Author: Chris Wells

 

It took a while, but the northern weatherboards are installed – and that is the end of weatherboards.

Dad was right: patience is the most aggressive virtue, although at times during this last year or so I have felt inclined to be less than patient, and therefore less than aggressively virtuous (or if you prefer, less than virtuously aggressive).

At any rate, the wall is completed. I will tackle the fascia board, and the adjustable shutter on the ventilation outlet, when I feel inspired.

Progress was hindered by a mother blackbird, who wove her nest in the branches of a sheoak growing at the eastern end of the wall. I chose to approach the wall from the western end, despite urgings from persons un-named to destroy the nest (since Australian blackbirds are considered to be pests). But as Sam observed (possibly recalling the wisdom of the Tibetan Lama in Kim): blackbirds are bound to the Wheel, just like us, and deserve their opportunity to acquire merit. And so be it – there are now four adorable nestlings acquiring merit under the protective wing of the northern wall.

My next task is to finish the cypress lining on the western side of the boatshed, where I plan to install one of two sturdy work-benches.

The double doors are on hold: they need to be clad and then hung – but my attitude to the making of double doors, as you may have noticed, is ambivalent – there is a degree of confidence, but it is quite modest.

We shall see what’s what when the time comes….

I have been polishing up a few of Dad’s woodworking tools.

Here is one of the saws: a formidable instrument, which came out well. It didn’t need sharpening, and is now ready to take on the fine joinery.

 

I am working on three fronts at present: the entrance, the northern weatherboards, and the cypress lining.

I proceed cautiously with the entrance; it is unfamiliar territory. The cladding for the doors (10mm tongue and groove Cypress) arrives this week.

Weatherboard goes up easily enough on the fine days.

The cypress lining can be tricky. I have had my moments; a few boards had to be removed and replaced, with much ado. You may be wondering why the lining stops at about two metres (six feet five inches), and there is a simple explanation – that top point marks the extent of my ‘current financial capacity’.

Later on I will be able to climb to the ceiling, if some of those wooden spoons can find worthy homes….

 

 

 

WOODEN SPOON TRYING TO BECOME A BOAT

An ocean breeze
and ocean currents
carried this wood
to a particular shore.

In search
of its true nature
I shaped and polished it
with love

and now choose to launch it
once again
on the high seas.

….and the ocean delivers a variety of treasures, large and small.

 

 

 

 

It has been interesting to watch these doors emerge – from where, I cannot say (perhaps from a sort of internal blueprint, the details of which come to light as required).

There are sixteen half-lap joints in each door.

The screws are made of silicon-bronze, and will be hidden from view.  I hope to use cypress or baltic pine floorboards, fixed vertically within the outside frames of the doors, for cladding.

Every day, a new aspect of the blueprint is revealed. I am assuming that it is, indeed, a workable and coherent Plan….

Woodblock print by Tomikichiro Tokuriki (1902 – 1999).

 

I am constructing  the first of the double doors, in a roundabout sort of way. I have never made a door, and don’t have a set of construction plans. No doubt there are plenty of plans online, but somehow it seemed easier to not find them, and just muddle through – so that is what I am doing: making it up as I go, and just muddling through.

Let’s hope it works out….

From time to time I tackle the cypress lining, for a bit of light relief. I want to get the southern and western sections of wall properly covered, before we install the work benches – otherwise, it will never be done.

(While building the little wooden cottage on Fork Tree Road, I moved in without finishing the details. That was a mistake – a big mistake – which I hope to avoid this time round.)

I will post photos of the door when there is a door to photograph.

 

Woodcut print based on a painting by Ogata Korin (1658 – 1716).