After almost a four year wait, an odd job was finally completed today. It only took a handful of minutes to actually go, but organizing the materials took time, because the place I needed to go, was only open during work hours, when I couldn't get there. All I needed is in the picture below, a 4mm screw rod.
The trouble was that the hardware stores don't stock them in that size, which is kind of silly as 4mm is the size for all the little door knobs and the like, which is what I needed it for.
We have a "bespoke" door (randomly made) for our walk-in wardrobe, as we converted the cold attic space, and the ceiling slants. The door is the thickness of the wall that separates the room, and it kind of blends into the surface to hid it a bit. However, for four years it has had a screw on one side to serve as a handle, and nothing on the other, so getting closed in there meant putting fingers under the door to get back out.
It now has nobs on both sides.
In an old house, nothing is standard abd this causes many problems with fitting, which costs more, and takes heaps more time to organize. While it is nice to have "different" than others, it is a hassle to do it, and maintain it at times. It is no wonder places like Ikea do so well, because they make it so incredibly easy to fit things together - even if it is self-assembly.
But, one of the costs of disposable convenience is the loss of craftsmanship, because as there is less demand for handmade, less people develop the skills. This is not just at the professional level either, it's also for the home handyman like me, who can generally by near complete, rather than building from near scratch.
Men used to spend the weekend working on their cars and houses, building this and that, and using their hands. But, I don't see many young people doing this anymore, preferring to pay someone when they need work done, or renting do it is someone else's issue to worry about maintenance.
A renters world.
The convenience of being a renter is far higher than an owner, but the cost of renting generally comes at a premium. All these people paying for scooters to get around faster instead of walking, but where are they going that requires such haste?
And it is this instant gratification, the feeling of getting somewhere faster, that people crave. Not the journey, nor even the outcome. We seem to be rushing through life, but getting nowhere valuable.
But down the track, after years of renting, what does one hold of value? Are skills in place, is there something tangible to trade, were the experiences worth it?
Perhaps.
For me at least, while it took some time to organize, it also feels good to ba able to walk through a door, I played a part in creating.
Taraz
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