This is going to be a shorter than usual post (hooray!) because of the great pile of stone you can see in the photo.It is disgraceful that a man of my age and position in society should have to not only man-handle these quarter ton blocks off the back of the trailer himself, but also get tired and dusty by actually shaping them by hand himself too, over the coming week. My birthday weekend has finished abruptly indeed.
When I transported this stone back from the quarry in Portland (about 80 miles), I ruined a pair of 2500 Kilo ratchet straps by not placing any barrier between them and the sharp edges of the blocks, so I had to buy a new pair. As you can see, when I brought the cut block back from the mason's yard, I diligently placed foam softening under the straps before cranking them up.
In the three miles between the sawyer and my workshop, the foam pads were cut right through, and the straps were cut half-way through. I am now having to buy another new pair. It's getting a bit expensive.
Looking on the positive side, my workshop - being in the countryside - also doubles up as my garden, and is packed with flora and fauna - something that H.I. is quite jealous about, being stuck in the town.
She doesn't have to deal with lumps of stone like this though, but try telling her that.
Don't you have a flunky who could lie between the stones and the straps? The outdoor air would do him or her good.
ReplyDeleteThey wouldn't be able to inhale much of the outdoor air once I have cranked up the straps, but good idea, Cro.
ReplyDeleteAny post with the word(s) "man-handle" in it is a winner with me!
ReplyDeleteTruly disgraceful that "a man of your position" should have to do the dirty work himself! Although, from your latest posts one got the impression that your "position" might be somewhere under a table in a pub! Hehe! Sorry!!!
ReplyDeleteNice to see that you've got something to keep you out of mischief. Can we see some photos of work in progress? Have you got a deadline to work to?
ReplyDeleteHello Tom;
ReplyDeleteWe really do feel for you, but surely a man of your age and position in society should have minions to carry out all of this fetching and carrying, not to mention lifting?
A pretty poor show that you do not!
Watch it Iris. There's only so much truth I can take.
ReplyDeleteThe deadlines expired years ago, Sue.
The trouble is, Hattatts, they all seem to expect money for it these days. It's so difficult to get the staff.
Surely all this manual labor keeps you fit and young. Iris is making me laugh.
ReplyDeletecant you hire a few polish slaves?
ReplyDeleteIris is just about to get blocked, Olive (only joking - she's making me laugh too, in a lop-sided sort of way).
ReplyDeleteI hire polish slaves to clean my car and other sexual services, John. I've got to get rid of those Zlottis somehow, and what with the (alleged) antics of the president of the IMF, they now accept them more eagerly than Euros.
Pppffffrrrrttt!
ReplyDeleteI hope that sound came from your mouth, Iris - or were you just expressing relief about not being blocked?
ReplyDeleteOh my! I didn't even consider that this could be mistaken for a "lady breeze". No, I was just blowing a raspberry. I'm five, you know.
ReplyDelete