It Seems To Work

[poliphilo]

 The central courtyard at the Meeting House is a nice place to sit in summer, furnished with wooden furniture on which time is working its slow magic. There used to be chairs but they have collapsed under us one by one- leaving three benches. A week ago one of these  went at the joints. Two wooden benches are not enough for a garden party.

But the tip shop has garden furniture. Yesterday we- that's Ailz and I- bought three sturdy plastic chairs at a fiver each. We didn't consult, we didn't have a committee meeting, we just did it. 

The courtyard garden is cared for by Anthony. Unpaid. He visits from London and does things when nobody is looking. Bushes get pruned. Bedding plants appear. Last Thursday there were zinnias in a bed where no zinnias had been before. I have met him a couple of times. He's shy. I have never got to the bottom of his devotion to a Meeting House he doesn't attend.....

One of our more recent attenders asked if he could make a donation towards the tea and cake. I said, "Well there's a piggy bank on the kitchen table. But alternatively bring stuff- tea, cakes, biscuits...." I wish I'd added, "Surprise us..." 

I like this haphazard way of keeping things going. The amateurishness.....

Comments

[paserbyp]

Three plastic chairs against two wooden benches? Indeed wood better than plastic and will work much longer…

[poliphilo]

The wooden benches are nice but they're coming to the end of their life. Meanwhile we need something to sit on.

Also a wooden bench would cost several hundred pounds and you can get a lot of second hand plastic chairs for that