Saturday, April 14, 2007

Day 276: I Make Something With My Bare Hands

Boxes with bits in, instructions, anything that demands that I lay bits out on a tray in order and read bits of paper. Things that only work if you read pages and pages of instruction manual. Sewing tiny things, putting the right screw in the right place, accepting that something may fall apart if you don't assemble it in the right order.

IKEA wardrobes, changing fuses, wood glue, taking things to be mended, changing my own tyres; reading meters, getting better insurance deals, wondering if I get a 0.003% highter interest rate if I spend three weeks moving my bank account, putting my socks in pairs in order and throwing away old tights, doing my tax return on time, cleaning the bath and selling my car. These things do not interest me, despite the fact that I know that they should, and I have nothing but admiration (genuine admiration) for those that do lay bits out on trays in the right order and make things work.

I will, however, spend quite a long time making tiny huts. I will lay the bits out on the table; I will do as the instructions suggest and do a 'trial run' before I glue them together. And then I will glue them together and arrange them about the place and take photographs of them, complete with a genuine (to scale) French Canadian Beaver called Beaver the Beaver.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very solidly done, there. I do think you are ready to go out into the wild boreal woods to build a cabin with your bare paws.
Maybe do a trial run with a gazebo first. Beaver the Beaver can help.

Anonymous said...

hay mabe u can gatta job building 4 habitat 4 humanity

Anonymous said...

Dear JB and Pup - Please do not encourage NWM in this recently found passion, or we'll get one of those huts for Christmas, or a build-your-own spice rack from IKEA.

In truth, I fear our dear monkey has been visiting those delightful little cafes in Amsterdam and accepted a funny cigarette from a stranger.

It would be much more worthwhile for her to pair her socks.

NON-WORKINGMONKEY said...

No no, MM, this is a very private hobby of mine encouraged by a friend in the colonies. Happily, there are 11 more to collect and build, including "BARN/GRANGE" and "BIRDHOUSE/CABANE D'OISEAU". You can see them too at www.logcabintoys.com.

I think we are missing an Eco-Cabin, mind you.

Anonymous said...

You're never going to have one of those clutter-free, minimalist monkey-houses, are you?

Anonymous said...

And I see Beaver has retained his inner Canadian clock. He rightly has his bucket ready for sugaring time. Clever Beaver.

Anonymous said...

If you made your own cabin kit out of wine corks you could float the assembled items in the canal and entertain the neighbors.

Mr Farty said...

I swear I saw a Classic Cock Cabin, but it changed its name when I looked harder.

Anonymous said...

I could swear I saw something on BBC news site about illicit beavers (ooooh, always wanted to use that phrase in a comment!) out on the pull in the wilds of England. Glad to see yours at least is in its proper environment.

.... however I admit I'm a bit concerned about the size of the rodent vs the size of the door of the facilities. What if the beaver really really needs a wee?

Sophie said...

French Canadian? Surely he should be "Beaver le Beaver"?!

NON-WORKINGMONKEY said...

Castor le Castor, non?

Katy Newton said...

I like Beaver's small but terribly realistic pail.

That's "pail", and not "bucket". Deliberately.

Anonymous said...

lovely beaver!!!

Anonymous said...

It is a very nice Something With Your Bare Hands. I am impressed.

Sophie said...

>Castor le Castor, non?

Oui, but "beaver" is just one of those intrinsically humorous words. The world needs more beavers (and badgers!).

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