I have joked for years that I am an Ikea carpenter. I said this partially because it seemed we were often putting together IKEA furniture – usually dressers! Strangely enough both my grandfathers were carpenters, yet that gift did not seem to be handed down to me in my own DNA.

But this weekend with some help from carpenter son Phil, I did manage to build something myself. It wasn’t that hard but I really enjoyed sorting out the issues and getting it together.

The suggestion came from Phil that I should do this and in preparation for the kitchen project so we have something to work on! Great suggestion Phil!!

I find satisfaction in many things but rarely has it involved working with my hands. Perhaps the only thing close to this was in my late teens I worked on my car, changing out the thermostat, putting in new spark plugs and adjusting the gap, putting in a new distributor cap and adjusting the timing… that sort of thing.

On Saturday as I dropped the plywood top on the frame and it was both level and square I felt a deep sense of satisfaction. Now I recognize this is far from building a canoe Kerry, or a house..or many other things. But for me it was a moment of real joy! “I did it” was what immediately came to mind! The guy who struggles to get the nail into the wood straight – did it!

So here’s the final product! Send your cards and letters of congratulations.