Hobbies, misc

The grass was just about dry enough to cut the other day, so has had what I hope is a final cut for the season.  I need to get the mower up on the bench ere long for its autumn clean, and I notice, each time I put the car away, that the old reserve electric mower is also overdue a scrape out.  I hesitate to reveal when it was last used...  The roses have had a bit of attention, since most have finished flowering, and I've finished the trimming of the cherry tree, our usually excellent tree fettler having evidently run out of steam before he got to the straggly bits closest to the house.

Art class was quite good yesterday.  I'd decided not to stress myself with a big blank canvas, so just took along the watercolour pencils and a couple of brushes.  Miss had brought in all sorts of autumn fruits and foliage, plus some very nice little pieces of watercolour paper, so I grabbed a leaf and  got cracking on what has now become the front of this year's Christmas card.  Striking while the iron was hot, I edited the card in the afternoon, and have today printed off what ought to be enough to go round, together with a run of address labels.  Unfortunately, the red envelopes have run out, so I await a delivery, blue this time.  Plenty time, eh?

Turning to an old hobby, those of high boredom tolerance will remember that I treated my old armchair to a new set of springs a while back.  I came by the chair in 1980, when, my uncle Charles, recently widowed, was shipping stuff out from the house in E11.  The chair was pretty tired by then, with a loose cover over the very worn upholstery.  I signed up for an upholstery evening class, and the teacher very sportingly agreed to let me work on it rather than the usual beginner's footstool or whatever.  I have to admit that my attempts at stitching the piped scroll arms seriously damaged the sensibilities of my classmates: SmithD + sewing machine = a shameful tirade of obscenities.  Well, the old cushion, a box spring wrapped in a mile and a half of cotton felt, had become distinctly lumpy, so I took to t'internet and found a supplier of replacement cushions somewhere near Sarfend-on-Sea.  They do not take orders per internet, but only by telephone, the which I duly did: very friendly service.  The cushion arrived today, and is provisonally installed in said chair, which thus has a new lease of life.  Prepare for more vile language as I make with the curved needle.

As for the other hobby, I had to go to the County Town for Wednesday's sitting, so was grateful that the day's business ran short, allowing me to drive home in daylight.  How good to have a partner who knows when comfort food is indicated: Speldhurst sausages and mash.  Aaaah.