Dials Antique Clocks – derrickjknight

Repairs And Refurbishment

Although Storm Eowen raged outside the sun shone inside as, first

Andrew Sharp brought back the small Victorian Captain’s chair which had belonged to Jackie’s grandmother and he had returned to its original strength, then

collected our Victorian rocker in need of re-glueing joints and recovering the under side of the stainless steel sprung seat.

I had e-mailed Norman’s Heating with details of our boiler malfunction when they were closed yesterday – Sunday – afternoon. Before Andrew had driven away, not yet 10 a.m., Nathan, the heating engineer, was ringing our doorbell. After I gaped at him and showed him in, I checked my e-mails to find one asking if it was OK for him to come very soon. Clearly it was. He fixed the boiler issues.

Next, it was the turn of Matthew Fairhurst of Dials Antique Clocks to deliver and set up our long case clock on which he had repaired the broken hands and carried out a complete service.

Here he displays the cleaned up workings;

and here he carefully sets it up. The first picture shows him listening intently to the ticking notes. Then he sets the correct time and current position of the moon. The importance of tracking the phases of the moon and description of the young lady who also appears in the window above the dial is shown in https://derrickjknight.com/2016/02/05/phases-of-the-moon/

This evening we dined on Jackie’s tasty pork casserole; boiled potatoes; firm carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts; and moist spinach with which I finished the vinã Albali.

Advent Day 17

This morning I returned for a dental check-up for the first time since my cancer treatment prevented me from attending. There were no further concerns requiring attention.

Later, Martin Fairhurst from Dials Antique Clocks visited to collect the workings of our long case clock in order to repair the broken hands and undertake its ten yearly service.

In readiness for the next storm set to strike tonight, I laid down the few remaining items of garden furniture that Jackie had righted after Darragh’s recent visit.

Pinewood Road is one of a group of developments off Stopples Lane behind the row of shops featured two days ago. Many of the residents are keen to celebrate the season.

I photographed this gallery;

the stand-out display, also included in Jackie’s collection, should be easy to spot.

This evening we dined at Rokali’s, where I enjoyed Garlic Chilli lamb and mushroom rice while Jackie chose her favourite Ponir Shashlik. She drank Diet Coke and I drank Kingfisher beer. Food was excellent as always, as was the friendly, efficient service. White roses on the tables were still fresh.

Dials

I drafted this post against the unfamiliar rhythmic, sonorous, ticking of a proper, analogue, wall clock that was more or less silenced by the various moves after leaving Sutherland Place in 2009. Martin Fairhurst of Dials Antique Clocks has done a grand job of restoring the timepiece to the condition it enjoyed when Michael bought it for Jessica and me about 35 years ago. Not new then, Mr Fairhurst tells me that the movement is American. I suspect that, should anyone other than Scooby, who is now rather hard of hearing, attempt to sleep in our sitting room, they may benefit from a set of ear plugs. You never know, it might help me to keep awake for an entire TV programme.

As I have shown previously, Dials lies at the foot of the exquisitely cobbled Quay Street in Lymington. Jackie drove me there this afternoon, but, it being Saturday, and market day, the car parks were full, so she had to park some distance away,

and I walked round The Quay and up the cobbled slope to the shop, which lies

diagonally opposite Karina’s colourful miniature emporium.

The day was overcast and there had been some rain, but not on my promenade.

Apart from the modern grandfather clock to the left of this browser,

Dials is a treasure trove of attractive antiques,

including a centrally placed telescope.

No self respecting horologist would be without a box of intriguing keys.

Pub food in this country is streets ahead of that of my youth, which was either non existent or not much cop (the food, not my youth). Steak and ale pie is one of the staples. Good as this generally is, it cannot hold a candle to Jackie’s steak and mushroom pie in red wine that she served up this evening with roast potatoes and parsnips, cauliflower cheese, crisp carrots and Brussels sprouts, followed by Co-op laced profiteroles. I enjoyed making a start on Montemajone chianti classico 2011, given to me for Christmas by Helen and Bill.

Lymington Quay

On a wet, mild, morning, I inserted the penultimate section into the garden album, and printed the final batch of photographs.

This afternoon Jackie drove us to Lymington quay and back. She left me to find Dials Antique Clocks, recommended yesterday by Highcliff Watchmakers, while she went in search of Peacocks and baby clothes.

We were both successful. Dials has a most picturesque location at the corner of Quay Street. The clock repairer was happy to tackle a traditional clock bought by Michael for Jessica and me about 35 years ago. He didn’t do battery operated digital clocks like Mum’s carriage clock that had become so corroded that, when Elizabeth cleaned it, the contacts fell off. When I explained that it was one I had bought my mother many years ago, and bore my name as part of her identification of presents to be returned to the donor when the time comes, he changed his mind, although warned me of the cost., which is really not a factor. I have, incidentally, told Mum that I don’t any longer give her a present I wouldn’t want back at a later date.

I left the clocks at the shop and wandered back to the still water.

The only real sign of life, where the boats were all moored, was of the sea birds.

A wagtail bravely advances towards a gull.

Speaking of gulls, surely this mongrel pigeon has at least dual heritage.

Swans were busy preening,

and a pair of sleepy mallards dozed to the rippling sway of their rowing boat.

For our dinner this evening Jackie produced her delicious lamb jalfrezi, chicken tikka, onion and mushroom rice, and an onion bhaji. I drank Old Crafty Hen and The Cook chose sparkling water.