Saturday 25 April 2020

Exterminate! Exterminate! Self Isolate!

I have a dalek in my kitchen. Let me explain...when we were first married, Bob was concerned that I used to clamber up on chairs to reach things on the top shelves. But I loathed the kitchen step stools which were popular back then. I never felt secure on them [my auntie had one] Then one day we saw an office supply shop which was closing down.
Bargain stationery!! we dashed in to see what we could find. And there was a 'library kick stool' going for a song. I think these are brilliant, you nudge them with your foot and they roll across the floor - but when you step on them, they brake [the wheels are on springs which are compressed by your weight] I knew I would feel much safer on that. So we bought it. Fifteen years later, I was working briefly for Social Services, and the secretaries had one in their office. They always called it The Dalek - it moved silently across the floor, and didn't go down stairs easily. 
Mine was renamed the Dalek too. I have used it so much in the past 40 years. Not just in the kitchen, but also when doing other tasks which require extra height [hanging curtains, decorating etc] My dalek became very grubby, and paint spattered, and tired looking. So yesterday I took it out into the sunshine and gave it an overdue refurb.
I removed the rubber rim on the base, and gave it a good scrub. A lot of the paint came away. I cleaned up the two rubber discs - you can see the improvement bottom left. Bob came outside and helped me to ease them away so I could paint the whole thing more easily.
We had blue and red spray paint [Wilko Enamel]  in the garage. I tried a little of each on the top. Originally I wanted red - but it came out a little too orange. So blue it was...
Three coats, and one of clear lacquer. I reglued the rubber discs, and the base rim slid easily into place after a generous lubrication with WD40. We also squirted the wheels and springs. The rubber discs are not perfectly clean- I was hesitant about cleaning them too thoroughly in case the rubber started to perish. I can still see spots of paint from different rooms in Kirby Muxloe. Happy memories of a happy home. 
My dalek looks bright and cheerful now, ready for a few more decades of service. Have you done any long overdue Refurb Projects during Lockdown?

12 comments:

  1. Mine kick-stool was found second hand at a boot sale (of course) and painted bright red with gloss paint which is now coming off and could do with a tidy up, but I probably won't get round to it!

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    1. By the end of lockdown, I expect you will have accomplished lots of "one of these days I will..." jobs

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  2. I finally cleaned the oven! After illness and prolonged treatment five years ago the cooker has had to make do with a wipe and a promise, but last week we dismantled and cleaned everything and then had our own version of James May’s reassembler programme. (Do you watch it? It’s one of our favourites.)
    Encouraged by a gleaming cooker we finished off by washing the walls and ceiling as well!

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    1. Oh well done! I am happy to watch James May on his own, but not when he is with the Odious Mr Clarkson!

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  3. You did a great job! You are being so productive and getting so many things done! I am afraid I haven't done anything much, other than knit and crochet!

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    1. And tending your garden, and making lovely meals and... I think you've done lots, Bless!

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  4. I am never going to look at my office footstool the same way again!

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  5. Brilliant Ang, worthy of the Repair shop.

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  6. Its funny but I can't settle to get any jobs done really - other than cooking. I suspect some background stress is the issue. Take care

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  7. Exterminate! (you missed a trick- will it have Dalek bumps on its side?! ;-) )
    It looks really bonny now! I remember having one of these in the chip shop I worked in- very useful! I am a 'Balance on a chair' type- naughty me!

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  8. P.S. Not done refurb jobs but I did sort out the Utility room last week (It looks messy again!) x

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    1. With all your elaborate birthday plans this week, you are excused household tasks

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