WORKSHOP CHAT

Interrupted whilst fiddling around, with some adjustments to the pole lathe in the Waltham Abbey Workshop, by a neighbour, who wanted some bits of wood cut to size and shape, to mend kitchen units I was drawn into one of those mad conversations about why I've so many tools and gadgets in the 'shed' as he calls it.

Obvious - I need all the stuff I have so I can fix things for all the people dropping in who think I have nothing to do except drink tea and chat.  Having said that I do like to keep my ear to the ground or should that be work bench, and sometimes it can be quiet working alone day in day out, so I walk my dog first thing every morning in the forest and I meet some very interesting folks as well as some who are quite peculiar or perhaps that's me!  It's a good time to watch out for tree surgeons doing garden jobs and I often pick up a nice bit of apple wood or more exotic things such as lilac and sumach, you never know, just have to be a bit nosy when you see their trucks and walk on in and ask.  Sometimes it's just hedges being trimmed or leylandii being brutalised but sometimes you get lucky.  Being in the right place at the right time and that's how I've just come across some rather tasty damson, usually a bit scrubby and tortured but this is chunky and reasonably straight - perfect for a new range of spatulas and salad servers which are things I can't seem to make quickly enough at the moment...  

Turning Times
Having a gas in the workshop and have reverted to making scoops and salad/pasta servers in pairs - it's a fun way to make four items at the same time.  Big BUT here - you have to be accurate when splitting them!  Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't but you always end up with two items and I always save the others although they don't make up a matching pair.  You've still got to carve out the bowls but that's a pleasant job, quite relaxing and i often do it in the evening whilst chilling out...