Pressing Necessity

Today I had had my fill of photographing raindrops inside or outside our window panes, so, with precipitation persisting, I prised the protesting ironing board out of the utility room where it has languished since before Christmas, and made a start on eight months of neglected ironing.

I managed a dozen shirts.

Later Jackie took over, adding two pairs of trousers, and starting on a pile of serviettes.

By the end of the day, although a little cool, the sun was in evidence, the breeze had dropped, the chairs were dry, and we were able to enjoy pre-dinner drinks on the patio admiring blooms such as

these, all labelled in the gallery, except for the lilies just around the corner, from our chairs.

Our dinner consisted of cheese-centred haddock fish cakes; piquant cauliflower cheese; peas, sweet corn and carrots, with which Jackie finished the Zesty and I drank La Vieille Ferme red wine 2022

82 comments

  1. GREAT title!
    OOH, things are getting hot and steamy! (HA! wink, wink!) Way to go on the ironing, you two! Good job! And you are smart iron-ers…using an ironing board. (I heard once about a label on some irons saying, “WARNING: Never iron clothes on body!” Eek!)

    Glad you had some outdoor time to spend amongst the flowers! 🙂
    (((HUGS))) ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

  2. Eight months of ironing? Wow !!

    I used to love ironing and would box up my husbands shirts perfectly; hangers are no good when travelling – the children’s school shirts were hung on hangers and sheets and pillow cases neatly folded. Then I would stand back and admire my efforts!
    Today most things seem to be crease free, my standards have slipped and apart from occasional shirts for Joshua I hardly ever iron.

    1. Those are some impressive standards which I will never meet, Sue. Thanks you very much

  3. I see from the comments, that I’m not the only one who has no idea where the iron is. I think maybe one of us used it about 15 years ago. 🙂
    Your flower gallery is gorgeous.

  4. When I was a sales rep and had to look smart I used to iron (and I even used to have a sleeve board). I also had a large selection of ties. Apart from the funerals of my parents I have not worn an ironed shirt or a tie for over 30 years. Your diligence is a credit to you.

  5. I haven’t ironed in ages. A shirt looks so much better when it’s nice and crisp and it was my pleasure to iron my late husband’s shirts (even if we bought the no-iron type!)

  6. Impressive work with the ironing! I rarely iron anymore. David irons for special occasions. I’m glad you got to enjoy the beautiful garden. Your flowers look magical!

    1. Probably because you like it and don’t have to spend so much time on the garden 🙂 Thanks very much, Sylvie

  7. I am so impressed that Derrick made the first assault on the ironing. I have never known a single man who knew how to iron or even attempted it! That said, I must admit I haven’t ironed since I moved to Mexico 22 years ago. Although I never asked her to, Yolanda started ironing everything the minute she started working for me and I have never wrestled the iron from her hand! I have, however, discovered that and occasional wrinkle can be removed from garments simply by putting it on and directing the hairdryer toward it! Sometimes it requires stretching the garment out while blowing hot air at it, but it always works. Probably too tedious to iron an entire garment this way but works well for a wrinkle now and then.

  8. I have to smile at the comments re your decision to tackle the ironing. I iron only to prevent an overflowing pile: cotton clothes (against the heat) tend to return from drying in the sunshine in a very wrinkled state. That aside: you still have beautiful flowers to admire and it is admirable that you were able to enjoy your pre-dinner drinks on the patio – the way to go!

    1. Thanks very much, Ribana. That was the same for me when I was working and wouldn’t be wearing T-shirts 🙂

  9. Great minds think alike, we know how to make use of a heavy rain day ????. I had my share of ironing on Sunday. Lovely flowers as usual.

  10. My pet hate – ironing. I did way to much over the years with a husband in the military and then there was the teen years where if I didn’t iron, they looked like orphans.

    I knew you would enjoy that new patio and the flowers… I can almost smell their aroma.

  11. I used to love to iron and when I was in college, I would iron for my fellow classmates. These days, I don’t know where our iron is and perhaps, I should look for it. LOL.

  12. The pun in the title is a universally procrastinated activity completion of which smoothens up yards of wrinkles troubling everyday living. I admire your courage and valour in addressing the problem, and appreciate the beautiful captures blooming in the gallery.

  13. Eight months later?? Wow! What energy you must have. I do not iron. I used to when I worked, and that was only occasionally. Now, I am too set in my lazy ways to want to tackle that. There are more things for me to do in my day, than ironing. Hah! But, I salute you Derrick, for your enthusiasm to want to finish this chore.
    Lovely blooms.

  14. I don’t iron much these days, a few patches on worn out bluejean knees. 🙂

    I enjoy seeing the gorgeous flowers, Derrick and Jackie. It is so hot and dry here not much blooms except mint and coast dandelion growing int he shadier areas right now.

  15. I’m impressed at your ironing skills Derrick. My OH never irons anything but it’s probably just as well as he’d probably scorch it. TBH not many of our clothes actually require ironing. I find getting them out of the dryer as soon as it’s stopped, shaking and hanging them up ensures most of the creases drop out. I can then just fold and put away.

    1. Your method is Jackie’s preference; because I remember the first nylon shirts, I’m a stickler for cotton so it is only right that I do them. Thanks very much, Sheree.

  16. glad you and Jackie enjoyed an evening at the patio 🙂 beautiful flowers 🙂 i can’t remember the last time i ironed 🙂 least favorite thing.

  17. If I only lived closer. One of the four lessons my mother insisted upon was learning how to iron a man’s dress shirt! I have had no need for the skill since Charlie traded in his dress clothes for jeans and tshirts for outside work.

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