Why pay for a fold down table make one yourself, i have

When i have occasion to go to Porto airport i like to have a wander around Ikea partly because they have a cafe and the soft drinks you serve yourself.

One day last year i saw a fold down table that i could use in my kitchen when it was finished with just fold it down out of the way. Now the kitchen is almost finished i decided to make my own fold down table. As i have a lot of very old Chestnut timber  that when planed down looks beautiful so i decided to have a go what could i loose.

Until my table saw arrived from the UK i had to go to my friend Chicco to get my timber cut down to size at his workshop.

The top is now waiting for a piano type hinge about 30 inch's long and then i can put it all together.  found a couple of small bits of hinge i found in a tool box but much to small for what i want it for.







I have been to all local builders merchants to try and get a piano hinge but i can't find one. Everywhere i go they say no sorry we don't have any. Even Chicco who makes furniture only had a type that was to wide, it was wider than the wood i used for the table top. So for the moment i am held up, to go to Coimbra to Leyroy Merlin is an hour drive and an hour back plus the cost of fuel just for a hinge. There is still one place left i can go to and i live in hope that maybe they will have what i want.

If you can dream it you can do it. Just believe

I am not lucky to have confidence in all i do so i practice as much as i can. Making the shelves in my kitchen i used lots of wood until i felt i had it right. The first lot of shelf brackets i threw away because i didn't like them because i had a vision of what i wanted and they where not right. It's easy to just put up shelves just like you would a book shelf but as the pictures below show i wanted  more something better.

The first problem was finding the right kind of shelf brackets and with that done i used a small sheet of plasterboard to get the effect i wanted right from what i had in my mind. That done i had to get my friend at the timber yard to cut my timber down to size because my new table saw had not arrived in time.

Each shelf has been varnished 6 times to give a perfect finish and between every 2 finishes i rubbed the shelves down again till it was just right.

Here are my shelves finished and stocked with some of my Herbs and Spices. Two more corners of my kitchen will also have the same shelves put up mainly because i have so many Herbs and Spices.









The reason for having the most amazing shelves up is i don't and won't have wall cupboards up i want better. I think i have given myself the best i could do But long time since the last Big But.

I hope that never having done a thing in my life because i was able to get others to do it for me i now can do things for myself.  Many people come to not just Portugal but to many others countries like me without any skills. My big wish is that i have inspired others to have a go all you need is to dream because " Dreams can come true " the pictures above show it has for me.

I am in the middle of other jobs and in time as they get finished more pictures will be on show.

If you can dream it you can do it.

Strawberries and Newcastle Brown Ale

Today has been about the best day for quite a while. Three Bottles of Newcastle Brown arrived and they where hand delivered after a very good XO cognac they are something special to drink. The same day i picked my first Strawberries of the season, only a few but it's the first day.

Just a few but many more to come.

While i was in Liverpool I had a drink in a bar only to find they don't stock Newcastle Brown now that was a shame. I had to have Magners.





















I have been waiting for a delivery for days and at last it arrived with my big table saw, 4 boxes of tea bags, a bag of 1,100 tea bags enough for a year or more. But most of all the special brackets for my shelves for the kitchen, the brackets will make the shelves look like they are just floating on the wall. I also  got myself a new Pillar drill a few weeks ago just so i could drill the holes accurate as a degree out would make the shelf just look odd. Tomorrow i will get started so it's no getting up late for me till the shelves are done and up ready for use.

The last bit done and the veranda is finished.

On Tuesday i finally finished my veranda. The finishing touch was to put a shaped piece of wood on the front at the top of veranda. Going back over 50 years my Dad built a green house in the rear of the house we had just moved into in Liverpool.

The pointy bit you see on my veranda was on the top of my Dad's green house but sadly last year it's use came to an end and i was given the pointy bit to keep.

Now 50 years later it was time to give some more life to the last part from my Dad's green house. I am also lucky to have my Dad's ladder and i used that to get up to put the pointy bit up in position. It still had the nails in that Dad used 50 years ago so i didn't even need nails. The last touch was i also had Dad's hammer that i remember from all those years ago.

So i used Dad's hammer to put up Dad's pointy bit and using Dad's ladder to do the job.

A fitting tribute to Dad, Thanks

I went on a Wild life Safari

While i was in Liverpool i went out with my son on a wild life Safari. We went in search of the famous Super lambanana only to be found here in Liverpool. As you can see these are just copies of the real Super Lambananas Being a protected species they are hard to find.

Lastly seen over 50 years ago is this giant spider Crab this one in the case is a  real one for display. But the ones in the wild are hard to find but we can make do with a stuffed one in a case.

To hot to work outside

I have been waiting for quite a while for the last of my tools to arrive. I had timber planks split to use to clad the windows and doors but needed my table saw to cut down my timber to the sizes i needed to carry on with the cladding of the windows and doors.

I started this today as it was to hot to work outside I have a lot of timber to get ready to take to Chicco to get it all split down so i can start to get the windows and doors finished.

This is my window with it's view and as you can see i have cut the first panel and it's in position while i cut the other panels

Here i have fitted the top panel and it's been fixed in position and once the silicon has cured then i can take the bits of timber holding it up away.

Sorry MUM

I am ashamed to admit that i forgot that it was my Mum's birthday on the 13th May. I have no excuse and i am ashamed to think i could make such a mistake.

One of my sisters even mentioned that she had put Mum's cards in a bag and i didn't even get the message from the hint i was given. I had on my calender Mum's birthday so really i had no excuse as even the date for my return was the 11th May.

SORRY

What no Newcastle Brown

I went over to Liverpool last week and after i arrived with my mate Paul who was going on to Scotland. We arrived in Liverpool city centre sometime after midnight and we needed a drink but where, just ask a cabbie and we where soon on our way to O'Neils bar. O'Neils by it's name is an Irish bar with loads f Guinness but what they didn't have was New Castle Brown, i had looked forward to a nice cold bottle of my favourite drink. I ended up having a pint of Magners only to have it ruined with ice and water from the ice bucket. Ok for Paul he just had a pint of Stella, way we were served we both got a shock or maybe we should have expected the price to be a bit more than in Portugal £7.55p wow that was a shock. For 2 bottles of Sagres or Superbock we pay about 1.60€ or a little more.

The noise i won't call it music was very loud, OK in the 60's we had loud music but the noise in O'Neils bar was from a very badly setup sound system it was just only a noise. So if you are going over to Liverpool and find yourself in Hanover Street and the corner of Wood Street avoid the noise in O'Neils bar.

I was in town with my granddaughter  on Saturday morning and she walked the legs and feet of me and by early afternoon my legs didn't want to work anymore. She had me in shops up and down stairs until we met up with my son and his other half and i was glad to see them if only for a rest. I thought i was fit but it seems i am not quite as fit as i thought i was.

My Mum was being taken away for a few days by one of my sisters and they where to leave Sunday morning early so i only got to see Mum for a few short hours. Only a few more hours and i would be at the airport again ready for my return to my home from home in Portugal. 

Back from Liverpool and i have a baby Chestnut

I have just had a few days away in my home town of Liverpool. When i arrived home i was eager to see how everything was growing in the few days i was gone. The biggest surprise was my baby Chestnut tree, my friend Paul gave me four Chestnuts to plant instead of to eat. The big surprise was to see that one of the four had started to grow it may only be a few inches but with care it will be ready to be planted out one day.

I won't give up hope that some of the others start to grow but one out of four isn't to bad.

Now i do need to find  somewhere to plant it when it's big enough.








More about my Liverpool trip later.

Time to clad the pillars

Confidence is a big thing. I am now starting to do another job and this is using a nice piece of hard wood to cover where i took out a wall in my lounge. I needed to leave a pillar and i decided to clad it in timber and having invested in the right tools it's time to start the job.

I want to do a rounded edge but first i need to cut some timber and practice. Measure twice cut once is good advice but the last thing i want is to then get it wrong. I cut a couple of pieces and used silicon to fix to the wall and wood glue to glue the two pieces together. Once the glue has dried i will get out my router and shape the corner, then sand and varnish. If after all this it comes out as i want i can then get Chicco the timber guy to cut more of my Chestnut timber down to size.

The pillar is about 8ft high so it's easy to make a mistake and spoil the effect i am after so that's why i am doing it this way first. 

50 Years after leaving school i am working with wood

When i was at school a good 50 years ago i was to say the least not very good.  Now over 50 years later i enjoy wood working and able to make a good job at what i am doing.

I have been able after so long to get to a store for some of the bits i can't get local. Just a bit of tidying up to do and it's all complete.

The top has now been completed and i have managed after so long to get the eye bolts to fix the rope to the uprights on the veranda. I got myself a type of thread to secure the rope ends only to find that it was not very strong. I now need to get some more stronger thread to secure the rope as i don't want anybody to fall through and have an accident.

One of the timber floor boards was twisted and i have now been able to get that replaced. The hard part is doing things that can't be seen done but lots can't be seen.

Back later 

Getting questions answered

On Tuesday i tried to join a Forum. I know lots of people use Forums for research and there are some who have nothing good to be said about them. Me i always try to find my information from Techie Forums that is run by people who know what they are talking about.

The best two  i have found are Ubuntu Forums as i run my computers using Ubuntu Linux and the other is AVforums as this is all about Sound and Video.

When i started my kitchen i knew i wanted LED lights but didn't consider Solar for the power. It's only now i want to turn to using Solar power all i need to do is change the LED bulbs and connect up a Solar panel. OK i know there is a bit more to it but that's the plan but why not free energy. I am now looking at installing Solar energy for my lighting system, i only want to install one panel so i can run 12 LED lighting so not to difficult. Also i want when i am ready to fit a Solar panel to give me hot water. Not to difficult but when you find a very good UK Techie Forum it's easy to get the questions answered But a big BUT.

The internet is full of people who want to do harm to websites in various ways, Spam or steal information or for whatever reason. I have found a Forum that for one reason or another made me work hard to get membership. Am i upset no because security is vital in todays society and for that reason i move from windows many years ago security is number one with me and Ubuntu Linux gives me that security.

The work starts as i have lots of question now so that when i get my Solar panels for both Light and water i know what i am doing.  

Me 1 slugs nil

Having strawberries in the ground gives slugs something to do like eat my strawberries when i am not watching. As the pictures below show i have made it more difficult for them.

Last year i got myself 4 strawberry plants from a garden centre for 2€ so at that price it was a bargain. However now i have about 40 plants and i am to mean to give any away or even loose any to the slugs.

I have in total six planters all with 2 plants in each. All i now need is for them to grow nice big strawberries for me to enjoy.










My son said about putting the plants in pots on the veranda, so i did and now all i need to do is keep them watered and eat my fruit.

Here is my strawberry tower and tomorrow i will start to get it planted. I will get to plant 21 plants in my tower but look at the work i am giving myself all this watering every day.

















After all i made a watering system for my grapes and onions well i have to do something for my strawberries.

Just paid all my bills even my Council tax

Today being a nice day as it was i decided it was time to pay all my bills. Electric, Phone, Water and my House tax or as it's known in the UK Council tax.

What made me pay it all today even though some where not yet due was i was talking to a friend in Deal in Kent this morning as he said how much he had to pay for his Council tax this year and he has to pay £135 per month. I made him sick by saying mine was only 30.45€ per year.

House tax           30.45€    per year
Water rates          4.59€    per month
Electric              59.45€    per month
Phone/internet   30.36€    per month

How is that only 124.85€ for all my bills and that includes my yearly House tax. My mate in Kent pays more per month and that's only for his Council tax.

Everything has started to grow nicely

We have been having mixed weather, the forcast says one thing and we get something else. Weeks of nice warm weather then overcast and then rain. Well the blossom has come and gone on most of the fruit trees. The plums, apples and all the cherries have tiny fruits growing.

The orange and lemon trees have blossoms on and soon hopefully they will have fruits growing. 

 On the left is another Apple tree.

Next but no so easy to see is my Blueberry tree.



On the left is again a Plum tree.

Next is my Lemon tree.




 My onions are doing very well and better than last year when the chickens got at them and decided there need was better than mine and they eat the lot.

The strawberries have gone from 4 plants last year to about 30 this year so i should have plenty of nice ripe strawberries to enjoy this year. I have just got myself a strawberry planter, a 5ft high tube that takes 24 plants. The best thing is that it is above the ground away from most ground pests.

I had wanted this year to be growing by using Hydroponics where plants are grown in water instead of soil. On the left hand side of my Blog there are links to Hydroponics.

On the left is my Lettuce.

In the bucket are my Onions





On the left is part of my Apple tree.

Lastly is my Plum tree.

I locked myself out of the house. What a fool

The hard part of doing things as part of my project of improving my house is often a lot is done but can't be seen.

When i moved into the house i found all kinds of tools etc and I put them all in a box to look at later. I locked myself out one day this week and having a key to the door on my veranda hidden outside i was not to concerned. I just had to get my spare key and get in, now that would be easy but i left the key in the veranda door on the inside. In the end i had to break the front door open and in doing so i broke the lock.

Lucky for me i had three door locks in the box of tools in my cellar so all i needed to do was get one of the locks and fit it to the door. Sounds easy. The lock had not been screwed on but in fact was nailed on. The problem here is that all the nails you buy in Portugal are square not round. Having removed nails from timber i have recycled i know how hard it is to get them out. This lock proved no different. Only four nails but not wanting to damage the door frame it took over an hour to just to get them out without any damage.

Thankfully four screws and the job was done.

I managed to get the electrician to call this week to install the switches for my outside lights and to get my ceiling fan connected and working at last.

I have a new fridge and after putting some consideration to how the kitchen worked for me i decided to move the fridge to under one of my work units. The problem being all units where joined together and the granite worktop was fixed to the units as well. I had to cut down one unit and then fit the fridge in the gap i had made for it.

Because i had planned my kitchen well, running cable to put in a socket for the fridge was easy. It was a good job i hadn't had my unit doors made yet or i would have wasted the doors on this unit.






While out shopping i got a loin of pork 2.75 kilo for 9€ that works out to £1.50 per lb. After cutting it in have and slicing one half into steaks the other was to make bacon.

Beautiful sweet cured bacon. Two bacon steaks and enough when packed away in the freezer to keep me going for weeks.

100 gram of salt
100 grams of sugar
1 heap table spoon of Juniper berries crushed and the rest is easy. Now to enjoy



That's not a bad week,

Getting rid of waste

I hate waste of any kind and water waste is high on my list of waste hates. For the last couple of years i have been using the washing up water by putting it on my garden. I only needed four pipes and a couple of elbow joints, drill a few holes and when i pull the plug the garden gets watered.

I did a search on Google to find if water with washing up liquid would do any harm to my plants and i found nothing to concern me so i went ahead.

My five grapevines, onions, strawberries and Red/ Black currants will now get watered more often than the rest of my fruit trees. Also my raised beds are coming on well with onions and carrots already on the go.

When the plug is pulled the waste water now goes down the pipes you can see and waters my plants.

I planted this apple tree last year and forgot about it till today. To my surprise it's covered in flowers that when the bees have got at them should turn into apples.

This is my lemon tree and apart from new leaves growing it has a number of flowers almost open so maybe this year will be the year for my own lemons.

It was party night

My friend June and myself have both just became pensioners, for a long time we had the idea of having a party to celebrate out good fortune in being paid to live in this beautiful country. I don't look to bad for an old age pensioner do I.

June and her husband live not far away from me in Bordeiro a little village just outside of Gois.

It was good to see David turn up as he only arrived back few hours before he had to come out to our meal.

This is June's husband Pete and my new neighbour Madeline. Madeline has had a house built at the top of the lane from me and her house is at the highest point in the village.


















Even animal George the logger boss and Fernando the mechanic turned up and they are local Portuguese. As there are a few Georges the logger boss has our nickname of animal. Mine is Scouse Pete and i wonder why?

A quick mock up and admire my shelves

From when i first started to work on my kitchen i had a dream. I didn't want just any kitchen i wanted a kitchen that i had dreamed about built by me to meet all my needs. It is coming together bit by bit when i have also to complete other works around the house.

I have a large collection of Herbs and Spices all in jars and they needed a home in my kitchen all of there own. It's this amongst other things that have made me start to do things in the house that i never dreamed i would be able to do. I wanted my jars on show instead of hidden away and that meant i needed shelves. I didn't want just any old Pine shelves i wanted to do better after all in have been buying lots of power tools so it was up to me to plan what to do.

A shelf is a shelf and just a bit of wood fixed to the wall. No i wanted something more, i wanted no brackets on show so i had to do a Google search. I found that i could have brackets that where hidden from show or as they advertise invisible brackets. These are pins that screw into the wall and into holes in the shelve but as is mentioned often on TV programs measure twice cut once. Close but not what i did, i used old timber to built a mock up of what i wanted to do. Now i was happy with the results and i had to start all over again but this time i was using some of my old seasoned Chestnut timber.

Before i screw them into placed them in position on top of some big jars. Now that's how i had dreamed it would look.

This is in one corner on the wall by my window with a view.  






The timber is beautifully seasoned and has the grain looking rich and beautiful. Now i need to polish the shelves but not before they are fitted into place. Now is the time to finish the job and that means they need to be rubbed down and polished. Maybe it will take a little time but i can now see how it will look once finished and fitted back in place.

Now that was a nice surprise

It's only three weeks since i had my 65 birthday and tonight the last worry i had has disappeared. I know that when you reach retirement age you get your well earned pension But a big worry. What if something went wrong and the payment didn't come through. What if because the payment didn't arrive I would i have to go back to the UK to sort out what every was wrong..

Well tonight at 12.06 i logged into my bank after ordering a card from Funkypidgeon and i only wanted to check the payment had left my back as it normally does. Yes Funkypidgeon had been paid and i had my pension paid in what a surprise. Wow i didn't expect that quite yet for a few  more days. By 12.10am i had already transfered some money onto my Euro card just in case they want it back.

That's a nice end to a worrying time.  I know i shouldn't worry but What If and now that's all gone life is back to the biggest worry each day is what to have for dinner.

To Celebrate i opened a bottle Of Courvoisier Cognac to toast the next chapter of my life.