I can’t afford to buy a lot of new stuff. My Bauknecht washing machine is over 20 years old and works fine. I’m the second owner of a 2000 registered Honda car, which works fine. My friendly resonance with objects may not be accidental, I talk to them. I thank all extensions to my day to day functioning daily, including my laptop, for being loyal. In that sense, I’ve written before about the beauty of usage (wabi sabi.)
Lately, I’ve been grieving my most beloved trousers, especially comfortable while sitting in front of the screen, writing and editing. With so much usage the material had grown thin at the bottom. Not having a sewing machine, I decided to visit our local Repair Café today, serviced by volunteers. Bless them.
The hall was buzzing with people wanting repairs for all manner of things, technical and otherwise. What a joy, not only did I meet Sheila, who transferred the back pockets of my trousers to fortify the bottom, I also met the person who is developing a website for this local Repair Café. Since Sheila and I presented a photogenic pair for his camera. I couldn’t resist mentioning that I’m a local author, who has a novel in the local bookshop, and an article in the local paper.
Aha, the man said, these are your writing trousers. So true, my beloved trousers have now acquired the term ‘writing trousers’ and their repair will soon feature on the new Repair Cafe website for the area, together with the mentioning of my book. Here goes a hap-chance opportunity for blowing my trumpet, which may (who knows) travel round the international Repair Café folk.
Check out the Repair Cafe movement. I wholeheartedly approve of this project. More news soon.
Course of Mirrors 