Christmas Presents

[MatthewC]

Being fairly new to owning a period property (1830s), and still having lots of work to do on it, what do people suggest I should ask for as Christmas presents? I'm thinking of books especially, on topics like practical things such as old crafts. The work I like most is things like pointing and joinery, and I'm thinking about doing some flooring, plastering and stonework myself, plus repairing the sash windows.

I seem to recall someone suggesting some book which they really thought was essential for owners of period houses but I can't find the reference.

Matthew
http://houseintheenchantedforest.blogspot.com/

 

[Tom]

I should make sure your list includes a crock of gold and a whole load of patience

 

[CatherineB]

I should make sure your list includes a crock of gold and a whole load of patience

And there I was, just asking for an Edwardian chandelier to replace the one the previous owners removed from the hall!

(PS we have a £10 per person budget this year, so not sure if I'll get it, but if you don't ask... :wink: )

 

[JoceAndChris]

I always recommend "The Old House Handbook" by Roger Hunt and Marianne Suhr, it might be that, and possibly the thread I'm about to send back to the top may interest you.

Joce

 

[FamilyWiggs]

SPAB membership.

http://www.spab.org.uk/spab-membership/

 

[worms]

I'm requesting a Tesco basics angle grinder!

..and before this drifts off onto "why we all hate Tesco", its the nearest to a hardware outlet that the memsahib is likely to frequent.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Worms - you do know Tesco kidnap babies to put in their meat pies don't you?

 

[JoceAndChris]

I really want this for Christmas:

http://www.uk.thechandeliercompany.com/classical-hand-crafted-chandelier_481.html

But I think it's unlikely.

 

[essexbearhunter]

I really want this for Christmas:

http://www.uk.thechandeliercompany.com/ ... r_481.html

I have been hankering after silver chandeliers ever since I went to All Saints, Great Thurlow. The ones there came from Lord Vestey's yacht. (He lived at nearby Little Thurlow Hall and the family set up a charitable trust for the maintenance of the church).


A trifle OTT for my house but I'm sure something smaller will come along

 

[Penners]

I should make sure your list includes a crock of gold

Wow! I'd certainly like....

...Oh - crock! Sorry, I mis-read that.

 

[Penners]

I'm thinking of books

Books??

You haven't got time to read books, man! Get your sleeves rolled up and get to work!

I you ask for suggest a pair of steel toe-capped boots and a pickaxe. Those are proper man-presents.

 

[MatthewC]

I always recommend "The Old House Handbook" by Roger Hunt and Marianne Suhr, it might be that, and possibly the thread I'm about to send back to the top may interest you.

Joce

I asked my wife for "The Old House Handbook", but she found something else for me. However, BOTH my kids gave that book to me, without any prompting (or speaking to each other!).

Books??

You haven't got time to read books, man! Get your sleeves rolled up and get to work!

It's a very good book, and who wants to work in an unheated house when it's been so cold? (I now await Penners' reply from the comfort of his armchair in his nice warm library.)

 

[Penners]

Yes, it's around this time of day when I migrate from the morning room (where I've been reading my ironed copy of The Times) to the library. There, seated in my leather armchair, I pen a few more pages of my memoirs while awaiting my morning cup of coffee, brought to me by the memsahib. In view of the inclement weather, I am today wearing my smoking jacket and my kufi kofi hat.

:roll:

Come on, Matthew! There's no better way of getting warm that to get stuck into some good, honest toil.

Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage


Right - the memsahib should have the fire lit by now, so I'm off to see what's on telly.

 

[Flyfisher]

I you ask for suggest a pair of steel toe-capped boots and a pickaxe.

A tad early for the G&Ts perhaps . . . oh well, it is Christmas. :wink:

 

[Penners]

When there's no sun, it's impossible to tell whether it's over the yard-arm or not.



Well... it's as good an excuse as any.

 

[Flyfisher]

Well... it's as good an excuse as any.

Indeed . . . and duly added to my own list of excuses. :lol:

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Well, it's always 6pm in our household!

 

[Penners]

Well, it's always 6pm in our household!

Listen to the chorus...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqpjT48GG_E

 

[MatthewC]

Well, it's always 6pm in our household!

Listen to the chorus...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqpjT48GG_E

It might always be 5 o'clock somewhere but here it's only 16.27; my wife has just declared that the sun is under the yardarm and so she has poured herself a G&T. She offered me one as well but I reckon it's too early!

 

[Penners]

Too early for a G&T?

Sorry - I don't really understand that concept...