Another good Saturday morning.
Our September meeting and its Christmas………….well it is at our club…….the hall had been decorated with a Christmas Tree, Decorations and an inflatable Father Christmas, mainly by Thomas and Lily who arrived nice and early for this, but very soon assisted by the others.
With the hall ready Alfie rang the bell and Kayleigh opened the meeting with a “Good morning, welcome and happy Christmas to you all”……..she welcomed Paul Nesbitt (professional turner) his friend Albert and Paul’s grandson Alfie, also welcome back to Colin. Kayleigh showed me up by getting young Alfie to write on the board his name as I had spelt it in a previous article, Alfy, looked ok to me…………she then explained that some juniors had chatted and decided, that they would like present special guest’s/people, with a junior club tee shirt, Alfie was to be the first, and very smart he looked to. Kayleigh then reminded everybody that it’s a workshop not a playground, and then handed over to me to explain the project for our fun morning.
This was to be spinning tops with felt pens as the point, the idea being to try and create a pattern as it spins, didn’t quite meet with the demands of our creative young juniors, they very soon turned it, spun it, and moved on to more exciting things, as they do. Well there are so many other things to do, and it’s all done on the understanding they do what they want, it’s hardly surprising is it.
I have to admit I came away thinking “not my best idea/project” but looking through the patterns on the paper, and the pictures on my camera afterwards it does seem they enjoyed it, so some relief there…….must do some research for next year ASAP. Paul saw Josh and Hugo doing Claymation, he proceeded to turn a multi centred candle stick for the clay model to climb, this attracted the attention of the juniors and it soon became a demonstration with a crowed of on lookers, quick creative thinking Paul, many thanks.
We had the additional help from senior members John Jenkins and John Wyatt today, very much appreciated, plus Keith who helps setting up stayed on to. They looked like they enjoyed the time spent helping. The lathes weren’t as busy as usual but that gave the senior turners a chance to move round the hall and chat, a rare privilege that is trust me.
John ran the kitchen today, a brilliant job to, table in the hall for all the fancy Christmas grub we had, and drinks from the hatch. Angy had the usual everybody fiddling with craft stuff, Rachael helped out here to. Ron watched over the computer with Hugo and Josh doing claymaytion, and Ross with pyrography and pens.
All in all the juniors had a really good time, Morgan was with us for the first time today, she enjoyed the craft table and young Alfie went home with a number of finished items. It was comforting to know everybody had a really good time, and when the bell rang for the end of the morning pretty much everybody helped clear away, there was stuff everywhere, including the remains of 30 Christmas Crackers.
In no time at all the hall is clean and tidy, Thomas and I checked the building and locked up, then back to my house, the van was emptied and the lathe set up, I later took Thomas home with a brilliantly stained pair of drum sticks ready for practice on Wednesday night, another happy junior. For me a brilliant day in every aspect, what more could you want….and there goes another brilliant junior club meeting.
Mick…..September 2009