Surprise ... It's Finished!

It has taken far too long but it is finally finished. I do hope Anne likes it. Everything was recovered and awaiting assembly; just four, little brass screws was all that was needed, or so I thought. Stephen tried to slip the chair's back into the frame. He realised that it simply did not fit. Gentle force, still not going to fit. All of the fabric and my beautifully straight line of staples were never going back into that newly stained and lacquered frame. What to do? Back to the beginning. We stripped everything we had done right back to the original, felt of the backrest. It's age now exposed and its pock marked timber too. There were in fact two layers of old green fabric beneath the new cream upholstery. What a surprise! Screwdrivers and pincers savaged and wrestled the myriad of tacks that were secreted underneath. Finished and Anne had the privilege of being the first to sit on her mother's old chair.

A work in progress ...

A chair belonging to the mother of my best friend sat in my garage for too many months. It was a restoration job that required immediate and urgent attention. Covers removed so long ago that I couldn't recall the date of the chair's deconstruction. Worn covers designed to act as templates for the new look chair. Tragically, enthusiasm didn't compensate for the requisite skills required for such an undertaking. Skills which I simply didn't have to restore the chair to its original state. Several visits to stores seeking the best products to complete the task were most frustrating. Rusted springs, sanded timber, wood stain, staple gun, scissors, clear lacquer and sponges combined in such a way as to further confuse the restoration efforts. Blog entry made whilst lacquer, top coat dried. Final challenge - reconstructing the actual seat, since its original felt base had disintegrated some time during the chair's historic life. Watch this space for the final chapter.

Defiance Sculpture Park - Gallery Gate Wollombi

Something about holidays that makes one turn their thoughts to culture. Artistic moments beckoned. What inspirational and artistic location could I unearth without passing on the highways travelled by Steamfest enthusiasts? I have no qualms about steam and its devotees I merely did not wish to compete for road space and queue at round-abouts. Where to? Somewhere I recalled reading about sculptures in a garden gallery. Googled a few key words and presto, Wollombi appeared on my screen. As a destination for a Sunday drive, most pleasant. Not a trek but a sedate and scenic connection with the valley. We passed through sleepy, rural, villages and crossed many bridges before arriving at the Gallery Gate at Wollombi. Mown lawn hosted more than a dozen sculptures in the garden gallery. Bold sculptures fashioned from the imagination and hewn by hand dominated the landscape. Steel strained to its limits piqued my interest. Seemingly casual in style, yet very much in control of its plinth, stood my favourite. Many other fascinating sculptures invite comment; well worth the visit.

Family

Family members have come to visit from Queensland for they will soon be on their way to Tasmania. No more 'wet season' and the now regular pattern of being flooded in or out of their home. Something to celebrate! Tarraleah is where they'll soon be living. Boxes to pack, friends to fare well and shipping containers to book. It's not long now. Last looks at Newcastle's foreshore, St Clement's Estate and the Muse Restaurant. Other family members rally for an evening with an Italian style menu. Michael creates homemade gnocchi. Stephen bakes lasagne while I assemble the salads. One pear and the other mixed leaves with

avocado, asparagus and cherry tomatoes over which I'll pour a generous serve of our newly sourced dressing. The crusty bread to be purchased at the Saturday morning Harvest Markets at Maitland. A busy time ahead.