The Chosen Chair

Early this morning we began the big kitchen clear-up, then sat in post-Christmas stupor until after lunch when, coming back to life, I posted https://derrickjknight.com/2022/12/26/crime-punishment/

Jackie gave me the story of the idea, research, and purchase of the captain’s chair given to me yesterday, which made it an even more special gift.

A few weeks ago Flo had decided I needed a desk chair that could swivel to release my knees from under my desk. Jackie, incidentally I thought, at about the same time had insisted on our struggling to raise my desk; I hadn’t seen that as so urgent after all the years I had been using it here. Nevertheless, we did it.

Needless to say, I was not privy to the discussion ensuing from our granddaughter’s idea. Dillon and Flo wished to give me such a comfortable perch for Christmas. Becky and Flo researched the project on line and decided upon one on e-Bay. Our daughter bid in the auction, using her mother’s card to ensure that she could top up the purchase if necessary. Becky’s bid was successful. Jackie and the young couple split the cost.

In order to avoid expensive transport charges, Becky had selected a radius of 50 miles. In the event the chosen chair was available at Emsworth, more or less around the corner from her home. The seller delivered it to a neighbour’s garage, where it stayed until a few days ago when Flo secreted it into our shed.

When I was given it at what I had thought was the end of present giving yesterday I was led to a blanket covering what I thought must be something hidden on the seat of my chair. I soon realised that there was nothing on said seat and that said seat was unfamiliar.

I had uncovered one identical to a chair that I had admired recently when Christina Trevanion made a healthy profit on it on Antiques Road Trip AFTER this whole mission. Even Jackie had not known it would be the same.

This evening we all dined on succulent roast lamb; crisp Yorkshire pudding and roast potatoes; firm broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts; crunchy carrots; and meaty gravy, with which all except Flo drank Prosecco.

43 comments

  1. What a wonderful gift and matching story on how it came to be. I hope you had the best of Christmases and wishing and your family happiness and good health in the new year. Carol

  2. I absolutely love the chair – And how lovely to see you in situ, I now know exactly where you were when we exchanged those daily emails prior to the new site going live.
    PS. Do you have a seat cushion too?

      1. It’s similar in appearance to my husband Graham’s desk chair except his didn’t swivel. It was passed down from his grandfather. He also inherited a lovely oak desk.
        I don’t have the space for either at my side of the house, so Simon uses it in his study.

        I make do with a small IKEA computer desk in my upstairs sitting room!
        My knees work extremely well as a desktop for my kitchen laptop! 😆

  3. Thanks for giving us juicy details on the perfect gift of the swivel chair. The secrecy and surprise were fun to read about. Enjoy!

  4. Such a lot of thoughtful, secret planning for this special gift. So much love has polished this chair-gift to perfection.
    I also like seeing “the room where it happens.” 🙂

  5. That’s a wonderful picture of you, Derrick, on that gorgeous chair. And what a story! I can tell you were totally surprised. And to have it be just like the one you were coveting is quite remarkable. Bravo to your family for pulling off the perfect gift.

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