It is tempting not to throw things away, whatever the size of your house, and the problem is worse if your house is big and has extensive cellars.  Earlier this week, I was thinking about a bit of clearing out in the cellars when I came across the floor polisher shown in the image – I refer to the wooden device, not my daughter, who is seen trying to make it work. 

It consists of a wooden box filled with lead and cloaked in material, which on investigation proved to be two layers of felt and then a roughly applied piece of old blanked, which perhaps experience in use had shown either to be easier to push and pull or more effective in doing the job.  The device had survived quite well despite attention from woodworm and moth, though the moth had clearly given up at an early stage after finding the material too dirty.

I have cleaned and polished the lead-filled box and put the polisher for others to try in the Gothic Drawing Room, where there is a bit of exposed oak flooring.  I have also made a Risk Assessment, as you must, and concluded that the risk of anyone injuring him or herself or damaging any pieces of furniture is low, but anyone who manages to move it more than twice will appreciate how hard the physical labour of cleaning used to be.  At the same time, there is a chance that we will get our floor polished, in a small area, rather in the same way as those with safari parks have some of their animals fed by selling packets of feed to visitors to give out.

James H-B   29th August  

Jools Holland returned to play in the Park last Saturday.  His guest stars included Marc Almond, Mel C and Ruby Turner.  Ticket sales accelerated as the date approached, and the weather kept fine.  We now have a Public Entertainment Licence for events for up to 10,000 people, so the process of arranging it all was made much easier.  

The evening started well as everyone arrived well in advance and the access and parking arrangements worked better than in the past.   Jools himself was certainly on time and played with great brilliance, energy and enthusiasm.  The ominous black cloud that appeared over the site deposited some rain, but luckily not too much.  By the time I had gone back to the house to collect umbrellas, it had stopped.  If I had not gone, no doubt it would have continued.

A gap was left in front of the stage, and once the music started, it quickly filled up.  Grass is not the ideal dancing surface, though better than mud, but that did not stop the evening developing into a happy giant disco.  As the acts warmed up, so the crush increased, and everyone seemed to have a great time.

Jools commented afterwards that Eastnor had provided a great audience, which must be what the performers want.  They certainly gave their best, and we look forward to having them back before too long.

JH-B   1 August 2014