Today I took advantage of B&Q's Senior Wednesday promotion and saved 10% on the purchase of the 4" x 1" nominal framework for the baseboards.

Note I call this "lumber", a relict from my years in Houston, Texas. There is a common thought that the UK and the USA are two nations divided by a common language. This is a very real observation. After over 10 years in Europe I still think sheetrock (gypsum board), trunk (boot), and lumber (timber).

Lumber in the UK seems to be better quality than that in France and the price may be better as well. My numerous visits to various "bricos" in France makes for an interesting observation: some things should be bought in France, some things should be bought in the UK. For example, UK paints are generally better than French paints, but French paint brushes are for the trash can (oops, US English there!). Then again, French box cutters, as they are now known, resist the employment of safety screws that, quite honestly, have ruined those I bought in the UK to the point that I bought one in France specifically to use in the UK. The French have a better understanding of "common sense".

OK, let's move on. The framework has been cut using my radial saw ready to be exported to France for future assembly for the Shipston Branch layout. While this is still a few months away, this is still some back room progress. As my previous generation would say. "patience is a virtue"!