The Amersham Repair Cafe returned for its November edition

Taking place on November 2 at St Michael’s Church along Sycamore Road, many people attended to get their beloved items fixed.

One of which was resident Sarah Osborne.

She arrived with a decorative outdoor animated deer, which during the festive season, graces the front of her Amersham home.

The motor in the deer needed replacing (Amersham Repair Cafe) (Image: Amersham Repair Cafe)

The deer is a fawn, which used to “graze”, moving its head up and down, alongside its “grazing” mother, but there was a problem with the baby deer’s mechanical head.

The assessment of volunteer repairer Paul was that the motor gears were seized up after years of winter weather.

The issue was accessing the motor casing, which - being designed for outdoor use - was glued.

Fellow repairer John, who, it seemed, had 'reindeer experience' was consulted, but the verdict was that a replacement motor was required, which Sarah said she would source.

Another creature needing attention was a ceramic and brass owl with a broken left leg.

The bird had long kept watch over Sylvia Lawson’s kitchen from a perch on a shelf after she picked it up in Mexico several decades ago. 

The owl has been given a new lease of life (Image: Amersham Repair Cafe)

However, despite being damaged, volunteer repairer Judi gave the ornament a new leg and a polish.

Sylvia’s verdict: “He’s looking a million times better.”

Quite an animal theme developed at the latest Sustainable Amersham Repair Café, as resident Judith visited the event with a ‘choodle’ or a cross between a chihuahua and a miniature poodle.

And whilst the little dog herself did not require repair, a solution was needed to help Molly [the dog] travel comfortably in Judith’s rollator walker when they were on the move.

The issue Molly has is the tendency of the compartment lid where she sits – which doubles up as a seat - to shut on her.

A simple solution was found: A ribbon attaching the lid to the rollator frame, which can easily be untied.     

A spokesperson from the Amersham Repair Café said: "The Sustainable Amersham Repair Café can be quite a hoot, attracting many repeat customers.

"It’s free, with a complimentary cuppa and cake while you wait (two items per person).

“The latest Repair Café also featured a popular cable drop.

“These are full of copper which can be recycled and reused.

 “Any donations go towards the hire of the hall and to reimburse the repairers for materials used.

“In all, 22 items were fixed and saved from going into landfill, with advice given on others.”

The next Amersham Repair Café will take place on January 4 between 10am and 1pm.