There doesn’t seem to me to be a greater contrast than that between August and September at the moment. While we were still packed in August, people seem to be slowing down in the first weeks of September. Many restaurants are closed and I hear from various suppliers that this also applies to a large number of other companies. No problem. Not only we, but also the house, could use a breather. Even though most of our Bed & Breakfast is new (or renovated), the large number of different guests has left some traces here and there. Add to that the small jobs that are always left after a major renovation, and I am happy that I can free up a little time for the necessary maintenance. But since I have relatively little DIY experience (other than painting) myself, I have to carefully weigh my options in advance.
Of course I could sign up for B&B Vol Liefde*. I have not seen the first three seasons, but – based on what I see happening in the current season – the intention is to invite candidates who can help the owner with the overdue maintenance of the property. Right? But because I fear that it will take some time before they start filming again, I am not eager to be criticized on national television or by the twittering Dutch and I would not want to choose my future partner based on his handyman qualities, I am not going to take this option into further consideration for the time being. But maybe I could go to the Mercadona this week? Between about seven and eight in the evening. With an upside-down pineapple in my shopping cart only to “accidentally” (on purpose) bump into a handy-looking man in the wine aisle. Bonus points if he’s still wearing clothes that look like he’s been doing some odd jobs just before going to the supermarket. But I also decide to rule out this scenario for now. I don’t like being dependent on others.
So as I blow the dust off the chore list again and add a few things here and there, I know there is only one option left. I ask my father, who is not allowed to do any work on his own house for a week due to an accident with the circular saw, to teach me a few things. Under the watchful eye of our critical super handyman, I not only hang various hooks, signs and paintings on the wall – but I also put handles on one of the sliding doors, connect some lamps and even reseal one of the guest showers. But while I try to use the drill carefully (i.e. calmly), my father occasionally asks if I am planning to hang that hook/sign/painting this week. I look at him indignantly. I’m drilling a hole in our sliding door. A mistake in a plasterboard wall is easy to repair, but if possible I prefer to put the handles on the door in just one go. If not, it might be difficult to fix later. And even though my father occasionally points out that I am turning in the wrong direction while I confidently keep repeating “lefty-loosey, righty-tighty” in my head, we eventually manage to complete all the jobs successfully (and well within this week). I look at the result with satisfaction. Not everything is perfect, but for a first time it’s not bad at all. If I’m not careful, I will soon be invited by another candidate to his Bed & Breakfast to come and do some odd jobs for him. Oh well, why not? At least I now know how to motivate him.
*In the Netherlands there is a very famous television show called “B&B Vol Liefde”, where they film people who run a Bed & Breakfast abroad and are looking for love. They invite potential love candidates to their home, but instead of looking for love, the participants more often seem to be looking for publicity or someone to help with odd jobs.