(Also Known as: Please Don’t Look in the Barn Until I’ve Spoken to You)
Tales of Treasure Hunting: Paul, A Van, and a Grandfather Clock
It’s a very good job that:
- Paul trusts me.
- Paul has a good sense of humour.
- Paul is patient.
- Paul is forgiving.
- Paul has a van and fetches things.
- Paul knows me inside out.
Otherwise, we may not actually be celebrating 35 years of marriage this year, and I may be a sad and lonely woman surrounded by junk and animals.
The Grandfather Clock Incident
Inspiration strikes me at the oddest of moments. A few months ago on the way home from work, I popped into the Co-op for some bread and somehow fell into the junk shop opposite (as you do). It was unusually open late due to a delivery, which, naturally, felt like a sign from the universe. Within minutes, I had been welcomed in, engaged in enthusiastic chatter, and had acquired an enormous, ornate mahogany Grandfather clock case – no clock workings, just the case. Because obviously, I needed one.
The shop owner assured me that it would split in two and fit into my car. He would see that it did. And indeed, after much huffing, puffing, and questionable spatial awareness, we made it work. A mere forty-mile drive home in the rain with limited visibility? A small price to pay for such a treasure.
And before I had even clicked my seatbelt, my mind was racing with ideas. This was not for the house—our ceilings are far too low. No, no, no. This was destined to become a bookshelf, a curio cabinet for the cabin. A piece of history, repurposed for future stories. My excitement was mounting…
Now, the real challenge: selling this idea to Paul. Because, let’s be honest, I could hardly hide a Grandfather clock case in the barn until the right moment presented itself.
Breaking the News
As I pulled up to the house, Paul’s cheerful face popped out of the barn, having just finished feeding the bottle lambs. The perfect moment to come clean.
“So, err, I’ve bought a Grandfather clock case. It’s in the car. It was only £40.”
Mock horror.
“I know when you’re up to something if you’re late back without a text. I always know.” (He does.)
He smiled. I smiled. He rolled his eyes and shook his head with a wry grin. And just like that, I had a happy husband and a Grandfather clock case. Whether he truly liked the idea, had simply given up, or was just relieved that I had collected it myself remains a mystery. Either way, I count that as a win.
A History of Acquisitions
Of course, this is far from an isolated incident. Over the years, there have been surprise ducks, hens, sheep (which have varied in reception), and an endless list of things. I’ve never felt the need to acquire a surprise horse (this is my domain, and equine additions are never rash decisions), though I remain mildly haunted and traumatised by some of Grandad’s ‘bargains’ from Henley Horse Sale.
This knack for collecting oddities runs in the family. Our son, Alex, has inherited my enthusiasm for a good find, much to Paul’s barely-contained horror. While our daughter has taken after my grandmother—she bakes rather than bargains, much to the relief of her husband. Though even he has had a taste of our ways; during a two-trip livestock pickup, their house became a temporary layover for 5 Maran hens, which escaped their boxes mid-football match. His solution? Ignore them and keep watching the game. We still laugh about it.
In more recent years, Facebook Marketplace has become both a blessing and a curse—a blessing for me, a curse for Paul. The words “When will you be near XYZ again?” have become synonymous with impending collection duties. He sighs, he rolls his eyes, he occasionally says a firm ‘no’—but more often than not, my long-suffering husband makes a detour to collect yet another ‘thing of interest or use.’ He’s a love!
The Cabin and Its Eclectic Charm
I will, however, defend myself here. My home, and our cabin, are filled with treasures—second-hand finds, reclaimed materials, and unique pieces that have been rescued and repurposed with love. Nothing is wasted, and everything has a story. The vast majority of our furnishings are bargains that have been carefully selected and given a new lease of life.
The Grandfather clock case? It falls squarely into this category. A forgotten relic, reimagined into something both beautiful and functional. And in the end, it found its true calling as The Clocktail Cabinet — a quirky, elegant drinks cabinet in the cabin, where guests can mix up something special as they relax and unwind. The transformation was simple yet magical: shelving added for bottles and glasses, a soft glow of interior lighting, and a nod to its past with the clock face subtly repurposed into a decorative feature. Now, instead of chiming the hours, it serves as the perfect place for an evening tipple under the stars.
What better way to honour an object deemed fit for nothing than to transform it into a cherished centrepiece?
And so, to Paul: Hear me out, my love. Because while our life together may be filled with unexpected deliveries, spontaneous livestock, and the occasional head-shaking moment, it is also filled with laughter, creativity, and a love that has lasted 35 years—despite the ever-growing collection of ‘treasures.’