next day, turned up when he said he would, and was very reasonable with his charges.

The day after it was done, he 'phoned Carol to make sure that I was happy with his work!

I was very pleased.

Les is my Angel number 1

Angel number 2 is Kev.

Kev's my decorator, and we've known each other since we were kids.

He decorated my hall, stairs and landing whilst I was away at my son's.

He also got a new light switch fitted for me as I'd mentioned I had a problem with it.

Kev and his missus work together, and I couldn't fault them, and they cleaned up after themselves. His costs were very reasonable.

Kev's a bit of a naughty angel though, this is one of his jokes....

"I only got one question wrong in the Pub quiz last night."

"What was the question?" I asked

"Where have women got the curliest hair?"

I giggled, then he said

"The answer should be ................

.................

AFRICA"

I need all sorts of little jobs doing so I'm just off to put a card in the Newsagent's window.

Local Widow seeks Handy Man, must be fit.

Apply in person to Dollytub Cottage.

That should do it!