Longing for the day ...

Lost weekends

When I was growing up, I had plenty of back-breaking jobs. I picked beans, zucchinis and cucumbers. I cleaned toilets. I spent days on horseback. But one thing I never did was work in construction.

Well, I now know what it takes to wield a jackhammer for a day and I've gotta say that anyone who can do that has my undying respect. If I never see a jackhammer again, I'll die happy.

See, we have been planning a new kitchen, to replace the dripping taps, lifting benchtops and decaying chipboard shelves in the one we've got, since the middle of last year. We had one all picked out and the builder told us to call in the middle of February because the'd be busy until then. Last Wednesday we got a call: "Gonna start on Monday".

What this meant, since we had to replace the floors at the same time, was a mad scramble to dig up the tiles, arrange the electrician and lobby the tiler to come early. In the end we decided that I could use a jackhammer as well as anyone, so we'd make it easier by me digging up the tiles in the kitchen. I hired an electric jackhammer and my father-in-law and I went hard at it Saturday monrning.

By Sunday lunch I could not lift the thing any more, so I took it back. The hire place didn't charge me for Sunday morning, which was great.

I have almost got feeling back in hands but will not be able to work on anyting musical for about two weeks ...