Until The Very End

DIY Driftwood Cheeseboard

As mentioned in one of my recent blog posts, my sister got engaged in September 2017. The wedding is fast approaching and Chris and I knew pretty early on that we wanted to give the happy couple a wedding present with a personal touch. We are big fans of working with wood, whether it be tree stumps, drift wood or pallets and therefore, we had been thinking about possible presents for a while.

We collected a piece of driftwood while taking a brisk walk along Bude beach on New Year’s Day and we knew straight away what we wanted to do with it. We’ve not worked with driftwood before but knew it would make a perfect chopping or cheeseboard… and so the cheeseboard project began.

Some of you may think that a cheeseboard is relatively easy and not very labour intensive and we would both agree. It hasn’t taken tons of our time, however, when the happy couple are trying to combine furniture from two different properties the last thing they need is another item of furniture being thrown into the mix. Therefore, Chris and I decided to play it safe. This project still took longer than expected though and with the geographical distance between Chris and I, took some diary management and my love of planning to fit in.

Once we had allowed almost 2 weeks of initial drying time in a bedroom kept at an average temperature, we first needed to cut the piece of drift wood to size using a circular saw. Next, I used an electric sander to tackle the brunt of the work to make the surfaces smooth and then the hand sanding began. The hand sanding was definitely the longest part of the process but was well worth it when you consider the end result.

For those of you thinking this sounds like a one person job, it kind of is. But don’t let that fool you, Chris helped in a big way. While I was busy sanding the drift wood for approximately 3 hours, Chris was busy making cups of tea and with a spare piece of wood, he spent time practicing with the new tool he purchased from Facebook – a hand router – as we were intending to engrave the driftwood with the couples initials and the wedding date.

Whilst Chris’s efforts with the hand router were not in vein, unfortunately we didn’t have a router bit small enough to engrave the cheeseboard with the design we had planned so decided to leave this for another project. Once we were happy that all the surfaces had been sanded and smoothed, Chris applied three coats of teak oil, allowing a couple of hours drying time between each application. This really brought the grain out in the wood and helps to protect against splitting and drying out.

Having applied several coats of oil and ‘completing’ the chopping board, we decided at the last minute it needed some handles. A quick visit to our local DIY store – Properjob – saw us purchase two matte black draw handles that suited the rustic feel perfectly. Granted these did take a little bit of persuasion to fit as the screw were thicker than the pre-drilled holes; a couple of drill bits and pilot holes later and the chopping board was completed.

Completed DIY Driftwood Cheeseboard — Our completed DIY driftwood cheeseboard.

Overall, we were delighted with the end result and when presented to the bridge and groom, they too were grateful and excited to use it. In total this did take a great deal more time than we originally expected but the results in the image above speak volumes. It really is amazing what a bit of imagination, time and effort can achieve. We’re excited to move on to our next project having completed this one.

Products bought and used: Butcher block oil and teak oil and a pair of handles.

Recycled products: Driftwood found on Bude beach.

Tools used: An electric sander, sand paper, hand router and router bits, electric drill and drill bits.

Man hours: 6.

Project hours: 4 weeks including drying time and allowing oil to soak in.

Cups of tea consumed: 4 each.

Overall cost (minus the milk and teabags): About £15 including left over teak oil and sanding paper.

Garlic!

As Chris and I start sharing recipes with you, you will notice a common ingredient in all of our savoury dishes; Garlic!

Garlic on a wooden chopping board

Shortly after becoming friends, Chris and I quickly recognised our mutual love and appreciation for garlic and it is now very uncommon for us to cook a meal without using it as a vital ingredient. So much so that my mum was shocked recently when she saw me cooking a risotto and when asking for a list of the ingredients, garlic was not listed! I have since apologised for such food blasphemy!

For Chris and I, no amount of garlic is too much and we are both very grateful that our families have a mutual love and affection for this culinary spice. My 3 year old niece has even been known to be found walking around the house munching into a bulb of garlic much to her mother’s dismay as fruit was readily available.

Garlic is SUPER healthy

Thankfully garlic is super healthy for you and is an excellent source of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), manganese, selenium and vitamin C.

A typical 100g serving provides:
149 calories	6.4g protein	0.5g fat	33.1g carbohydrates	2.1g fibre

Both Chris and I are have our own garlic stories to tell. Chris recently recalled that when he was younger and visiting Spain on a family holiday, he order garlic bread at a local restaurant. Much to his amazement, the waitress brought him a plate with 2 thickly cut wedges of farmhouse bread and a couple of garlic cloves. When he asked the waitress what he was to do with these, she demonstrated quickly by rubbing one of the cloves in to a slice of the bread. Chris continued to apply garlic to the other remaining slice of bread in this fashion and much to his sheer delight, it was the best garlic experience he had and has ever had! To this day, he is still unsure as to whether it was cooked or raw garlic but has since given up caring as it was delicious.

Chop it, smash it, crush it…

Whether you chop it finely, smash it up in a garlic press or cook the cloves whole, garlic has the ability to add amazing flavour to many dishes. It all depends on how far you are prepared to go to gain that amazing aroma and taste. Whether it be 1 clove or a whole bulb, to all you garlic lovers out there, we salute you!

Debbie and Chris

Milestones

“Remember to celebrate the milestones as you prepare for the road ahead” – Nelson Mandela

Debbie in Desierto De Huacachina, Peru September 2017.

For many reasons 2017 ended up being a big year for me, where various life events took place that personally felt like big milestones.

Milestones occur in everybody’s lives and most of the time we don’t see them coming. Not all milestones are easy to face either. Some are amazing and some hit us out of nowhere. Even if you suspect they are just around the corner, nothing can prepare you for the actual impact. Nonetheless they can define our next steps and the approach we take when looking to the future. The question is, are we able to recognise the milestones and take action to embrace them or do we ignore them and let them pass us by with no intention of adapting?

In 2017 the majority of my milestones revolved around partnership. An area of life that I had personally struggled with and at times, worried I would never find for myself.

In June and August 2017, I stood by two close female friends as they walked down the aisle; in August 2017 my partner and I became just that, a partnership and in September 2017, my sister announced her engagement. All of these moments are milestones in my life because they shook up the dynamics in the key areas of life I hold close to my heart. I had to make a choice. I had to either embrace these changes and let these milestones change me for the better, or ignore them and allow life to carry on the same.

Debbie and Chris on Woolacombe beach 1st January 2018.

Embrace Changes

I chose to embrace the changes. My immediate family number rose to 13 people (this makes me smile from ear to ear), my friendship group has gained two amazing people who I love and trust as much as their wives and I now consider two people and not just myself before making decisions about my future.

Partnership is a milestone worth celebrating and I am so blessed to bear witness to my family and friends finding that person to share life with.

For myself, I can actually say I’ve found my best friend and my partner in crime. He came out of nowhere and shook up my whole life. Now that I look back on it, he’s the one thing I didn’t see coming, he’s the blessing I longed for but worried I would never find.

Milestones can come out of nowhere and when you least expect them. When they occur, grab hold of them with both hands and never let go. Never forget to celebrate them.

Debbie