That Clock’s Not So Big!

Do not let the great emptiness of Khazad-dum fill your heart, Gimli, son of Gloin.

For the world has grown full of peril.

And in all lands, love is now mingled with grief.

 

The Eleven queen Galadriel speaking to the dwarf Gimli of the Fellowship on the lost dwarf civilization that made it’s home in Moria.

 

Had to get a couple of lines in from the Fellowship there people. When you’re a Lord of the Rings nerd like me these things are important.

Welcome people from distant lands and friends of old! Let us begin again with the forging of the Great Rings of Power! I mean the Hobbit Hollow construction Blog.

Sorry about that….got a little carried away with myself for a second there. That being said I’ve always had this imagination. I mean everyone has one, let’s be real about that. Every time I see something that is old or in ruins I always seem to harken back to what was. But nine times out of ten there is  a Lord of the Rings twist to it. Like this picture I took of an old stone bridge.

Ancient stone bridge built by the dwarves during the first age of Middle Earth. Destroyed by the armies of Sauron in the Second age.
Ancient stone bridge built by the dwarves during the first age of Middle Earth. Destroyed by the armies of Sauron in the Second age.

Okay, I know….Something’s wrong with me.

But seriously…and I’m being totally serious here… Our recent trip to London was a  real take on the glory of past civilizations. As I walked around the city of London, and Cambridge as well, you really got a taste for the glory of the British Empire. How hundreds of years of prosperity were transformed into these great buildings. These buildings were everywhere. It was truly amazing, magnificent, and awe inspiring.

I took a gazillion pictures. It’s almost embarrassing how many pictures I took.

So like I told you all last week we were in London taking in the sites and we’re walking around and we get to Big Ben. You know, Big Ben. The huge clock tower that’s there. So we’re all admiring Big Ben and I say, “Boy that’s a huge clock!” To which daughter Georgia replies, “It’s not that big.”

I was like, “What????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Oh, that’s right, I forgot. Georgia has a really, really big clock in her at home. Yeah that’s right. Now I remember. How could I forget about that one. That one is really big too!

Okay, people I didn’t make that up. Georgia thinks Big Ben isn’t “that big.” I have to show you Big Ben though.

 

Bumped into Bob while crossing the Thames. That clock isn't so big.
Bumped into Bob while crossing the Thames. That clock isn’t so big.

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Anyway. back to construction blogging.

So Terence and I were able to get the last of the skylights installed this weekend. Very satisfying. Things are looking good. I didn’t take very many pictures this week for some reason. What I did take a picture of was a little old trick of the trade that I learned over the years when you’re working by yourself. Which at the time I was.

So If you ever are working by yourself and you need to hold the end of a piece of lumber up to another piece while nailing the other end check this out.

Drive a nail into the end of the board and bend it over.
Drive a nail into the end of the board and bend it over.

In the situation I was in here I put a nail like this on both ends.

Extra hands readily available.
Extra hands readily available.

Now I was able to nail this piece in place. Pretty simple. a few more pictures from the day.

Prepping the final skylight.
Prepping the final skylight.

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A really nice day weather wise.

I hope you are enjoying the holiday season. I am.

Take care and I’ll see you next week!

Jim

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