Restoration and Repairs...

An article from the first issue of our community newspaper since the September earthquake. I do the layout, graphics and photography.

Ambrose Heal
by Max Feutz

We will soon be able to celebrate a small local triumph with the reopening of Ambrose Heal Furniture, on the corner of Edgeware and Barbadoes Streets.
In double quick time, the building at the front has been rebuilt, while all along business has carried on as best it could from the house and yard at the rear, with much of the restoration work being undertaken outdoors.
In fact, this business will be one of the first in the area to be fully operational again, which is testimony to the inner strength and feistiness of owner Peter and his team. Having been severely damaged in the first quake, the shop was almost ready to open again when the February quake struck, sending him back to square one. But he's no quitter, and by Easter or thereabouts he will have his showroom back again and will be able to market his own exquisite pieces in addition to dealing with the avalanche of repair work the earthquake will no doubt send. After a well earned holiday put on hold by recent events, we might expect to see him back to his old smiling, loquacious self. But at the moment he says, "I'm tired and I'm grumpy." Who can blame him?

The inset is of the marquetry detail on the exterior windowframes