Or, as it happens, NOT choosing the curtains.
On reflection I think this was the only outcome possible when 11 people forgather (8 women and 3 men) and are faced with 3 big books of fabric swatches. An exercise doomed to fail from the outset. The fabric designs were, without exception, some of the most horrid known to mankind - either big 'n' bold or big 'n' bland. Throw into the pot a half acre of floor the colour of a mushy pea and a choice of chairs upholstered in blue, gold or claret and the potential combinations become mind boggling...
In truth I expect any of the fabrics would work - I mean, who actually studies the curtains in village halls? Very few people I expect - except when the evening's speaker is so dull that counting the floor tiles or repeats on the fabric is a more attractive option than listening. I have done that.
Tonight nobody could make their mind up or be assertive enough to insist on fabric 'A' with chair 'C' rather than fabric 'B' and chair 'D'. Should it be orangey-sand or sandy-orange with swirls. With a little green. Not blue. Definitely NOT blue. And nobody, but nobody, likes pink with orange. A lone voice pipes up in favour of blue. And blue chairs......to be shouted down. Gold chairs. With black legs. It is after all a Big Decision. I really don't know what the answer is - I suppose I will go with the majority decision - this isn't the time and place for mouthing off design-wise, it's their village, their hall and I'm no'but a relative incomer.
Two hours in and with no decision made we are all losing the will to live and wilting - the heating system is running at full bore, being tested maybe. Little sub-groups of red-faced people have formed and cluster around open windows to gulp gratefully at the cool night air. (It's good to know that the heating is working so well. It is like spending an evening in the tropics without the luxury of the Indian Ocean to dip in.) One by one people drift away homewards, nothing chosen.
I leave too. Looking back as I climb the lane onto Marton Crest I see the new building in the valley below me, still lit against the night sky. The village's only street light which stood at the end of the old hall has been demolished so the new building is now the only source of light and this is probably one of the only times to date it has been lit at night. That's why it looks so unusual I suppose - we're not used to it being there, occupying this bit of space, not quite settled in the landscape. It's rather exciting, this wonderful new facility, seeing it take shape and looking forward to when we can actually use it and call it our own.
PS 601 posts since February 2006. I was in the village hall that night as well. Looks like I really should get out more....
15 comments:
Reminds me of years ago when the church of which we were members tried to choose colored glass for replacement windows. The forceful woman who felt our taste needed upgrading was the one whose choice won out.
Congratulations on 601 posts! That's quite the number.
I too have counted tiles or circles on curtains during boring moments. Trying to find faces in patterns is a good pass-time too.
This is an exercise doomed to a stalemate. You're right though - no one will ever, ever look at those curtains.
We drove past said hall on Sunday....very impressive. I think blue and gold would look good :-) A x
Good woamn for going with the flow no matter how stagnant it was and very wise to recognise that "it's their village, their hall and I'm no'but a relative incomer". Far better than beign blamed for ever for a bad colour choice and labelled that interfering outsider!
ps loved the title sounds like a chapter title in a manual for village hall committees !No 602 being how to clean tea urns.!
why do you need curtains? why not go for wooden blinds? - just and idea:)
Beige velvet - goes with everything, doesn't fade in the sun, keeps out the draughts in the winter. Fades into insignificance.
Does anybody really care or is it just a power thing?
601 posts is v impressive.
The hall certainly looks impressive and I am sure you will enjoy many a good night's entertainment within. I think I am with KittyB on this one!
Hi. I wandered into here from elsewhere and I'm very glad I did - I've had a lovely time reading all your posts ... and why didn't I see that quine jelly recipe a few weeks ago when I was looking for one?!
Thanks for a great blog - and I hope you settle the cutain issue!
Oh yes, I have studied curtains and counted patterns and worked out the repeats. Serious business when people might have time to while away!
601? Good going!
Post 601 is quite an achievement!
As far that question of curtains, is the hall used more in daylight? What is the electric lighting like? Is anyone who also selected the carpet or the upholtery on this committee? If so, tread carefully, and let them figure out the color of the curtains.
xo
How fun to read about other people and the difficulty of color choices. I probably would have been one of the first to leave, being unable to find resolution ... good for you and your patience. (I just finished a new basket and decided to see what the rest of the world was doing!) Thank-you.
This all sounds frightful, I couldn't help but wonder in the interests of saving and recycling if looking in sample books wasn't rather expensive ??
Well it looks very very smart to me as I whizz past it to welshpool station with amazing regularity. Forget the curtains - plain blinds?
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