27 October 2024

Above Grimspound, Dartmoor, Devon, UK

 Sunday morning on the moor with blue sky wall to wall. Global warming makes the Moor a more pleasant place to walk - normally requiring an overcoat at this time of year. Hundreds of cyclist competing today and heading for Princetown so we gave the Fox Tor Cafe a miss knowing it would be far too crowded to enjoy.

 








The ancient Gimspound enclosure of hut circles can be seen on the far hillside at 11oclock above and slightly to the left of the three walkers

Looking towards Chagford

30 September 2024

Stormy Lands End





To escape our semi detached we head south to another semi detached but one that's got far more to offer in the way of location plus those special little touches to be seen in a "Homes & Gardens" magazine.

Only two and a half hours drive from ours but a world away from the noise and polution of Devon to a much cleaner sea air and windy old weather that keeps the local fishermen in harbour tending their nets.

Fish and Chips for tea and a whistleing night that blows away dustbins and any loose tiless.

Monday dawns showery so we dodge about looking for shelter in Sennen and check out the picture gallery beside the lifeboat station.  By afternoon the sun shone through and out came the camera.






















27 September 2024

NO IKEA HERE


 I visited IKEA yesterday to pick up a couple of mattreses for my daughter. I had been there before but got lost in the labarinth of displays and passageways between departments.

This time we vowed not to get lost so paused for a cup of coffee from the self service merry-go-round - jostling for a place and with the paper cup under the wrong tube, losing some coffee down the waste tray before all was lost. Oh dear it wasn't a very big cup to start with and only half a cup left to drink. Never mind half a cup is better than none and just enough to wash down a waffle shared between us.

The place felt like a sea-going passenger liner but where was the crew ?   Two guys on the check out till and one boy at the click and collect desk in the basement only the ones visibly present. We drove the car down to pick up the mattresses and looked at the QR code screen to find a number to be tapped into a different screen, before he could fetch the items. They soon arrived and identified correctly, but no paper receipt could be given us.  That's all on line Sir  err  Madam. So we manouvred the car out towards the exit and thankfully soon away to the real world and home. 


8 September 2024

Autumn collection of stools, tables, benches and chairs to market September 2024

The list includes an  Ash and Oak rocking chair designed by Gilson and Neville Neal. The seat is yet to be woven with long shavings off the razor sharp blade of the Draw Knife. 

The benches are designed by myself - each one is of a variety of woods such as Oak, Ash, Chestnut or Beech. The legs are either turned on the lathe or shaped on the Bodgers Horse with a draw knife.Stools also come in a variety of woods and are quite rustic. No two are exactly alike, being made entirely by eye, with legs akimbo !  

The Sheffield Cutlers stools can be used as a table, chair, stool or display stand.

 

 













14 January 2024

New Year Selection - No IKEA Here.

Ready for market these represent a few of my recent creations of the quirky and the rustic

Chess tables, benches and side tables
Tall stools and short ones, some with a lower shelf.
A Welsh stick back chair and a Sheffield cutlers stool
Using various types of hardwood and different styles of leg.
Lathe turned legs or robust and rustic coppiced hardwood.
Every item is individual hand made piece to reflect the character of wood available.

 And the two foreground benches have Hornbeam tops which is hardwearing and robust.