We always value feedback, especially when it stops us from confusing ourselves. I’ve personally no idea who the buggery Gouchy is, but I presume he knows John and Matt from a while ago from a former sheet metal life.

He was awfully decent to point out that one of the first jobs they did - the so-called John Lennon globe - isn’t in the new John Lennon airport but the old terminal. Personally I’m a bit lost, although I do know the one and only time I flew out of John Lennon I’d taken my camera to take a few pictures of the thing in situ. And, of course, I couldn’t find the thing in situ because that isn’t where it was situated.

Thankfully, Gouchy has come to our rescue by taking a couple of pics and sending them to us:

Stainless Steel Globe in-situ

Prior to being rolled out the workshop

People are being very nice to us this month, I must admit.

A little bird has been kind enough to perch itself within earshot and tell me that Butler Sheetmetal HQ could very well be relocating.

Granted, it had to pipe up some before I could hear what it was saying due to tinnitus brought on by two years blogging next to a hydroform; but it looks like the brothers Butler have stumped up for a bigger workshop. John was going to ring me yesterday and no doubt fill me in with the details, but Oliver, his second eldest, somehow broke his thumb and Sunday was spent in casualty. Some excuse - do they not know I’m parched for decent blog tittle tattle these days.

I should know better than to relay any tale my mother passes on as she’s about as reliable a source as ….well, something that isn’t overly reliable.

But if the word on the street has any remote truth in it then they shan’t be moving too far down the street from where they already are.

There’ll be a bit more room, a decent-sized yard and I sincerely hope it’ll be slightly less arctic.

Anyway, considering this one will be fully paid-up rather than rented, they might be able to scavenge around and pay for the whole affair by throwing a Sir Antony Caro-esque sculpture together.

More news as and when.

I honestly couldn’t believe the nightmarish vision that came upon me as Steph picked me up from work yesterday.

Granted, she’d emailed me to let me know that she might be late as she’d decided to get her hair done.

And done she has been. I opened the car door to be affronted by this:

Myra Hindley.

I mean, get me a bottle of peroxide and colour me albino……

You’ve got to get to grips with the concept of not going to Wal-mart to get your hair done. And you’ve also got to get to grips with not spending $100 for the privilege. Her barnet even managed to wake me up this morning as it tricked me into thinking the sun had risen a couple of hours early. Man, it’s sent my whole body clock out of whack.

Anyway, just so you don’t think I’m an evil little Ronnie, John forwarded me the following picture that he’d been asked to send to some magazine. He’d plucked this beauty out of his top drawer.

John on the left and me on the right.

I have no recollection of this particular picture being taken which means it must’ve been after an impromptu business meeting at the Cock Hill. I can assure you that I don’t always look like I’m about to start licking a doorknob unless I’ve been swigging their Stella.

I knew I shouldn’t have left media communiques in their incapable hands.

Although, it’s no small wonder he didn’t send them his photo of him looking window licking good.

If I had my way then I’d incentivize (can you tell this American language thing is starting to rub off on me?) our clients and customers to get a bit creative and photograph the work they’ve had done for them by Butler Sheetmetal. Then again, if I had my way I’d offer incentives (but obviously not rubbing off too much) to the boys (and girl) back at the workshop to start clicking jobs as they’re progressing and before they leave for their new home.

You obviously don’t have to go all Anton Corbijn and make like you’re shooting a Depeche Mode album cover, as a plain old out-of-focus polaroid will suffice, but if I was judging then I’d be more inclined to hand prizes out to people who’d taken pictures more along the lines of the recycling bin rack above.

But, I don’t have any prizes. I know, boo.

The best I can offer is if anybody has any pictures of work we’ve done for them or would like to take some pictures and pass them along, then I’d be more than happy to link to your company site (or personal site, for that matter) within the body of the post and the anchor text of your choosing.

Now if that don’t get your fingers on the shutters then I don’t know what will.

“Ooh, I never realised semis were so big.”

Yes, that’s my mother and John’s mother-in-law hamming it up for the cameras during her little trip to the states. And I’m sure she’s going to be terribly grateful for me posting this.

Anyway, considering I’ve now been over here for over a year, it was awfully nice to see her and watching her blowing John’s money on complete new wardrobes for his four lovely terrors. (News is, the only things they want to wear are the Davey Crocket hats Steph bought for them.) I think John may have got a bottle of buffalo wing sauce. He would’ve got a packet of lime chili rub - either as embrocation or a marinade - but it’s somehow found its way into one of our cupboards.

It’s been like a two-week marathon version of Supermarket Sweep. I kid you not.

As for top quotes of the holiday:

1. “Ooh, what’s that store over there - Humpty Dumpty?” - asked whilst driving past Home Depot.

2. “At least my batteries should last a bit longer today. I’ve bought some of those - what do they call them - those longer lasting Lithuanian batteries.”

But it comes to something when I still need my mum to come over and help sort out furnishings for the flat (sorry, apartment), and iron my work shirts so the cut of my jib is straight as opposed to crinkled.

So, just a couple more days of rest and relaxation recuperating from the visit and we’ll be back to the usual humdrum.