Sod's law strikes again.

[Sibling DavidH]

Aggie and Lindorm, you are very kind, and both right.  In fact, I've got plenty of thick clothes to keep the spatters off, but decided not to wear them because the weather was so very hot.  The spatters were scarcely life-threatening, but annoying.

As for beefing up the chairs, Bluenose is right about fillets to strengthen them up.  However it wouldn't be worth the considerable labour involved.  So far (TOUCH WOOD, OMFSM DARE I SAY THIS?) I've never had to re-do a joint after once fixing it, but there's a lot of chairs and each has typically four weak points.  The easiest way is to keep fixing one every 3 or 4 weeks until the charity comes up with one of its legendary cadging solutions.     It's not exactly interesting or creative work, but worthwhile.

One thing about this honestly rather minor rant is the way my siblings have taken an interest and offered advice and help.  That has really touched me.  It's why this place is so important to me.