Lighthearted post - don't panic :-)
I said goodbye to an old friend today.
Been with me from 1974, that's a cool 30 years, never, ever let me down. Always with me, whenever and wherever I've moved, trusted, reliable, sturdy and 'there'.
I had to say goodbye to my paintbrush today. Odd? Yes, probably.
I don't recall paying very much, but it stood the test of time. I can remember spending more time cleaning it that using it, then ensuring it was wrapped in a bit of old brown paper with a rubber band
- not too tight, placed away until I needed it next.
I sat for a moment and tried to remember all the rooms in various houses that it had painted - how once, I'd let a gloss almost dry and had to soak it for ages before giving it a good clean. How I had decorated my late Fathers' new office for the first time - it looked awful - really, so I did it again.
I remembered the various motors which had been the subject of its attention, including 'Rosie', my 1955 Morris Minor (4 door saloon with a split windscreen and 850 side valve engine), my old MkII Jag, beloved Lotus 7 and (equally beloved, for different reasons) Ford Transit... Grumble has a few contributions, the last, it appears.
In later life it had been used little for paint, more for brushing dust out of computers whilst I was fixing them, but it was still the brush I'd turn to first whenever I knew I needed a good finish.
The bristles had worn down to less than 1/4 inch - and was no longer a 'brush'. The wooden handle - once painted itself, was bare and smooth with age. It had had a good life.
As I was also having to do some digging type stuff in the garden, I decided to bury it.
So with prayer and respect, my old friend was laid to rest.
R.I.P. old friend. I doubt B&Q could ever provide a replacement for you.