So You Want To Build A Shed?
I am not a handyman, far from it and have never professed to be one.
However, Mrs.
Foster (bless her dear little soul) thinks that I, like all other men, was born with a natural ability to complete certain tasks.
She believes that I should all be able to ward off an angry dog (wolf, bear), unblock a clogged chimney, repair a broken-down car and do-for-myself any building task which doesn't involve a crane and steel girders.
So, when I mentioned that I was thinking of buying a shed to store the garden furniture and lawnmower during the winter months, she mockingly replied, "Buying a shed, what on earth for? It surely can't be beyond you to build a simple shed for yourself can it?" Fittingly stung by her comments, I had little choice but to rise to the challenge.
But where to start? Apart from sandcastles and Legos I had never built anything in my life.
My "handyman" abilities could be best summed up by knowing one end of a hammer from another - the wooden end doesn't hurt as much when you hit your thumb with it - so for me to build a shed! You might just as well ask me to add an extra wing to The White House! Somewhat at a loss, but determined to take a stab at it, I did some research on the internet and, as with so many things nowadays, I found a site which was able to help me.
Here I came into contact with a very nice chap called Ted.
Ted is an expert in all things to do with woodwork and construction and, thanks to him, I was able to chose a plan for my shed.
This in itself was a bit of an eye-opener, because I had thought that I would just buy a few planks of wood, hammer them together and, hey presto, I would have a shed.
It was obviously going to be a bit more technical than that.
However, Ted was actually able to show me how to do it and managed to explain it all in layman's terms.
By following the instructions, I was actually able to build a shed which, although not a masterpiece of modern architecture, is functional and, the last time I looked, still standing! And the most encouraging thing for you, dear reader, is that, if I can do it, then you can certainly do it - just ask Mrs Foster! I'm afraid I'll have to leave you here, Mrs.
F thinks she just heard a wolf at the door!
However, Mrs.
Foster (bless her dear little soul) thinks that I, like all other men, was born with a natural ability to complete certain tasks.
She believes that I should all be able to ward off an angry dog (wolf, bear), unblock a clogged chimney, repair a broken-down car and do-for-myself any building task which doesn't involve a crane and steel girders.
So, when I mentioned that I was thinking of buying a shed to store the garden furniture and lawnmower during the winter months, she mockingly replied, "Buying a shed, what on earth for? It surely can't be beyond you to build a simple shed for yourself can it?" Fittingly stung by her comments, I had little choice but to rise to the challenge.
But where to start? Apart from sandcastles and Legos I had never built anything in my life.
My "handyman" abilities could be best summed up by knowing one end of a hammer from another - the wooden end doesn't hurt as much when you hit your thumb with it - so for me to build a shed! You might just as well ask me to add an extra wing to The White House! Somewhat at a loss, but determined to take a stab at it, I did some research on the internet and, as with so many things nowadays, I found a site which was able to help me.
Here I came into contact with a very nice chap called Ted.
Ted is an expert in all things to do with woodwork and construction and, thanks to him, I was able to chose a plan for my shed.
This in itself was a bit of an eye-opener, because I had thought that I would just buy a few planks of wood, hammer them together and, hey presto, I would have a shed.
It was obviously going to be a bit more technical than that.
However, Ted was actually able to show me how to do it and managed to explain it all in layman's terms.
By following the instructions, I was actually able to build a shed which, although not a masterpiece of modern architecture, is functional and, the last time I looked, still standing! And the most encouraging thing for you, dear reader, is that, if I can do it, then you can certainly do it - just ask Mrs Foster! I'm afraid I'll have to leave you here, Mrs.
F thinks she just heard a wolf at the door!
