Another good Saturday morning.
The Friday night crew had set things up and this morning we are ready for our excited juniors, we are doing things differently this morning in as much as Kim is going to use my lathe, and I’ll do the drilling/sticking/teasing bit up the other end of the hall. Another plus is that Mike is here to help with what ever needs doing, Mike will be a useful asset to us, he’s a good turner and very enthusiastic.
So the usual hello’s and check they have a news letter and know the date of the next meeting, no point saying anymore as they are to excited to listen, with a reminder that it’s a workshop, not a playground they are away into the hall. Ross and Dave were at the pyrography table, Ron at the computer and the lathes busy with the projects.
It went well with Kim, he’s a natural with the under 12’s, a bit like me really, nothing technical, just having fun making things, there’s plenty of time for the technical stuff when they are older, it’s the creative side we are developing and just the mere fact they are making things and using their imagination.
The older turners are making an earring stand, timber very kindly supplied by Cover’s timber merchant in Portsmouth, the new members seem to fit in very well and enjoyed their time, the two older ones spent time with Dave as his group were not with us today, first time turning for them, they had quite a long time at the lathe which was useful for their first time. We had Kirsten’s sister and friend with us today, very active enthusiastic easily teased young ladies, very well behaved to, a credit to who ever bribed them? Alex turned a mushroom, some made the Ox and yoke puzzle, they loved that one and picked up how to do it very quickly, and a number of other things were made.
We had the bell rung for tea break, wrong person rang it so I have to remember to make sure the other one does it next time, Heather made Banana cake again and the juice, tea and coffee went down well. Loads of camera work but sadly I forgot to charge mine so it quickly ran out of steam, not to many pictures for me to choose from this time. I think that’s it, hard work for me this time, usually I have my lathe and bits to pack away, this time I had all that plus loads of things I got out the van to use as I wasn’t turning, I didn’t think of that when I agreed to swap, never mind, it all goes back in the van if its done right, just takes slightly longer, not a problem.
So with all the juniors happy and have all their belongings they make sure their cards are filled in, the parents arrive and there’s more chat while I’m trying to get packing, I make notes to remind me of important things that they load me with as they go, and I go home and lay down in a dark room! Not really, we the seniors check the last few things and chat a bit then its doors locked and home, I spend ¾ hour unloading my van back into the house and workshop and that’s me done with the juniors for another month, just the Master class, senior and junior meeting to write articles on and pictures to sort for the web site and the rest of the weekend is mine, unless of coarse I’ve promised a junior some lessons this afternoon, now were is my reminder list? Anyway, there goes another brilliant junior club morning.
Mick May 2008