Another good Saturday morning.

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August 20th 2011 meeting……..This morning saw a number of late arrivals so we didn’t start with the chat till about 20 mins past 9.00, not a problem, it’s a case of make it up as we go here. Lots of chat this morning, sadly as with any meeting chat most of the chat is forgotten but that’s especially relevant here as the children are so excited about making stuff they don’t really listen, understandable. Something missing here today, just didn’t get the response from the children, no nodding or yes Mick, there’s a catalyst missing and I can’t think what it is, I have a theory so Ill see what happens next time and let you know.

But plenty of response after the chat, loads going on, Lucille the blacksmith was here with Kim and made pewter/acrylic pendants, young Kieran enjoyed this and kept a watchful eye on younger members, while I’m here he also managed the register/dosh and set up the kitchen for the break, ie drinks in jugs in the fridge and cups and beakers out ready, all of his own idea, on from that Sue who usually sorts the tea break had the respect to ask Kieran if it was ok for her to start preparing as it was close to the 10.30 break, that I thought was brilliant, I’m just so proud of everybody here, this club goes like clockwork with very little management, I just hate all that old fashioned has to be like this way of doing things, its so boring and uninspiring, all the people young and old at Crafty Turners have a great time and get so much out of this, that’s enough of that, got a bit involved there………….

Two more new faces here today, Alice and Jasmin, and that’s it for August………..I’ve been so busy its now time to write for the September meeting so Ill follow on from here…..

September 24th meeting….well this is our Christmas meeting with tree, lights, grub and nearly crackers….yes nearly as Kieran and I forgot about them, so when we checked the hall before we locked up there they were still on top of the kitchen cupboards, at this point Id like to say that during the morning young Kieran was talking to Rebecca from radio Solent, I remember watching him so intensely explaining/talking to her about what we have here I thought proudly….”one day he will be running this club” but if the cracker mishap is anything to go on its going to be interesting to say the least, still its brilliant now so there’s a very good chance Crafty Turners will be around for many years to come, it’ll be 5 years next July, wow we have history already……

Back to today, the children enjoyed setting up the tree and lights, Paul Nesbitt came today and helped Nick, Bill and Sam turn a Tear Drop bowl, Lucille the blacksmith had problems with her Smithy so couldn’t make it sadly, Rebecca from Radio Solent came as promised and did lots of interviews around the hall and enjoyed some of our Christmas grub at break time, Kieran put a bit of string on a 9 inch clock and said to Rebecca we made this for you to wear to make you feel at home, she laughed out loud, you had to be there for that one, if you ask me nicely Ill tell you the reason….

Ron was busy on the computer, lots of use today, Alex brought his granddaughter along, she lives in Florida, she turned a pen with Dave and some other craft type things, Angy was extremely busy with beads, sewing, play dough, paints, pens, you name it they did it, also they peeled and bottled some pickled onions, they seemed to like doing that, Kieran I believe designed and printed the labels, then went round the hall and sold them all, brilliant, more dosh in the bank.

Young Tilly never ceases to amaze me, last time she wanted to turn a pig, so a pig was turned, this time she said….can I make a dolphin? Well I/we never say no so off to Ken we went and sure enough a dolphin was turned, next thing is others wanted to turn one, so we did some split turning so you end up with to halves to stick on the wall, it got some wows I can tell you, well done Ken, never been beaten yet, and not likely to either, he’s one clever turner. Eric turned some apples and a hamburger? ………Now anybody reading this article will think we’ve lost the plot…….the best thing is when I step back and watch what we have here, I notice the helpers are having so much fun turning its brilliant, they have all that talent and a house full of nice things at home and perhaps wonder what else they can make so maybe it all get a bit stale, then they come to Crafty Turners and are bombarded with all these fresh challenging ideas, and of they go again with a new lease of life, tired maybe but happy, yes definitely happy.

Dave helped Grant make a nice bowl; I think it was gold in the centre, and me, well I just went from shout to shout as in “Mick can I do ……or Mick have you got…..again I drank my cup of tea later in the morning cold, pretty much as every meeting does. As usual some have to go early but will stay late another time to help tidy and many others worked hard to clear away, Kieran helped me as he was going back to my workshop to turn a fruit bowl for his Nan, so the van is loaded, hall tidy, Crackers back in the van, doors and windows checked and there goes another brilliant meeting.

Mick

August/September 2011