Wednesday, May 20, 2009

R Is For Repair

Putting All The Pieces Back Together

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


I’ve always enjoyed fixing things. But, lest you get the wrong impression, let me assure you that I am not your normal handyman. I’m not good with power tools, I’m not gifted when it comes to dealing with hammers and nails and wrenches and chainsaws.

But if you’ve broken something, bring it round and chances are I’ll be able to put it together again. The Authorbloglets, from the time they were very little, had supreme faith in my ability to painstakingly glue things back together again.

Some years ago, one of them dropped a very large novelty ceramic Tweety Bird cup. Dropped it on the tiles, that is. There were shards of the cup everywhere.

But the Authorbloglet implored me to try. Just to try. It didn’t matter if I failed, but surely I could attempt it?


So of course I did. And solving the hundred-piece jigsaw became irresistible. Piece by piece, I managed to put it all back together again. It still sits somewhere at Casa Authorblog as testimony to my patience. Maybe it all stems from childhood hours spent putting together intricate little pieces in my aeromodelling days.

But my true test came on a scorching January morning during our recent summer of the bushfires. I was up early and at my desk in the study when I heard a strange sound. Something had fallen. Something fairly heavy. But I could not identify what it was.

I walked around the house and then realised a crystal candlestick had been knocked over by a lace curtain billowing in the morning breeze.

The nether regions of the candlestick were intact. But the top was, as they say in the classics, history.

But if ya have a little time to spare and ya have the right mindset, there’s no knowing what ya can successfully repair next. And the same approach applies to life itself.


For the home of ABC Wednesday, go to Mrs Nesbitt's Place.

45 comments:

Jinksy said...

I remember once spending hours with a piece of fine wet-and-dry sandpaper, plus a lot of patience, to remove a tiny chip in the top of a crystal goblet... Make do and mend has a lot to commend it as a life enhancing sill!
Thinks... my son's first words were 'Mend it!' Needless to say he's grown up to be a pass master in the art, too!

Jinksy said...

Um ---that would be life enhancing SKILL..

Maureen said...

Ha! Very good. I need you around my place. My hubby only breaks things, never fixes them. And then he blames a cat...

Bradley Hsi said...

Looking at the photos, I am still wondering they are taken before the break or after the repair. If they are after the repair, you are good.

Annie said...

Well done David! What a fixit-man you are!!

I liked the My World autumn colors and the spider lily too. Glad someone identified it for you...I have them growing in Brisbane also...they usually flower at the end of January there.terdsma

Annie said...

oops...I was trying to type the word verification thingy in the wrong spot!!

Carol said...

Blimey your good!!! I think I would have just cried!!

C x

spacedlaw said...

Strange to think a simple lace curtain could do that much damage!
Well done.

Rune Eide said...

Amazing - both patience and photography! I need some lessons in taking pictures of glass.

Shadow said...

mmmm, looks perfect to me...

Leslie: said...

When my younger daughter was taking Archaeology at college, one project they had to do was this: put garden pot into a garbage bag, swing the bag around and smash it on the ground. Then take out all the pieces, number each one, and put it all back together again. Whew! I still use that pot to hold pens and pencils right here on my desk in the study. Talk about patience and small motor coordination! I'll have to send you a photo of it!

Unknown said...

Yes, we all go about repairing things and our life on a daily basis... if we're lucky as you are.

Beatiful sentiment David.

Daryl said...

Excellent workmanship!

Husband has a similar talent for untangling thin necklace chains which somehow I always manage to turn into knotted messes ...

You both have patience, a trait I seem to lack.

Rosaria Williams said...

..a little time to spare and the right mindset..
Isn't that the situation we all want? Good for you for helping your authorblogettes.

Anonymous said...

You are Humpy Dumpty's hero! :) It's kinda cool to be able to put something that's broken back together again... I applaud your patience! :)

Maggie May said...

That is quite a skill to have. Things get broken here all the time. I shall have to send them over!
Lovely photos.

♥ Braja said...

"But if you’ve broken something, bring it round and chances are I’ll be able to put it together again." Ah, David...it's about one of those Tata trucks and my poor wee body breaking on it :_

The Quintessential Magpie said...

That's a neat ability to have, David! We used to fix old houses that other people thought of as wrecks. There's something very satisfying in fixing something that is thought of hopeless. I've often thought that must be close to God's own heart since He's in the business of fixing people.

Sheila :-)

Jazz said...

Wow. I just don't have the patience.

A Brit in Tennessee said...

I have a Sadler teapot "Alice in Wonderland" which came to an unfortunate tumble down the rabbit hole...
What do you think shipping costs would be to Aussieland, I'll let you have a go ;)

Cheffie-Mom said...

Wow, who would have thought you could find a life lesson in repairing a broken candlestick. Beautiful!

Sniffles and Smiles said...

Fabulous!!! You shed light on all of life so beautifully! ~Janine

Janie said...

Your repair looks great. That attests to the fact that time and persistence can indeed repair almost anything.

Sylvia K said...

David, you are soooo good at everything! Must be wonderful! We should all be half as talented at putting the broken back together! Great shots as always!

Maria-Thérèse ~ www.afiori.com said...

When I was very little my balloon broke and I asked my dad to fix it. That's how much I believed in him.

Thumbelina said...

That is a genius of a post. First in the title and then in the concept and finally the principle at the end. Lots of patience required... and definitely can apply to life. It is so fragile after all, and everything in it is.

Great post. Well fixed sir!

Hilary said...

I have the patience to untangle delicate chains, string or even fishing line, but I'll leave the smitherine-gluing to you! Great shots!

Jane Hards Photography said...

Rather you than me on this one. I like puzzles, but not repairs.

Tumblewords: said...

Wow! What a job! It tickles me that the 'bloglets' encouraged you to mend their Tweety Bird Cup. Nice post!

Eddie Bluelights said...

Will have to add "Mr Fix It" to your endless attributes. Great repair job and great photos.

Beth said...

You are a regular Mr. Fix It aren't you?

Kelly H-Y said...

Impressive ... can't even tell it was ever broken!

Eve said...

Great job! I love the little photo hints as the story progresses. ;)

myonlyphoto said...

Excellent job David. Sometimes you never know what you can do or do not, lol. Anna :)

M said...

Nice handiwork! My husband is good at gluing too...I am not so hot at it....he is also good with power tools...he can fix anything...even the computer...but not with pwer tools- he's not much of a writer...well, he is a technical writer at work but that's boring stuff to me!
Happy Wednesday!

Sharon Rose said...

Okay, this post is my daily inspiration. I am impressed with your patience to piece things back together. However, I am blown away with the analogy you gave it to life.
I needed to hear that today. Thanks!

Ann said...

You have the most wonderful patience.
Being rather clumsy, I buy superglue like people buy a loaf of bread.
If only I could learn to apply more to injured ornament/boot/pot/anything breakable, instead of fingers, I spend more time prising them off the object, leaving skin and black marks behind, where the black marks come from, I know not, but they always seem to be there.

Maureen, I too would blame the cat, only problem is we don't have one.

ArneA said...

)
I could have ured the R for Repair myself, but used is used. The winner takes it all.
I think I go for Rawa

Roger Owen Green said...

Repair - not my strength, so I always admire those who do.

Indrani said...

This is amazing!
You are extremely talented in fine settings and fixings. :)

kylie said...

great analogy, david
great mending, too

i'm so glad there are still people who take the trouble

cheers

Reader Wil said...

Ah here's your "R" word! And a very beautiful one! How clever of you to piece this broken crystal together. Amazing that it's as good as new!

Rose said...

That's pretty amazing! I have a broken base to my ceramic birdbath...wish I had your patience and talent to fix it:)
Thanks for sharing!

raf said...

Skillful with repairs indeed, David, but not to be outdone by your masterful photography. Especially like that first shot of the magnified cloth patterns under the crystal. Exceptional post, as always!

sallymandy said...

How sweet...the Authorbloglets.

My daughter thinks that her mom, armed with Glue Gun, can fix anything. Mostly I can...but I don't know about that crystal candlestick.

Thanks for the visit to my blog. That mouse/helmet/mousetrap photograph made my day.

You have a great blog here.

Sallymandy