Today I Single-handedly........

M

Margaret Pilkington

Beacon of light
Overlooker
Put the second coat of varnish on the floor of the front room, the lobby and the vestibule.
When we came in from doing a bit of shopping for Ma, himself said he was going into the garage to look for something.
I asked if I should make a start on the second coat......'You can if you want' was his reply......and he levered the lid off.
I asked for a good thick paint brush as he said it would be easier to cover the boards with a brush.

This meant it was a 'down on the knees' job. I was forced to scrutinise what we did yesterday....and while from a distance it looked passable.....up close I could see places where there had been drips and despite my supposed vigilance at watching what himself was doing........I missed them.

I told myself that perfection was to be aspired to even if it was not attained.......and when I think of how the old floor was(aargh) I have decided I can live with these imperfections.......that they tell the story of adversity overcome.......and the two of us doing something that we haven't done before.

I don't know what he was looking for in the garage.....the Holy Grail?.......anyway by the time he came back in I was washing the brushes having finished the job by myself!
And the kettle was on ready for a brew.

Men! Like blisters......they come up when the work is done.

Today I think I have earned my keep.
 

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It looks lovely Margaret! It is bluddy hard work though, as I found out when I varnished our stairs. As I was doing it, I worried about all the inevitable imperfections, but afterwards you don't notice them. Are you using water based varnish or the other?
 
I am using a water based varnish which was recommended as being the most durable.....'it does what it says on the tin'.
I have now put three coats on most of the living room floor.....there are two sections of the floor which have had four coats.....I am sat here right now waiting for the electricians to come and replace plugs and sockets......and but for that fact the remainder of the floor would be getting its fourth coat.
 
It does look very good!

I am having an ongoing bicker with the other half about this very thing. Whilst I love the way yours looks, polished (literally) and homely, our floor isn't like yours.

Himself has a penchance for the 'rustic' look. Our floorboards are natural, they're sanded and varnished but they're thicker, and uneven as they're old. He thinks our floorboards look classy and countrified.

I think it looks like somebody can't afford a carpet. It reminds me of a school hall or a very cheap function room!

I compromised and bought an enormous white fluffy rug. I am not popular but I'll live :)
 
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