Tools
I've just spent twenty minutes looking vainly through the tool cupboard for a specific pair of pliers, but I couldn't find it. We've got too many tools, scattered throughout the house in unlikely places.
Since Moonface and I moved in here in 1981, I've been accumulating tools steadily. When we bought the house, it needed renovating and since we weren't rich and at that time there was an ethos of do-it-yourself, we did it ourselves. It helped that at that time, I had a job which had a large element of mechanical and electrical craft, with plumbing and pipefitting thrown in, so I was competent but not expert in most forms of household alterations and maintenance.
Every task had its own particular set of tools which were needed to do the job properly, so we bought them, and gave them a home in the cupboard. Over the years we've not thrown them out and have accumulated more and more through various means, and the cupboard is full to bursting point. This means that we sometimes can't find tools, so we may need to buy a second one for the same function, so the process of accumulation goes on. And tools are by their nature, useful objects, so we can't throw them out, as we never know when they'll be needed. The right tool for the job makes all the difference, as we found out several times by bodging work.
I must admit, we hardly do any work ourselves these days, probably because the house is functional, and because we're older, tireder, and can't be bothered. We're less willing to leave something in a half-finished state for weeks while we "get around to it", preferring to pay a professional. But, if we needed them, out tools are all there for us to get on with it.
The only work that I do regularly, is fiddling with bicycles. As this is a pleasure and not a necessity, I don't find it stressful and indeed it's a extremely mentally relaxing way of spending a couple of hours. This assumes, however, that I can find the right tools and parts for the job, finding them in their hiding places somewhere in the house.
:o)
Since Moonface and I moved in here in 1981, I've been accumulating tools steadily. When we bought the house, it needed renovating and since we weren't rich and at that time there was an ethos of do-it-yourself, we did it ourselves. It helped that at that time, I had a job which had a large element of mechanical and electrical craft, with plumbing and pipefitting thrown in, so I was competent but not expert in most forms of household alterations and maintenance.
Every task had its own particular set of tools which were needed to do the job properly, so we bought them, and gave them a home in the cupboard. Over the years we've not thrown them out and have accumulated more and more through various means, and the cupboard is full to bursting point. This means that we sometimes can't find tools, so we may need to buy a second one for the same function, so the process of accumulation goes on. And tools are by their nature, useful objects, so we can't throw them out, as we never know when they'll be needed. The right tool for the job makes all the difference, as we found out several times by bodging work.
I must admit, we hardly do any work ourselves these days, probably because the house is functional, and because we're older, tireder, and can't be bothered. We're less willing to leave something in a half-finished state for weeks while we "get around to it", preferring to pay a professional. But, if we needed them, out tools are all there for us to get on with it.
The only work that I do regularly, is fiddling with bicycles. As this is a pleasure and not a necessity, I don't find it stressful and indeed it's a extremely mentally relaxing way of spending a couple of hours. This assumes, however, that I can find the right tools and parts for the job, finding them in their hiding places somewhere in the house.
:o)
Labels: Family
posted by Moses at
11:14 am
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