Chairs - and UPDATES on which have sold.

 

This is the lovely dark Smoker's Bow.  It has a double H stretcher, and is Beech and the turned parts are Ash.  The seat is probably Ash too, as it doesn't have the wild grain of Elm which was traditionally used. Probably dates from around 1900. A lovely patina. £175.

This graceful Smoker's Bow is again Beech and Ash, with a non-wild-grain Elm seat.  I don't know why someone put all that cat's cradle of wire beneath it - perhaps they feared that the legs would become lose at some point (that they certainly aren't!).  It could be removed, but we just used the chair in the kitchen and left as is.  The price (£110) reflects this.  Smoker's Bows normally retail at £180 upwards, but look on line and you might get a shock at what SOME dealers are asking - £900+ on Ebay!!!  Waiting for a mug to come along thinking their chair is something special.   UPDATE:  Ruta, it's yours.  Will email you (I took that post down so you didn't have random emails from strangers!).  Keith's funeral is Thursday but I will arrange something for the following week - can deliver to Aberystwyth, then go on to Tam's.  Thank you.

Here is the very rare cane seated Smoker's Bow.  I'm taking it for professional recaning tomorrow, so it will have a totally new seat to it when offered for sale.  Again, beech and Ash construction, and probably Edwardian.  Legs have lost a tiny bit of height (1/2"?) from being dragged across hard floors, but that's part of its history.  Price £225.

A lovely  Windsor chair - often known as Grandfather chairs - with double H stretcher and fruitwood backsplat.  Late Victorian, in Ash and with an Elm seat with a lovely grain and patina.  Some height possibly lost on legs but that's part of its history.  A really lovely chair for kitchen or by an inglenook.  £145.  UPDATE:  SOLD.  So is the rocking chair I showed you the other day. 

I have another similar, but that has loose legs (it was the one in the sash clamps the other day).  4 loose legs mean that I have to make a cradle, drilling holes in a frame of wood to hold the bottom of the legs in place when it is glued.  Got this info from our carpenter, currently laid up after having a knee op.  I said it sounded a bit outside my remit, so he will do it for me when he can move around a bit better.

Yesterday I had to put my big girl's pants on and go and collect the Death Certificate from the Registrar.  She was a lovely lady, and we got on so well.  I had been dreading it, but she put me at my ease and asked some questions which had me telling her about Keith and our life together, with laughs along the way.  She said she wish we had met under different circumstances as we got on so well.  There is a set up where you phone one number and quote the reference you have, and they will inform all the necessary agencies to inform them of Keith's death, and so that makes life a lot easier for me.  I had written a list of those I had to inform and am glad I don't have to keep saying, my husband has died to complete strangers.  Tam and Rosie were with me.  They went for a walk around the Rock Park and picked some salad from the Community Garden, which we had from lunch with her lovely salad dressing.  We got a few bits from Aldi, and went home.  I had Chicken Katsu Sushi for the first time, and humous with a chilli jam topping, scooped up with Tortilla chips.  Goodness - Keith would have never touched anything along those lines - Manchester born and bred he liked his food plain and simple, no "messed up" food for HIM. . .

We had decided to have a meal in honour of Keith - all his favourite things and a good red wine.  Gabby arrived at lunchtime, having been to the Venison farm near Bwlch.  Must visit there myself as the venison steaks she got were huge.  She and Danny did a huge dish of Potato Dauphinoise and some of those carrots got used up for veg, with green beans. The wine was a 2018 vintage Muga Rioja that she had bought when she had wine vouchers from a previous job.  Oh My Goodness, but it was SO GOOD.  It was like velvet to drink.  Just perfection.  How Keith would have enjoyed it.  There was laughter and tears.  We will do the same again on his birthday to honour him, and I dare say it will be a big chunk of venison on the table on Christmas Day too.

Some of Gabby's friends had sent me flowers, and a Lemon Drizzle cake.  We never got around to eating that - though we bought some ice cream to go with it - so when one of Tam's best friends from school days arrives today, I don't have to bake.  

Right, now I need to polish the kitchen table - didn't want it reeking of Briwax when we ate our meal last night.  At Ynyswen I used to polish the furniture monthly, often on a Friday.  I need to get back into the habit - especially now there is less furniture to polish :)

It will be very quiet when they all go home today, but I have plans for the weekend so won't be stuck on my own in the house. 

I have had some lovely flowers from friends and neighbours.

I ran out of vases - couldn't find the lovely pressed glass vase of my mum's (in attic?) and Gabby and I had to go and raid a couple of charity shops for wide-topped vases (hah, one is a wine cooler!) Such a beautiful display, and of course, more tears as each bunch was delivered.  My dear friend Ann's card mentioned a David Austin rose on the way so that I will cherish and plant where I can see it every time I look out of the kitchen window.