Ikea Rast Assembly (Chest of Drawers)

For most of 2019, I was struggling to adapt to life inside a smaller bedroom and without sacrificing the generous accommodation of my double bed. That change may come in another couple of years, when my memory foam mattress nears the end of its recommended life expectancy (they generally say seven to eight years). When I moved in to my previous flat, I swiftly bought a 4ft high tallboy off Gumtree and those drawers gave me plenty of storage space for clothes. But I’ve struggled to accommodate both this and my poor man’s wardrobe (a clothes hanging rail) in my current place.

My decision was to downsize and, after weeks of online browsing and contemplation, I decided to return to Ikea (yes, I’m using that word again).

Chest of Drawers

All I’ve heard on the radio for the past two days has been an endless string of adverts for all the post-Christmas bargains to be had on the high street and online. I’m always sceptical but one thing I’m certain of is that I do not need a brand-new TV with all the latest add-ons and features! Yesterday, I braved the wind, rain and hailstones to pick up a bargain of my own, which I spotted through a local Gumtree ad.

After six-weeks of living out of black bags, I’m finally able to say that I have acquired a chest of drawers for my bedroom!

My New Home

As I’ve mentioned twice very recently; I moved home last month and I’m now living alone in a small flat (without a workshop). It’s in a village known as Wrington; between Bristol and Weston-super-Mare but still only a few miles from the area in which I have grown up in. Wrington is a new village to me. I mean, I’d not even driven through this area before the initial viewing last month. It’s all exciting and scary at the same time. I could go on about a lot of things but for now, I’ve decided to share with you some photos I’ve taken this evening, which should give you an idea of the what I’m living in and the layout.

Welcome to my new home!

In a future post, I intend to take you around the village to show you what it has to offer. A couple of weeks ago, I filmed some video footage for a ‘flat tour’ that I’m yet to upload to YouTube.

Breaking Through My Heart

Looking back through my photos from days out and walks in 2012 last night, I came across these images in a folder labelled King’s Wood. This is an area of woodland near the village of Winscombe; across the A38 from Axbridge and only a stone’s throw from Cheddar, which I blogged about on Sunday night.

It also neighbours Ba Crook Peak, which was one of my favourite solo hikes from last year (albeit, a short one). On a second walk up and beside Kings Wood, following the Strawberry Line from across the A38, I noticed this prominent sign for pedestrians, indicating a return route to the local car park.

Folding Desk, Day Three

Continuing straight on from Saturday’s efforts in the previous post; Sunday began with the finalisation of a few areas in preparation for the final assembly and glue-up of the rear ‘fixed’ portion of the folding desk.

I wanted to cut away a portion of each ‘foot’ so that it would sit more comfortably on a level floor and, as luck would have it, my under-used 6in diameter Sander Sitter provided me with the perfect radius. I cut the waste away with a jigsaw and cleaned it up a bit on my bobbin sander.

Timbers of Trouble

Inside my Timber Store/"Bedroom" - I won't be watching TV for a while!!

With the cold and damp air starting to creep in through my shoes, I seem to be spending minimal time in the workshop at the moment [Whimp!]. This might be a good time to get a part-time job, at least until the sun returns from its annual ‘hibernation’…

Preparation is what it’s all about the minute. I’m almost ready to start putting some of my exhibition ideas in to working progress… Even if I end up oiling and waxing on the kitchen dining table, in the not-so-cold (I wouldn’t call it warm, indoors, either! :?).