We’re noodling at the idea of a replacement door and screen between the hall and the living room and today got to the desperate point of motoring over to the local Travesty & Picknose. The young man there, not as polite and helpful as he might have been, told us they don’t make doors like that any more.
Graham was somewhat downcast.
“Don’t let ‘em get to ya, chicken,” I said. ”They’re useless as always. Even their concrete is almost on its sell-by date. I bet Jewson’s do them there single-pane doors and, if not, you’ll be able to find ‘em on eBay.”
He stood there poring over the catalogue, mumbling, and I soon lost my grip and wandered off to look at the crumpled, rumpled old masonry walls of the surrounding buildings. Utrillo would have appreciated their air of melancholy dissolution, glowing softly in the diffuse sunlight.
Home, and I made him a nice cup of tea and sent him off to phone Jewson’s, where he spoke to a helpful young man who assured him that they could supply what we need, no problem, and at a price we can afford. For some reason doors and windows still command premium prices.
We’ll pop in on our shopping trip on Monday to place our order.
The rest of the day has been quiet and exceedingly pleasant, working under hazy sun in temperatures that are closer to summer than to spring. There will be one more light frost some time in the next week and then I can get down to starting my mini-veggie patch. Looking forward to that, I am.
