Won't You Join Me on a Walk?

The weather for March is unbelievable. Blue sky, sunshine, 25C, no snow in sight, crocus blooming, trees budding. I don't remember ever walking wearing sandals and short sleeves in the middle of March before. So won't you join me on a stroll through the town? (No, I'm not wearing my hiking boots from the previous post.... you'll hear more about them in a couple of weeks.)

Like many small towns close to a big city, we are becoming very multi-cultural. The former Missionary Church is now the home of a Coptic Christian congregation.

 A bit further along Main Street, the Presbyterian Church is dispensing some good advice for insomniacs. Update: As Suldog pointed out, there's an apostrophe missing. I think they either don't have one in their box of letters, or someone made off with it.

 Uhoh! More Bad Spelling. I think I might have to donate a dictionary to Card's Appliances.

This metal kinetic sculpture by Ron Baird titled "NUTUM" has stood outside the Latcham Gallery since 1980. It sways in the wind and pivots on it's supporting post. Thirty two years and it hasn't fallen down yet!

Let's pop into the Love of Jo coffee shop for a coffee and a muffin. Don't forget to glance up at those fancy lights.

We'll cross the road and take a seat in the Square in front of the Arts and Entertainment Centre, and look up at the Clock Tower. This was built in 1931, replacing a wooden hose tower that was originally part of a fire hall.
Well, it's 3 o'clock. Time to head home. We'll continue this walk another day. Hope you can join me.

Time to Spring Forward

 Time to turn the clocks forward once more. Does that mean that Spring is here? In my house, I have to start this task early.

First.... wind and adjust the clock the living room.

Mantel clock by Ingraham Co, Bristol, Connecticut, U.S.A.  c. 1890

 This one keeps time perfectly, and strikes on the hour. It's not in the greatest condition, and some of the numbers on the paper dial have disappeared.

Regulator School clock, possibly from 1940s.

Next stop..... the entrance hall.

 This Regulator school clock isn't completely original and has been assembled from parts from various school clocks. But it works although it's a little quirky. If I wind it up too tight, it dings until it runs out of steam. I've heard it ding 56 times! I don't keep count any more when it goes bezerk.

Many years ago OlderSon and YoungerSon were wrestling and knocked the clock off the wall and it fell into a thousand pieces.... well, maybe not quite a thousand, but a lot! I'm amazed that we got it back together and it's always worked.

Long Case clock with painted dial c.1850

Now to the hallway. This is William. I blogged about him and his maker's history previously here.

William is a long case clock in a polished mahogany case, more often known as a Grandfather Clock. He was built by Willam Rippon in South Shields, County Durham, England around 1850, hence his name... William.

When I moved, he wasn't working properly, but a clock repairing friend had a look at William's innards, gave him a few squirts of oil and some kind words, and he seems to be completely recovered.

Cast iron mantel clock c.1910

And now to the kitchen.....

This clock is very heavy, and is made of cast iron by the New Haven Clock Company, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.. It keeps good time when it's wound up, but won't keep going for more than a day. The face and the bezel are loose and I think I have to take this one for some TLC at the clock hospital.

It strikes both the hour and the half hour and has a lovely full throaty sound that resonates in the cast iron case..

Mantel Clock by Sessions Clock Co, Forestville, Connectict, U.S.A. c.1890

The Sessions clock is on the mantel in the family room. It keeps good time, and strikes the hour with a loud "DONG!" and the half hour with a musical high pitched "DING!" All these antique clocks came from auctions or yard sales and I'm rather fond of them. They should all strike at the same time, but that never happens, they all run on their own time. This is not a quiet house at the top of the hour!

If anyone comes to stay, I have to stop them (the clocks, that is)... the ticking and striking drives guests wild! But I don't even hear them any more. 

 One more clock to adjust, but this one doesn't need to be wound up. My retirement gift to remind me of my years spent working at the local natural gas distribution company. As if I could forget!!!!

Clock or gas meter.... you decide!

Well.... that's the clocks adjusted. Now I'm heading to adjust the time on the coffee maker, the microwave, the DVD player, the stove, the 3 bedside clock radios, my watch, the car..... it's never ending!! Time marches on.

Hilary has awarded me POTW! Thanks so much, Hilary. What a lovely surprise.

Wot I Bin Up To

I seem to have been missing from Blogland for the past couple of weeks. Did you miss me? No? oh, well....

I haven't been anywhere exciting, or done anything really blogworthy, just living life as it comes along I suppose. Which is what most people do.

I've been baking bread....

... and last week my former clock repairing neighbour paid me a visit to have a look at William's movement.... William refuses to tick. He got William started, but the clock won't run for more than 20 minutes, and now he won't tick at all. I'm hoping for a return visit from my neighbour. He told me his father was a clockmaker and he grew up in a house with 60 clocks!

Rehearsals are in full swing for the annual Christmas Variety Show. This is the third Christmas we've put on this kind of event at our local theatre.

 I've been making props for the Blacklite version of The Nutcracker.... here's my Sugar Plum Fairy.

 And of course I've been spending plenty of time looking after these naughty little people.....

 ... and tickling these.

 Aren't I lucky?

William

Meet our "William".

William is a long case clock, otherwise known as a "Grandfather Clock", made by William Rippon of South Shields, County Durham, England in the middle of the 19th century, approximately 1850. He's lived on the second floor of our house for almost 15 years (the clock, not Mr Rippon).

The clock has an 8 day mechanism, and a hand painted dial with a typical country scene in the arch. There are date and seconds dials, but the date dial has never been connected.... perhaps he was a no-frills model. He has brass hands, and a wide polished mahogany case.

William Rippon was born at Iveston, Lanchester, County Durham, England, on 18 April 1809, and was baptised 14 August 1809. He was the youngest child of John Rippon and Hannah Short, who were married in 1793.

It's not known where William Rippon apprenticed to learn his craft, but we know he was a clock and watchmaker in South Shields from 1834 to 1864. He operated out of premises at 16 West Holborn 1834-1841, 66 West Holborn 1847-1850, and 83 West Holborn 1855-1864.

William and his wife Mary had no children, and Mary was left a widow on William's death in 1865. By 1871, Mary was described as a "Property owner", but ten years later she had fallen on hard times and was described as a "mangle woman". Mary Rippon died aged 88 in South Shields in 1897.
I wonder how many more examples of William Rippon's clocks are still counting the minutes and chiming the hours. I'm very fond of dear William, and I love hearing his musical tones every hour on the hour. He groans and wheezes a bit at times, but so would you if you were over 150 years old.