A change of plan

30% was out this morning, which gave me an opportunity to head out to the workshop, and make a few decisions about her Christmas present.

We are both of an age where we have most of the material items we need, and if we do need something we just go and get it. As a result neither of us really need, or want, anything for Christmas.  I appreciate that it is nice to have a surprise on Christmas morning, so I have decided that 30% should have her heart's desire ... a yellow wheelbarrow!  When gardening she has often mentioned that she would love a yellow barrow, so that is exactly what she will get.

A yellow wheelbarrow pan arrived a couple of weeks ago, and I have stripped down our trusty, but rusty, black barrow, in preparation to receive the new pan. Today I looked at the frame and decided that it really needed to be cleaned up, before I put it all back together.

I started to rub away the dirt and surface rust, and this led to me breaking out my angle grinder and flap disk. The more rust I cleaned away, the more I thought about paint finishes. The more thought about paint finishes, the more I realised that I really should do the job properly. 

I made a phone call and arranged to drop off the wheelbarrow frame at our local, friendly powder coat company.* The refurbished wheelbarrow will soon be sporting a bright yellow pan, on a gleaming yellow powder coated frame ... I also ordered a pair of yellow wheelbarrow handle grips to complete the ensemble.

So that was my change of plan.

As I pottered in the workshop I heard the front doorbell ringing.** I wandered out and was surprised to see Grandad Jack loitering at the front door. He had been out to lunch with one of his ex-workmates and had decided to drop in on us.  We had a lovely couple of hours catching up on each others' news, before he headed off home.

We then had to get ourselves tidied up for this evening's entertainment. 30%'s cinema club were having their Christmas Dinner at the Redditch Catering College Restaurant.  I had been invited along to join them ... apparently I am "one of the girls"***

We had a splendid time, and the food was lovely. My chosen menu was a smoked trout mousse, followed by a venison pie with a chocolate tart to finish. It was all beautifully cooked and a special mention has to go to the honey and whisky sorbet palate cleanser.  It was tasty, yet subtle ... absolutely beautiful food.

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* Owned and managed by our nearest neighbour, Andy.

** Aren't internet connected doorbells brilliant?

*** I'm not quite sure how to take this.  I think it is because I don't tend to get fazed by the female banter.