Railings

The building next door used to be a church. John has been working on converting it to a home for the past 10 years or so. What might have started off as an interesting development opportunity has turned to a labour of love.

With the saintly forbearance of his wife Pam and with the occasional help of his son Paul and the odd specialist craftsman, it is all John's work. In true Grand designs style, the process has not been straightforward and the standard of workmanship is extraordinary.

He is now on the finishing touches and has started work on the railings which will surround the property. Most people would just get a specialist firm in. Some people would by off-the-shelf railings and get them to fit.

John isn't most or some people. He has bought the metal and is now cutting each to size. He will have to weld them together. He has bought the welder but doesn't know how to weld. He is looking forward to learning - 'should be good fun'.

And he has to bed the railings into the stone using molten lead. Specialist equipment is on its way from Shetland. He has never done that before either.

Some folk are just amazing.

PS I did tell him he should be wearing protective glasses