A Never Ending Tub Of Paint

Being confined to barracks during this lockdown has made me become a very busy person!

Summer Is Here

I’m not complaining, well, I am sort of complaining, but mainly from the aches and pains of DIY. Thankfully, the weather has been gorgeous, one of those English summers that seem to last forever, although I’m in Wales. It has allowed me to get in the garden and get those jobs done, weeding, erecting a new fence, painting the fence and paint the stone wall. This is where it gets a little awkward.

The Wall

The wall is only a couple of feet high and about 12 feet in length. Painting it white would certainly brighten things up in the garden. It just so happens, the local hardware shop which has remained open during lockdown has a special offer on 7.5L tubs of white masonry paint. Just the ticket, so my dear wife (who isn’t restricted to the house at this time) set off to collect this tub of pure white joy. “Is one tub enough?” she asked as I nodded my head in agreement.

Heavy Stuff

She wasn’t gone long and as I greeted her safe return, all I could hear were mumbles of “….bloody heavy thing, I had to carry it down the High Street, bloody ton weight, my arms aching, pins and needles in my hand!” When I asked where the tub of paint was, there was more mumbling, “…. it’s in the boot, too heavy for me to carry, you’ll have to get it yourself.” There were more words than that, but I got the gist of it. To be fair, I was surprised how heavy this tub of paint was.

Reflected Light

I spent the day painting the garden wall, two coats, being very careful not to spill a drop. It did look nice when it was finished and it makes the garden feel bigger. It also reflects a lot of light into the kitchen like when it snows and you get that nice white reflected light in a room. Looking at the tub of paint, I had barely used a drop. What on earth could I do with it? Our house is an old stone cottage and the walls just happened to be painted white! You know what’s coming next, don’t you?

A Bigger Job!

Yep, after touching in a few bits and pieces of house wall that had chipped away and looking at how much paint was still in the tub, I had to get the ladders out and start painting. It’s taken most of the week, but eventually, I have managed to paint the whole house. Some parts I have given it two coats or even more. The strange thing is, there’s still half a tub of paint left. It’s got to the point where I’m painting walls over and over just to use up the paint, but it still doesn’t seem to be going down.

Plenty Of Paint

After much consideration, I have decided to keep the remainder of the paint and store it in the cupboard under the stairs. It will come in handy for any emergency touch-ups that may arise over the next twelve months. I am pleased with my efforts although a little fed up of the colour white. Wouldn’t it be nice if I could have a colourful front to the house, like a ‘Banksy’ type painting of John Lennon? I haven’t the skill set for that kind of thing. Maybe one day.

I do like Graffiti artwork when it’s done properly and here’s a website that has a few favourites.

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63 Comments
  • librepaley
    May 31, 2020

    This made me laugh. Have you read Diary of a Nobody, Charles Pooter buying a tub of red paint and ending out giving everything touch up – including the bath tub, to disastrous results? I have some garden chairs wish I’d never started.

    • Trev
      May 31, 2020

      No, I’ve never read that, but it sounds very similar to this. Thank you, Libre????

  • Peter's pondering
    May 31, 2020

    I’ve a shed full of left over paint of all hues. I’ll drop it all off for you to continue the good work Trev. No, don’t thank me – it’s the least I could do!

    • Trev
      May 31, 2020

      Lol, thanks Peter ????

  • SueW
    May 31, 2020

    I love how you have stayed occupied during the lockdown. I’m not even sure how I’ve passed the time, but I seemed to fill it fairly well, and the weeks since I locked myself away on the 12th March have passed amazingly quickly.

    I’ve still no intention of going anywhere, although I don’t mind the odd visitor, just so long as we maintain physical distancing in the garden and they don’t stay too long!????

    • Trev
      May 31, 2020

      I think the nice weather has helped me too. I have to admit that the time does seem to have past by fairly quick. Stay safe and thank you, Sue. ????

  • Invisibly Me
    May 31, 2020

    Your poor wife hefting that tub. This sounds oddly like me and my father, him wanting the Ronseal paint for the fence, me going to B&Q and waiting half an hour to collect it, then not being able to lift the damn thing to my car. Of course I’d asked several times, “are you sure one is enough?”. Totally wasn’t enough in this instance though, hence a repeated journey was required. I’m now glad it wasn’t enough, I dread to think what he would have gone after to paint if there was any left over! Having painted the whole damn house I can’t help but wonder, how bloody big was that tub??

    I hope you’re enjoying a much-deserved rest from the DIY, Trev. I bet the house looks glorious and pristine. And I bet your wife in future will buy only those tiny tester pots of paint ????
    Caz x

    • Trev
      May 31, 2020

      Thank you Caz. I never had a clue how much was in these tubs. This one is 7.5 litres and I’m sure I could have painted the whole street. I hope it doesn’t need painting again, ever. ????Thank you, Caz. Hope you’re keeping safe

      • Invisibly Me
        May 31, 2020

        If you need something to do with the rest of the paint, fancy painting our house? It’s definitely in need of a fresh lick of paint. I’ve got some ladders here with your name on ’em ????

        • Trev
          May 31, 2020

          Oh my. I would love to, but the mere mention of ladders and I’m shaking like a wreck. I managed to paint our house by joining two broom stales together and fixing a roller onto the end. I just managed to reach the Apex. If you would like to go up the ladders, I will hold them for you? 😉 Thank you, Caz. 🙂

  • susiesopinions
    May 31, 2020

    I’ve got some paint. You want to come over…..

    • susiesopinions
      May 31, 2020

      Just had to reblog it, as I enjoyed it so much.

      • Trev
        May 31, 2020

        Thank you, Susie, I appreciate it very much. I would love to come and paint for you, but alas, I’m on lockdown and the flights are few and far between. ????

        • susiesopinions
          June 1, 2020

          90 dogs today with a heat index of 99. I don’t know how anyone can work outside.

          • Trev
            June 1, 2020

            ????

  • Yetismith
    May 31, 2020

    Trev you are such a treasure. I have a few things that need more than a touch up but sadly it’s not going to happen. I was thrilled yesterday to get two screws put in a wall! “Diary of a Nobody”…I remember that. Very funny.

    • Trev
      May 31, 2020

      Thank you, Yeti. It was only because of lockdown and the extra large tub of paint that I did the job. Otherwise, it would have been left to the elements again. Thank you though for your very kind words, as always, very much appreciated. 🙂

  • azurea20
    May 31, 2020

    Que envidia da leerte.¿ Sabes los que trasmites?. Vida. y vivir aunque sea de cositas pequeñas es grande. Que encierro más entretenido. Envidiable. Felicidades.

    • Trev
      May 31, 2020

      Thank you very much, your kind words are so appreciated. 🙂

  • parkermccoy
    May 31, 2020

    Wow! Haha. The paint may be magical? Perhaps the shopkeeper cast a spell on it. Very interesting stuff, Sod…

    • Trev
      June 1, 2020

      Thank you. I think you’re right. ????

  • Rosaliene Bacchus
    May 31, 2020

    White paint does work wonders in brightening a place and making it appear larger! Problem is you can’t hide the dirt. You’ll definitely need your excess paint for future touch-ups.

    • Trev
      June 1, 2020

      Thank you, Rosaliene, I just hope it doesn’t get dirty too quick ????

  • Herb
    June 1, 2020

    Good job. Of course I can’t let my wife see this, lol.

    • Trev
      June 1, 2020

      Thanks, Herb. Lol, I hear you ????

  • Life in Words
    June 3, 2020

    I completely love the displayed work.

    • Trev
      June 3, 2020

      Thank you ????

  • Aashi D Parekh
    June 4, 2020

    Woww!

    • Trev
      June 4, 2020

      Thank you, Aashi 🙂

  • Ramazan Dengiz
    June 4, 2020

    You’re like a novel character, Trev. Respects

    • Trev
      June 4, 2020

      Thank you, Ramazan ????

  • lorriebowden
    June 7, 2020

    Ah! I was planning to buy a 5 gallon bucket of paint to paint my new home…but now you have me thinking…how will I ever carry it…move it…pour it…???
    Always enjoy reading your posts. Hope you and yours are well!

    • Trev
      June 7, 2020

      Thank you for your very kind words, Lorrie. Very much appreciated. Gosh, a 5 gallon bucket will probably paint the whole town. ????

  • allenrizzi
    June 7, 2020

    You could go with the “Pleasantville” approach….????

    • Trev
      June 7, 2020

      I could do. Thank you, Allen 🙂

  • KINDNESS
    June 8, 2020

    You are the most celebrated Author. ???????????? We the posts. Remember Days of Lives Serial TV program for 42 years. Keep getting on. Thirty years go ???????? I wife character too. Blessings ????????????

    • Trev
      June 8, 2020

      Thank you, Kindness ????

  • Jay
    June 8, 2020

    I just sent Sean out to garage. I was in need of pink paint for a piece of furniture, in just the shade we’d once painted my office. He came back in with red paint. I didn’t look closely enough to see if it was the deep wine red of our upstairs hallway, or the bright poppy red of the downstairs bedroom. I sent him back out. He came back in with pink, but not the soft pink of my office, a much deeper, darker pink that cannot be found on any of our walls. Turns out it was a primer. So, if the soft pink is mia, I wondered if we might find some white to mix up our own colour. Do we even have white? In fact, there is not a single white wall to be found in our whole house.

    • Trev
      June 8, 2020

      Well, if you ever need white, I can recommend you buy a tub of this stuff I bought, it will last you forever. Strangely enough, I don’t have a white wall in our house. White ceilings, but not any walls. Good luck with your decorating and thank you for your comment. 🙂

  • Desire_sturmfrei????????
    June 11, 2020

    Never focused on plane white colour when it came to painting walls…..i always ran behind bright colors…i loved your concept……and the idea to get the things renewed in this lockdown

    • Trev
      June 12, 2020

      Thank you, Desire. I like white on a wall, especially in the summer, it reminds me of the Mediterranean. ????

  • Efrona Mor
    June 13, 2020

    That’s an accomplishment, and I thought I did well by redoing my deck, paining my kitchen and organizing my garage.. I feel very un productive at the moment! (: This is beautiful!

    • Trev
      June 13, 2020

      Thank you, Efrona. I appreciate your kind words. I think we all feel a little unproductive at this time, but hopefully, things will improve. Thank you ????

  • RVS badkamer mengkraan
    June 13, 2020

    This made me laugh. I will check out the rest of your blog.

  • zumpoems
    June 13, 2020

    Always enjoy the few differences between English English and American English, such as boot, bonnet and tub — and always enjoy your posts!

    • Trev
      June 13, 2020

      Thank you, zumpoems, I appreciate your very kind words. Glad that you enjoy the posts. 🙂

  • Craig White
    June 14, 2020

    Classic my friend ????????????????

    • Trev
      June 14, 2020

      Thank you, Craig.

  • conniejjasperson
    June 15, 2020

    Hello, Trev! I meant to comment when I saw this the other day, but I got side tracked because I had to Listerine my house–no virus can survive grandma’s efforts. Anyway, my hubby is retiring in two weeks and we are embarking on some much needed repairs here. Electrical, get rid of ratty carpet–all the fun. We will avoid painting unless we can get someone else to do it.

    • Trev
      June 15, 2020

      Thank you, Connie. Good luck with your hubby retiring and all the repairs. Above all, enjoy yourselves and stay safe. ????

  • America On Coffee
    June 20, 2020

    Perfect are your inspirations.❤️????❤️

    • Trev
      June 20, 2020

      Thank you for your kind words. ????

  • azurea20
    June 21, 2020

    Qué suerte, una casa con jardín. Me encanta la sencillez y armonía que desprende tu post. Es como un elogio a lo cotidiano a lo pequeños, pero que llena una vida tranquila. Me gusta. Y lo del graffiti igual una mañana te despiertas y un voluntario te ha decorado la pared. Pero que sea bonito eh. Salud, amigo.

    • Trev
      June 21, 2020

      Thank you, again, I appreciate your kind words 🙂

  • Thank you, Trev, for visiting my site and liking my work. I have tried to “like” several of your videos, but the button does not seem to be working.

    Hope you are well and happy!

    Cheryl Batavia

    • Trev
      July 5, 2020

      Thank you, Cheryl for letting me know about the videos. I shall look into it. I’m well thank you and hope you are too. ????

  • thewanderingempath
    August 3, 2020

    Amazing! I love it. Great posts. Wonderful to read.

    • Trev
      August 3, 2020

      Thank you very much for your kind words which are very appreciated. Thank you. 🙂

  • caahli
    August 28, 2020

    A miraculous paint you got!! ????????

    • Trev
      August 28, 2020

      Thank you, Caahli. ????

  • brass tap
    September 25, 2020

    I was reading this a month ago. And now I’m back to read it again

    • Trev
      September 25, 2020

      Thank you ????