Thanks again, seems like there's quite a few folks here that are fairly local to me. I was thinking I was some kind of weirdo (probably am anyway) for wanting to go off to the woods and play. Basically I have done walks through woods and the moorlands here many times and enjoyed the solitude and find that it has a sort of calming and wholesome effect on me, but that's it you just pass through and it's over too soon. Then I saw George Martins tv program of amazing small spaces and a young guy had bought a small woodland for a few grand and built a shack on it. That's what I really wanted but prices are pretty much out of reach. So I figured, why don't I use my local woods and just spend more time there - do some simple bushcraft things. So I went foraging for tinder and mushrooms. Not much look there though. Did find some King Alfred cakes so I was chuffed about that. Made myself a nice hazel walking staff. Started looking at bushcrafters on Youtube. Bought a few bits including a Mora knife, and a Honey stove. Daughter bought me a spoon carving chisel for Christmas so now I want to get out there and enjoy them. Nothing too extreme though.
We live in a world that has been sterilised don't we? Living is too easy and reliant on shops and convenience appliances. Don't get me wrong, I love my creature comforts as much as the next man but it leaves you feeling as though something is missing. It can leave you feeling out of touch with the beautiful planet we live on and the fact that we are living organic creatures just like the plants and animals in nature. It's quite pathetic that most folks wouldn't know how or have the ability to do the simple tasks for survival in the wild, like finding dry wood and lighting a fire to keep warm. Finding and making drinkable water. Most of us we will probably never actually need to do that but it's a comforting and powerful feeling to know that you can if necessary. I'm setting myself some basic tasks to aim for on my outings and just try to build up some useful skills that way. And apart from all that philosophy - it's fun!!
I bet you've already got loads of skills.
