Another good Saturday morning

Mice in cheese

Mouse in apple

A fine stool

A mouse on its way

As usual the hall was set up on the Friday evening, Kim as usual was excited to tell me he had come up with yet another idea for our younger turners, but he wasn't going to tell me till the morning, it adds a bit of tension but was worth the wait, he had some spalted beech cut into large cheese shaped wedges with shallow 20mm holes drilled in various places, into some of the holes were little turned mice, absolutely brilliant, the kids just loved it, he had some leather for the ears and tails and with the face done with pyrography it was just perfect. The older members finished their three legged stools and made a start on an earring stand, the Ash was supplied by Covers of Portsmouth.

We had the usual 5 lathes set up, pyrography, computer and the craft things Angy brings with her, I did my best to get as many of the younger ones to turn mice while Kim sorted the finishing, Kim gave me a break and did some turning, it was nice to just move around and see what the others are doing, hopefully we will get another lathe/turner to help us soon. We had the usual break mid way with the girls ringing the bell to let us know.

Dave started making bowls with Grant, Bill and Barbara. We had a couple of new faces join today and that really is our limit at the moment, this club has proven that there is a real need for a junior section, the way its going I recon we could have 40 plus with no problems every meeting, but sadly with the juniors we insist they all get to make something to take home and with no more helpers as yet our numbers are limited. That's not to say we have few helpers now, far from it, at a meeting we have Myself, 2 Dave's, Colin, Eric, Ken, Don, John, Kim, Ron and Angy, and Jeff helped out with the refreshments this time and hopefully he'll do that every time. That's 12 of our senior members attending and Mike comes when he's able, sadly he's struggling with his health.

As with both senior and junior meetings its over far to quick, this time we had some extra help, young Thomas and a couple of others loaded my van, we passed the gear and they packed it, there's something about getting in the back of my Transit van and looking into all the boxes of fixings and things that fascinates them, I did suggest as they liked that job if they could remember were everything goes without any help next time the job is theirs, if I can get them here on the Friday night to unload I'm laughing! Thomas's mum was busy with the vacuuming of the carpet and everybody else was busy putting things away, the kitchen was tidy and the water drained.

All the little bits and pieces had been collected with nothing left behind and the last of them said goodbye, Rob stayed on as I drop him off home which means he's also there to help out. And with the doors locked and the last few things sorted there goes another brilliant Saturday club.