I only really have one real answer to a problem: WD40
I’m not brand-specific, but when a screw doesn’t budge I squirt it, if a lock or hinge doesn’t work I drench it, if I need to polish something I cover cloth or wire wool with something WD40-ish. I guess there’s just a lot of rust in my life
But birds are true artists of make do and mend. The swans have nested on the bonfire pile that I never quite got around to burning or moving from the river bank in the autumn. Three eggs so far, they have created home from our negligence. They have tidied and trimmed the weeds around it and they have bizarrely trashed our neighbours’ (Spanish) bluebells, and left them strewn on the bank
Yesterday’s main project for me was the shed door, rotten from the bottom up, having withstood two floods in the time we’ve been here (seventeen years last Thursday – I hold this anniversary as dear as any other). Baz was busy adding fox-proofing around the garden to give the chickens a bigger run, so I helped Baz lay wire under the grass
Normally when we use electric tools I’m the lowly facilitator, finding things, suggesting things, holding things firm while Baz performs the nobler and more responsible task of cutting. I got help from him for trimming the new wood for the bottom of the door, as much out of habit as anything. I salvaged most of the original door (even the old hinges – thanks to WD40) and now it’s primed and ready for a coat of ‘Garden’ to match the window we rebuilt in the autumn, (I just looked at that post and saw our beloved – and sadly now departed – Percy)
Baz and I have worked together professionally for over twenty years now, as well as living together. We have differences of opinion – sometimes very loud differences – but winning arguments has never really been on the agenda and that’s obviously part of what makes us a successful team: we’re not scared of each other’s point of view
The swans also work as a team. The male chose this nesting spot and persuaded his partner that this was the place, and since that time they have worked together to create their abode, both taking time on the eggs. Just after I snapped this the male came at me and I had to leg it, but I don’t know which of them has bluebell issues
And the renewed shed door? I’ve added 10 % new wood and maybe 5% WD40
Poshbird with Passion 
All I could think about while reading this was my wife’s (Nikki at akinderway) one trick go to, the butter knife. Forget swiss army knives and multitools. She wields a butter knife as a hammer, screwdriver, staple remover, pry bar, scrapper, and I’m sure many other things that I’m not even aware of.
Great blog and pictures.
Steve
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To be fair, I do have a fav butter knife as well, so I fully identify with Nikki. I use mine for filling and all kinds of stuff too
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Great post. I tend to use sudocrem in the same spirit as WD40. Not in the same places, mind you, but with similar faith and enthusiasm.
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That’s hilarious. Sudocrem is probably fairly interchangeable with WD40 but perhaps not the other way round – I won’t be the one to check that theory!
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Feck, just snorted apple muesli.
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great post this is, thx for sharing
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Yay for WD40! Duct tape is another lifesaver. But stay away from those swans. They sound as ornery as our black ones.
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This is a lovely post – beautifully describing partnerships for both work and life. I like that WD40 is a cure all; it really does fix a multitude of practical things. Mostly though, I love the idea of swans getting huffy about bluebells … who knows what’s going on in his or her mind on that one?
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What an adorable post and may you and Baz always glide swanlike through your lives too. Which in reality does mean a bit of frantic paddling but the payback is such seamless elegance and I rather think you achieve much of the time.
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How timely! I’ve just been reading an article about how Spanish bluebells are threatening our native species and that steps must be taken to uproot the interlopers before it’s too late. Those swans are obviously very ecologically aware.
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The Spanish ones are a real threat to our intense British variety. All the same, the swans were fairly ruthless. I hope they won’t take exception to anything else!
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