We will put that shelf up in August

In the good old days before you were even a twinkle in your Dad's eye Ruby there was something called a "little man". Everybody knew one and they were all over the country. However, the "Little Man" began to become aware of his worth and, as more and more women joined their husbands in the workplace, the "little man's" charges escalated to the point where the "Man of the House" said "I could do this myself"! Emboldened by his first job, painting the gate, he soon turned his hand to other jobs. The "little Man" sat and waited. The "Man of the House" was soon undertaking a wide range of household work from painting and decorating through to building extensions. On the new fangled goggle box Barry Bucknell instructed would be DIYers about the best way to repair or construct what needed to be done. Unfortunately, not too many people had the box so many of these jobs were not done as well as the "Little Man" had done them. Often he would be called in to put right what the "Man of the House" had done wrong. At greater cost of course. Now, the "Little Man" had all week to put right all the little jobs that the "Man of the House" was messing up. The latter on the other hand, only had the weekends and holidays. During the winter he was often disinclined to do these jobs and it wasn't until about August that the constant nagging of his dearly beloved of "Are you going to do that or do I have to get someone in" managed to finally cause a response. So off he goes, armed with his list, measurements and credit/debit card, to the DIY store on Bank Holiday Monday. He returns home laden and for the remaining twelve months all he hears is "Are you going to do that job or is that money just wasted!". He does the job quickly and non too expertly and the following week his wife/partner/SO call her (or him) what you may, calls in a "Little Man" recommended by Mavis across the road to come and do it properly. He's now called a "Property Maintenance Expert" and charges accordingly.

Bank holidays are a good excuse for the do it youself shops to be packed to the rafters.The punters are out and about in their droves,and trolley full after trolley full of wood and nails and tools pass through the car park,and head off home to be turned into a something or other.But I often wonder how much of that stuff that has been purchased turns out as the thing it was meant to be,the item that the goods were purchased to make.It seem sto me the the bank holiday brings out all the good intentions and everyone feels that they maybe ought to do something special with it.The other thiong that always suprises me is if you visit a garden centre,they are mobbed too,and the centres must love bank holidays,the seeds and the plants are flying out at at rate of knots.All the trolleys are stuffed with petunias,primulas,pansies and all the clourful bedding plants that are to be had.We dont venture onto the roads much if there is a public holiday the roads are busy and everyone tends to get a bit of road rage inside of them,the roads are definately a no go for us,and we much prefer to potter about at home and see what we can find to do.

I never noticed that ruby. I think it's a nice idea. Why not build something on a bank holiday. When I'm working I'm just so thankful for the day off! Yes, it does seem that they are used for stores to have sales and then the stores are so crowded I know that I don't even want to go. Wonder how that all got started?