Mad March weather made work out in the yard impossible this morning, so Max Birchenough, Pete Thomas, Charles Benedetto and John Olsen convened in the dry warmth of the museum.
The first task of the day was to raise the scaffold tower so that we could safely access one of the nameplate wire mesh displays to secure the replica Puffing Billy Railway 3A mounted number plate. Then while Max and John ascended to assemble the special non-destructive clamp brackets in position, Pete began masking off part of the big glass panel frame inside the platform entrance. A sortie to the Gunpowder Store, through the sleet, secured the paint and tools necessary for the rest of the mornings work.
Charles assisted Keith up on the first floor to swap over two paintings above the door to the Slater Room; the old painting going into store and the new one, depicting no. 2 at Brynglas, replacing it. With the first coat of paint on the frame drying and the 3A plate secured in position and the painting swap complete we adjourned to the cafe for refreshments in the company of Ann McCanna, Andy Sheffield and Mike Green. Over coffee biscuits and chat Keith took the opportunity to fill some of the many vacant attendant slots for March and April.
Returning to the museum Pete was tasked with making a cover for the exposed end of the lighting platform that occupies the floor between Dot and the Neptune Road window; as currently it is possible to tread on the plastic electric sockets and conduit. Charles inserted a line of five hooks over the Neptune Road window so that we can easily hang signage and lights in the window in the future. Max applied the second coat of paint to the frame and then proceeded around both floors of the museum touching up the numerous small defects in the white paint.
As we tidied up and returned the tools to the Gunpowder Store, Charles took Henry out for a clean of the ground floor where sawdust and dirt mingled and John gave the scuffed and grubby grey panels and shelves a clean down to leave the museum clean and tidy for opening on Saturday.
Photos by John Olsen