Friday morning I came home from a few errands to find myself stranded outside the house.
The back door lock broke as I turned the key. I heard a terrible clicking sound. The key would not budge past the quarter past the hour position. It needs to be at 20 past the hour to open.
Either the pins wore out or the spring gave up. I was not surprised. For the the past few weeks the lock had to be started at the five minutes to the hour position to turn properly.
It was still an annoyance.
Off to the front door where the key turned as it should, but I was physically unable to turn the deadbolt. It's a characteristic of the deadbolts on our house in cold weather.
The neighbour who dug me out of the alley recently opened the front for me. It took considerable effort on his part to turn the deadbolt.
I am grateful for his help.
My husband changed the lock yesterday. I am grateful he knows how to do this.
When we bought the new door lock assembly it had to be re-pinned to our keys. I got to watch as the woman at the store did this and it was fascinating.
I am grateful for this, and for her patience in doing the work for us.
I've seen the interior of pin and tumbler locks before, but not thoroughly gutted. She took everything apart, popped out the pins, and put in new ones.
I learned the numbers on the key are the code for the pins in the lock.
I can see in my mind how the lock works.
I've wondered. I've looked it up online, but seeing it in person is better and I am grateful.
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17 comments:
Good neighbors are a treasure. Especially on cold days like these.
Aye. So true, David.
Good neighbors, and good craftspeople.
Mary Anne in Kentucky
And also, neat-o!
Mary Anne in Kentucky
Yes, Mary Anne, all of that.
You're lucky to have such a good neighbour close by.
I have never seen a lock re-pinned, but it would be cool! Whenever I've had a lock fail, I've just purchased a whole new assembly, key and all.
I have a good neighbor here too who helps me through the rough spots. He has my gratitude today and every day.
Love that you can take a frustrating experience like a broken lock and turn it into gratitude! Many people would get stuck on the crappy part and would miss the rest and end up in a sour mood.
Bag Lady, I surely am. It was captivating. Locks fascinate me, as do how things work.
Ron, they're the best.
Crabby, believe me, finding gratitude can be a test at times. It's all a matter of how one approaches it.
Well, i'm grateful your neighbor was home to help, too.
Locks are fascinating -- i've changed many, and had them rekeyed like that, and it does look like interesting work.
Good neighbors are invaluable and so are people with those special skills!
Messymimi, thanks. I see I am not alone in my fascination.
Bossy Betty, yes and yes!
I don't doubt that your good neighbours also have good neighbours in you and Mike. I'm glad you weren't locked out in the cold for TOO long and that you were able to learn something new in the process.
Thanks, Hilary.
Gratitude and blessings come hand in hand.
It seems to be a season for household repairs: I too have a minor problem in the bathroom with respect to an item on the tub. This too will be resolved with a blessing ending in gratitude once corrected.
They do, Barbara. Good luck with the repair.
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