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I’m only on page five of Peter Ross’ Steeple Chasing, and I already love it.

The wall at left, a plasterboard thing put up when the stairs were moved (the stairs originally bisected the property at a 90° angle, midway between front and back, oriented the same as what’s now the upstairs hallway) is a bit concave. It bows outwards. Which can be see above.

I’ll probably just run a bead of caulk or sealant or whatever, down the entire length. We shall see. the upright is pleasingly vertical, according to the spirit level.

But let’s go back a bit… before this vertical piece went up, I had to cut out the recessed areas so it would fit snugly up against the skirting board.

This was rather awkward work to do, in the cramped confines of the room itself. But patience, persistence, and having decent tools, got me there.

I love that the blue theme of the room is echoed, quite coincidentally, by the blue timber I’m using, and even the blue film on these fixtures.

The film comes off, and then I’m using one or two of these here and there, to hold the timber in place. There’s not room for one at the bottom. And this top one will be more or less out of sight, ultimately.

I think the middle horizontal must be set back a bit. Probably the rear wall also bows outwards a bit, inside this part of the room. All the horizontal measurements are 60cm. But I had to put a little extra bit in here (just visible, if you look carefully).

There’s a bit of twist in this timber. But not so much as to greatly trouble me. And fixing it in place has to some degree ameliorated that.

I’m stopping for a wee rest, and a little light lunch. And then it’ll be all systems go; full steam ahead!

* From the ‘Partridge Over Britain’ segment of Knowing Me Knowing You.

Now I’m working on a bit more of the structure.

Uh-oh… a bit of a clash.

Hmmm!? Rather like the plastering I had to do, after removing coving. This is not something I’d wanted to deal with. Still, it’ll learn me some new skills.

I’m glad I did this. It’s going to be better, neater, stronger and more satisfying job, by doing it right!

And that allowed me to put this front member (below) across the gap. I tested this latest addition for level, and it’s poifeck!

I’m doubly pleased I bothered to correct my earlier mistake. And the new tools/technique, with concrete screws, etc, have made it all much easier.

This from horizontal is screwed in at the left, but it yet at right. That’ll happen when the front vertical goes in. And that’ll happen after I’ve moved the power sockets.

Having another brief break, and then it’ll be time to take up the electrical challenge… (gulps)

As usual, I watched YouTubers making this sh*t look easy. And as usual, when I tried my hand at it, it was really hard! The hole ended up way too big, and none too neat.

I wound up using the plaster to help get the back-box level, and roughly in the right place, depth wise. I’ll let this fully harden, for at least 24 hours, before using a concrete screw or two to secure the box. Mind, I reckon the plaster alone will hold it pretty well.

I had to pop out and collect Teresa from Ely. She’s had to get a bus, due to the train strike. When we got home, the back-box looked as you see it below. I’ll let it dry, screw it to the wall, sa d and paint the surround, and pop the from on (unwired, for now).

Why unwired? Well, I haven’t done the chasing yet, from the other sockets. And my plans may have changed again, anyway. This is kind of Jazz DIY, with me improvising and making it all up as I go along. Perhaps not the best way? But currently my way!

So I might be leaving the pair of sockets by the fridge where and as they are. That would make the new sockets as redundant visual fluff, for the time being. The reason being that with the fridge back in place (see pic several below) there might be discs for the vertical beam anyway.

The next step was a reinforcing bar, across the middle of the basic rectangular frame. This’ll stop the sheet-work shelf from sagging. There’ll also be a pillar support, left of the fridge.

I decided on two L-brackets and glue at rear: the concrete screw, drilled into the wall smack-dab in the middle, precluded repeating what I’d wanted to do, and did do, at the front.

And that was, a stepped north. I’ve a feeling there’s a correct woodworking term for this kind of joint. But I can’t recall it! making these cuts was ok. Although ideally I should’ve done this before putting the beam in place.

Getting it to the state pictured above took ages, inc. some chisel sharpening. And required a lot of patience. But, taking it as a meditation, slowly and calmly, I got there in the end. And I’m chuffed with the result.

Having got this far by about 9.30pm (I’d normally be in bed, these days, long before this!), I decided it was time to tidy up a bit. By which I mean general sweepage, putting tools away, and returning the fridge and microwave to their allotted places.

I took the day off delivery work to focus solely on this. And I think that was the right move. I feel I’ve broken the back of it now.

I need to measure up, and then buy a flat sheet (prob light/thin ply?), to go over the framework. That’ll be an upper storage shelf area. I might add a second shelf at some point?

Then I need to put a partition wall alongside the fridge. And, across the gap, contrive some kind of clothes rail/hanging business. Prob a couple of poles, sitting in semicircular troughs.

This morning I dropped Teresa off in town, for work. We’d stopped over at dad’s for the night, on account of more train strikes. It actually makes for a rather lovely little one night family getaway.

En route home, I stopped to admire St John The Evangelist, in Waterbeach. But alas, ‘twas closed. So I just took a few outside snaps.

After that, I popped into Topping, in Ely, and poichased this:

And then further down the road, driving through Little Downham, I stopped to photograph the village green, and the village sign. And lo, I didst spy St Leonard’s, in the background.

Once again, the church was locked. So this is another one to be revisited. I rang the vicarMe landline and mobile, and left messages, asking about keys/access. Answer came there none. Another time. Meanwhile, a few pics…

The mess I’ve made/am making… oh dear!

In the above pic the first bit of wood has gone up. This is attached to a plasterboard partition wall. Expanding rawl plugs, standard screws. Pretty easy/straightforward.

The other bit of wood – at right – is just sitting on top of the first bit. And isn’t fixed in place. Piece one is pretty good, plumb wise. I marked up from there, across the back wall, to get piece two, opposite, at the same level.

But, goddam it, despite careful measuring, neither piece two (right) nor three (middle) are plumb level. But then these were attached directly into plaster and solid brick, using concrete screws. That’s a whole new thing, for me.

The drilling and screwing seemed to go perfectly. But then when I checked for horizontal plumb, they’re both out. Gaaah!!! Do I take them down and try again?

Strangely, the measurement from ceiling to wood, in both corners, is 76cm. But to the naked eye, it looks wider on the left than the right. Hmm!? When it comes to learning by mistakes, I make so many mistakes, I ought to be learning shitloads…

I ran out of time. We had to skedaddle, over to dad’s. There’s a train strike tomorrow. And Teresa arranged that we’d stop over with Claire, Simon and Sam, for the night. So’s I could drive her to work Monday morning.

I’d just started measuring and cutting the vertical members for the framing. These have to be individually tailored to the irregularities of the room, height-wise. Plus they need the profile of the skirting board cut into them, so they abut seamlessly.

Do I work, delivering, tomorrow? Or focus solely on finishing this job? I think the latter has to take precedence. As Antonio is due to move in in just one week! Maybe I can do a bit of both? But then I have to collect Teresa as well… Hmmm!?

Alice performing in Poland, with her son Ravi (sax), Reggie Workman (bass), and Roy Haynes (drums). First time I’ve seen Alice and co. ‘in person’!

Turns out she has a YouTube channel. I’m definitely going to be exploring this in more depth. The older stuff looks the most interesting and attractive to me. Currently watching this:

… loving the music. And also digging some of the graphics. I’d love to know more about this. Was it made like this originally? Back in the day? Or has it been created more recently?

The cosmic/psychedelic graphics are sometimes exquisite, and sometimes a bit not! But overall I’m more taken with that all than not. And they suit the music.

Makes me want to try and achieve something similar. For use with my own music.

The music is a live recording from a Carnegie Hall performance, and is exquisite.

The final drop of my first shift, delivering for Amazon today, was in the picturesque hamlet of Cockayne Hatley.

According to the Wikipedia entry on it ‘The Cockayne part of the name comes from the surname of the Cokayne family, who took possession of the land in 1417.’

After my last delivery, I had a look at the church, which is pretty stunning. Here are a few photos:

The stained glass is often a favourite aspect of many a church, for me. But here it’s a rather mixed bag. My favourite lights are the heraldic ones.

* being:

A chap named Christian Forshaw was playing saxophone in the church (that’s him, above), when I ‘rocked up’, as some folk say these days. I had a bit of a chat with him.

Turns out he not only practices there, but also puts on concerts for the church, as well. I think we’ll go and check one of them out…

I’ll also have to return to St John’s another time, partly so as to not interrupt any musical practicing, and partly in order to give this gem of a church a proper look over.

In the case of this church it might be the carved woodwork that steals the show?

And it’s off again, back out into the world…

And as I headed homewards, before heading out again, for delivery shift #2, I passed the above, which is in (or just outside of) Potton. Another one for the ‘to do’ list!

Also saw this:

Perhaps rather unsurprisingly, it’s called ‘The Castle House’.

We started our day today, after a long lazy lie-in, with a KFC box meal, eaten with the above view. And then it was off to Ely.

Got my spring light coloured togs on. Digging this lovely sunny weather.

* This thing, as a whole, appealed, esp as I’m reading about Trafalgar. But the anti-Royalist in me couldn’t quite stomach any ‘God & King/Queen’ nonsense.

The top is quite nice. But the way the lighting is, I couldn’t capture it – without glaring areas of white shiny reflected light – except at this end-on angle.

Pulling aside a chaise-longe, revealed this:

I’m not sure this box/chest is legit’? And the whole ‘Captain R. Sole’ schtick only adds to the dubiosity!

This seller had a particularly rich stock, in terms of wooden stuff that appeals to my tastes.

I’d love one of the above, for keeping clothes in. Wonder if I can source one cheaply elsewhere?

This lot, above, reminds me I need to sort out my workshop. But, as usual, ‘twas books that actually got me. First, some that I’d like to have, but didn’t get:

This book about crossbows is ace. All in German, alas. But there are loads of pics, showing exactly how these old weapons are constructed. I’d love to make one!

And here are the books I did actually get from Waterside Antiques:

Not entirely sure why, but I’ve always been a little bit fascinated by heraldry. So I got the above.

This next book is all about the Georgian Navy. And seeing as I’ve been thoroughly enjoying Clayton and Craig’s Trafalgar, I thought this would be perfect:

I ended up getting it for just £10, by buying it together with the heraldry book, for £15. Usually it’s Amazon that gets my £££. But in this instance Amazon would’ve been £80 dearer!

A Chinese lady in the antiques shop had this very groovy Sherlock Holmes bag:

After Waterside Antiques, we went to Teacock’s Pearoom. The first time we’ve been, I think, since lockdown?

Teresa had a pot of Sherlock Holmes, I had Mycroft, and we both had a scone, with raspberry jam.

Such a lovely place. And such great food, drink, and service. What a lovely time we had. Very relaxing. No awful piped music. Just beautiful stuff to eat and drink, in a beautiful setting.

I want to build us something a bit like the above, for our home.

I covet the big chest at left, above. And I really like the painting. In fact I love everything about the decor.

After Peacock’s we went to Oxfam, and then Topping. At the latter I finally got a copy of Alice Loxton’s Uproar:

… I can now read this and compare notes with Pops, who got a copy from Abbie and Dan, for his 74th birthday, yesterday.

Thanks Hannah, Tim and the girls for hosting this lovely do. And providing such delicious fare.

Yesterday was very busy. We went to Peckover House during the day. And in the evening we were at Hannah’s, for dad’s 74th birthday.

By the time I got home, around 9.30pm, there was precious little time for any further work on the Blue Room. All I had time/energy for was a quick bit of paint around the ‘seams’.

I adore the drumming of Albert ‘Tootie’ Heath. What he brings to Herbie Hancock’s Fat Albert Rotunda, for example, is pure perfection. ‘Wiggle Waggle’ and ‘Tell Me A Bedtime Story’ are two tracks I’ll never tire of listening to.

He recorded and performed with a veritable who’s who of jazz. And is on lots of albums I love. And as well as being part of the famous Heath Bros trio, he even lead a few sessions under his own name. Such as these two:

Actually Kawaida is really a Mtume album. And only nominally under Albert’s leadership. Mtume was ‘Tootie’s’ nephew (son of his elder sax player brother, Jimmy).

I’d meant to interview him for my putative work on music of the early 1970s. I missed that chance, more fool me! Damn… another legendary figure exits the stage.

The above has been reissued on CD, by Xanadu. But his best known work is most likely that with either his brothers, or the notable jazz giants he recorded with, like Dexter Gordon, Coltrane, and Herbie Hancock, amongst many others.