Christmas in the UK
It is great for me getting the ferry to Portsmouth as my Mum and Stepfather live just a 10-minute drive from the Port. I stayed with Mum and Malcolm for a couple of nights then headed up to Haslemere to work on Simon’s new house.
He has a big job on his hands. A full floor to ceiling renovation including new central heating and a new boiler. I was hoping to start work the day I got to his place but he had a casting in London so we drove in to town, did a bit of shopping (well Simon did, I have no money) and had lunch at the salt beef restaurant in Selfridges. I spent the first night in the camper in the UK.
It was good to start work. I started stripping paint with a scraper and a blowtorch - skirting boards, picture rail, door frames, anything wood with white paint on it. It was boring work and within 15 minutes I was wondering how on earth I was going to tolerate 2 weeks of this. But as the day rolled on I started to appreciate the simplicity of it.
My work in Chamonix is always self starting. I always have to think about what needs to be done and what I have to prioritise. This was simple. One job, one objective, no thought involved (well, not much) I found it almost soothing in the end. Simon too when he was present was an easy guy to work for. If he fancied knocking off a bit early, he would feel guilty letting you work on so he suggested we both knocked off early but knew he had to pay me for the designated hours we’d agreed I’d work.
This is not the first time that Simon’s conscience has played to my advantage. Years ago when I shared an apartment with him and a 3rd person in Chamonix, I was happy to cook as was the other guy. Simon was not a keen cook and hence rarely got busy in the kitchen. From time to time we’d tell him it was about time he cooked and he always agreed it was. Generally it would get to an hour before we were hoping to eat and we’d ask, “what you got planned for dinner Simon?” Of course Simon had nothing prepared but knowing he had to feed us somehow, would offer to take us to a restaurant.
It rarely snows in the UK, even at Christmas. I remember as child snow being on the ground for weeks, sometimes months. The local lakes near where I lived as a child even froze over a few times. One time so solidly that one could walk from one side of the lake to the other on the ice.
So I was surprised to see it snowing outside today. Surprised and a little disappointed. Disappointed because I just happen to be living in a camper. Not only living in a camper but running out of gas. Gas that comes in a bottle and the nearest supplier of this type of bottle is a short hop across the English Channel in France. Luckily I have been lent an electric heater so the little gas I have, I can save for making tea, cooking and taking the odd shower.
I’ve worked 9 days for Simon now and have decided to call it a day on my paint stripping career. I have been alone in the house now for a few days. The builders have knocked off for Christmas and Simon has been in London mincing (he got that job). I drove back down to Portsmouth and spentb a few more days with Mum and Malcolm then I headed up to Hertfordshire the day before boxing day.
