Early this afternoon we discovered a leak beneath a bathroom tap, dripping into our downstairs utility room. A local plumber could only promise a visit tomorrow afternoon, but said he would try to come later today. Considering that a pretty good response given the shortage of available plumbers nearer than Geelong, we were confined indoors for the rest of the day.
This gave me the opportunity to read more of Charles Dickens’s ‘Our Mutual Friend’, and to scan six more of Charles Keeping’s illustrations demanding that the author’s text accommodate them.
‘She always walked with her husband to the railroad’ has the couple carefully placed in the background.
‘The river and its shores rang to the terrible cry she uttered’
‘ ‘If he ain’t a-going to bathe!’ ‘
‘Mr Fledgeby went rolling over and over again’
‘Dozing women-drunkards’
‘Hours and hours, days and nights he remained in this same condition’
Dave, of D J B Plumbing visited shortly before 6 p.m. and fixed the leak quite quickly at a price less than other firms’ call-out fees. He is a very engaging gentleman, too.
Afterwards we dined on Jackie’s tasty steak and onion pie; crisp Yorkshire pudding and roast potatoes; cauliflower, carrots, cabbage, and broccoli all cooked to perfection; and meaty gravy, with which she drank more of the Pinot Grigio and I drank Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2019.
Today’s Keeping illustrations are very intense!!
Yes, they are, Liz. Thanks very much
You’re welcome, Derrick.
They sure are!
That the art drives the text in this series of books you have is a testament to the art of book-making. How differently things are done today. I am impressed with your plumber too!
Thank you so much, Anne
As usual, such evocative illustrations! I’m glad you were able to have the leak repaired so agreeably.
Thank you very much, Merril
Nothing quite like the relief when a water leak is finally fixed! And the illustrations are, as others have noted, interesting to say the least!
Thanks very much, Maj
Not many things phase me, but a water leak, or a clogged toilet certainly will do the trick. Oh, and snakes.
You probably have more reason to be phased by snakes than we do
Dearth of plumbers, lorry drivers, care workers………
Thanks a lot, Sheree
Lucky to discover that leak, rather than have it insidiously destroy the utility room ceiling. Anyway, a good excuse for the concentration needed to read dickens these days. Aren’t you planning another room refurbishment? I can’t remember where.
So true, Gwen. Several – entrance, hallway, dressing room, bedroom – now set for November. Thanks a lot.
I hope the leak doesn’t get any worse. Supper sounded lovely.
All tight and dry this morning, Sue. Thanks a lot
Hats off to Dave, a pearl beyond price.
Definitely. Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal.
Glad you were able to get the leak fixed.
Yes. Dave is a welcome find, Mrs W. Thanks very much
Your welcome.
Sorry Derrick, still no international flights out of Geelong …
I adored Dicken’s words about ‘home’
“They were not less happy for such talk, and home was not less home for coming after it. Bella was fast developing a perfect genius for home. — He was in a “China house” he explained to Bella ..
I am very pleased that you take pleasure in Dickens’s prose – and of course you didn’t miss the Geelong reference. Cheers, Ivor.
Leaks are the worst. I’m glad you got it fixed, Derrick! Dinner sounds delish!
Certainly. Thanks very much, Jill
I’m glad you got the leak fixed and didn’t have to wait another day.
Yes, indeed, JoAnna. Thanks very much
These things are sent to try us.
Yep. All fine now, though. Thanks a lot, Gary
What wonderful service! Glad the problem is fixed.
Certainly a find. Thanks very much, Laurie
I’m so happy that the plumbing issue was fixed quickly and hopefully without too much damage.
I had not heard the word ‘bivouacked’ before..! Wonderful illustrations – so impressive, what a simple line can do when the implement that draws it is in the right hands.
Well done, Dave; it must have almost been worth finding the leak, as now you have a direct line to such a valuable plumber. Particularly useful as winter approaches!
Jackie’s supper sounds perfectly orchestrated, and perfectly seasonal too.
Thank you very much for your usual perceptive comments, Emma. You are so right about the leak.
… But still, fingers crossed for a dry winter (inside, at least!)
🙂
So glad the leak was fixed…and how wonderful to have an engaging plumber! YAY, Dave! 🙂
From the reading of your first sentence, I thought…”Too bad Ivor can’t come and fix the leak!” 🙂
(((HUGS))) 🙂 <3
So pleased you got it, Carolyn 🙂 X
That made me smile, Carolyn. <3 xxx
Aw, I’m so glad, SweetYvonne! 🙂 <3
I’ve missed enjoying these illustrations, Derrick. Sounds like you’ve found a real gem in the plumber. Good plumbers are hard to find!
Yes. Most reliable, I’d say. Thanks very much, Sandra
Always make friends with a plumber I say!
Yep – thanks Andrew
“Geelong”!!! Another Aussie city whose name has roots in England.
Your choice of wine gets my tick of approval, of course. <3
Plumbers from Geelong can’t get up here to Ballarat due to Covid Lockdowns. But if you want speed, that first illustration of the cart is brilliant.
Thanks a lot, John
Catching up on my reading. Enjoyed this post. Glad the plumber was able to come and help. We’re enjoying a relaxing Friday here. Hope your day is going well.
Yes. Dull but dry. I am still enjoying my moose poop. Thanks very much, Jan X
Just a funny gift … hope it makes you smile. Thinking of our time with you makes me smile! ?
It does 🙂
I am always amazed by the detailed illustrations and the stories that accompany them. I’m glad you found a decent plumber that could quickly resolve the issue.
Thank you very much, Eugi
You’re welcome, Derrick.
It’s a lifetime of artwork dedicated to the occasional wildness introduced by Dickens. I am sure Keeping was neck deep into work catching up with the eccentricities of proceedings and giving them a visual corpus that stands in its own right. Back to our domestic lives, when did we complicate things as simple as plumbing and painting? Makes me want to believe that someday life as projected in the Matrix saga is all going to be true.
Thank you very much, Uma. I have to admit that I have never seen the Matrix saga, but your comments make it clear.
Glad you got a break from the plumber. Another delicious sounding meal.
Thanks very much, Pat
“The terrible cry” with its reflection in the river stopped me in my tracks for quite a while. Certainly all Mr Keeping’s illustrations are outstanding, and the text serving as part of the composition of his art is an ingenious approach, but this one is at the pinnacle of expressing drama. I could not figure out what’s on the bottom of that page, though, even by enlarging.
I share your confusion, Dolly. I can only imagine it is the head of the beaten man she was rescuing – not his clearest image. Thanks very much
My pleasure, Derrick.
I am glad you found a good plumber at reasonable rates! I am still enjoying the Charles Keeping illustrations.
Thanks very much, Lavinia
Sorry about the leak and glad for your luck in getting into a plumber’s calendar so quickly. The illustrations as always, are wonderful, and they suck me in. I keep finding myself reading the book, and wanting to turn the page. Ah, the magic of illustration.
Thank you so much, Crystal
Very profound illustrations! I’m glad the leak was fixed so fast ?
It was a relief – I doubt we would have slept. Thanks very much, Ribana
These illustrations fascinate me. I’ve never seen an illustrated copy of a Dicken’s book before.