Bad words

As we grow up we soon learn which words of our language are acceptable and which ones are not.  Sometimes we learn this the hard way.  I never learned French when I was young, but I have come to know the word ciel, from which, presumably,  our word ceiling is derived, and I am moving it into the 'bad word' category.  A simple translation of ciel into English is 'sky', as in 'up in the .....'  The reason for this innocuous word coming into prominence in my life has been that I've spent the last two days installing the ceiling battens in the Trainbarn.  Sounds fairly straightforward when you say it like that, doesn't it?  As I've said in previous posts I really like the proportions of the Trainbarn, particularly the spaciousness afforded by the high ceiling, and the portal-frame-like scissor trusses.  Note the words 'high ceiling'.  All well and good until you're the bunny who gets to actually take part in installing said high ceiling!  The apex of the ceiling is 4.5 metres, or 15 feet in the old money.  And let me tell you that standing fifteen feet up on wobbly trestles (another bad word) using both hands to achieve the task in hand, therefore not leaving any hands to hold onto something firm, is actually not much fun for someone not used to it.  Once again an increase in respect for anyone involved in the building industry!!  Builders are my new heroes!!

Anyway, they're done.  But please learn from my 'experience'- if your best mate who's been doing home reno's asks you to come and give a hand with the ceiling battens, assuming he's not a Hobbit with six feet high ceilings, you very quickly need to think of a good excuse why you'll be away that weekend!!  And if the words plasterboard/ Gyprock and ceiling are uttered in the same sentence then it's probably a very good time to fake a heart attack.  My plasterboard ceilings, of course, remain to be done, but sadly that'll be the weekend of my Great Aunt's 95th birthday in ............... (insert anywhere except here).

In better (and lower) news, the builders have framed up the portico entryway over the verandah and it looks fabulous!!  It'll really set the building off well.  Photos tomorrow hopefully, unless it snows, which it is forecast to do.