Finishing touches

In a final flurry of felicitous facilitation yesterday evening, Elanor got back from a trip into Burton in search of face cloths and the games compendium just as we were ready to walk back to the lodge. Mind you, the rain had stopped as dramatically as it had started, leaving an amazing wash of sunset light across the marina.

I managed to cook lasagne successfully in the oven, using what I think was the right choice from the eight alternative cooking modes it offers, that is, top and bottom heating elements and the fan on.

It tasted OK (the lasagne not the oven, obviously), that’s the main thing.

Elanor retreated soon after we’d fed and has had a well deserved day off today. We made a lazy start then pottered back over to the lodge, washed up the pots we’d left soaking overnight and applied Danish oil to the remaining wooden furniture, that being the things in the bedrooms.

Sheila also oiled the mirror frames which are looking much better for it. Danish oil proves to be an excellent finish for wood which you want to leave au naturel; it’s easy to apply and buff up, only needs redoing every six months or so and really brings out the best of the grain. It combines the convenience of oil with the sealing effect of varnish. Between oilings, you only need to dust or wipe with a damp cloth.

The only safety precaution specific to it is that cloths soaked in oil may spontaneously combust, so they have to be rinsed in warm soapy water before being thrown out. It obviously makes sense to use your choice of non-woven semi-disposable cloths for the job, and gloves and eye protection are the usual safeguards as with any other such substance.

Having done these jobs and had lunch, we sat around reading and crocheting whilst the dishwasher did its thing. We even watched a bit of telly for the first time in about ten years.

Dara O’Briain School of Hard Sums, since you ask, quite intellectual for the Dave channel I thought.

Finally, some photos of the inside of the lodge:

Twin bedroom

Bathroom

Wet room shower

Kitchen

Dining area

One half of the lounge