Stationary Stones

In spare moments over the last few days have been trying to get to grips with the three large, very old concrete pillars at the property entrance. Two hold the extremely heavy swing gates with their large hydraulic pump and the third a smaller foot visitors gate and the post box.

They have never, in their at least 40 year existence, been painted or treated and so being under trees, were pretty well covered in moss and all sealing joints around external boxes were no longer present. Result was wet mail on rainy days.

By this evening at least got to the point where all surfaces have been sanded, all the cracks at least given a coating of plaster, the tops a roof of floor tiles and the sides a covering of white paint. Still needs the metal parts to be primed and painted, the tiles grouted, and sides a second coat of paint.

I do not even want to think about the work needed on the schnörkellig (flourishy) gates and fences themselves. Sort of job one needs to pass on to grandchildren if necessary persuading them they need to do a painter apprenticeship and let them use the gates for their apprenticeship final exam case study which they might then pass by the age of 80 (or official Government pension retirement age, whichever is the longest)