Hi folks, we had a great time at the weekend. I was a bit nervous of meeting up with a a bunch of strangers I'd only chatted to here, my girlfriend (Fiona) helped -"bit like Internet dating in it". Then on arrival Ann pointed out "bit like a murder mystery weekend this, five strangers arrive at an isolated county house...",I looked around at the array of Billhooks, axes and sharp knives :shock: Still we all had a good time and it was great to put some faces to names.
I could have done with a bit more sleep though, I think a gag for Stuart (Kellam) may help? Stuart should award for top kit! For the smallest, lightest niftiest gadgets. I wish I could pare my excess baggage down to his meagre 2 side pouches on a yoke!! We will have to harass him on the kit chatter strand, as his knowledge, kit and explanations are extensive.
It was wonderful to meet the Beckett household, and share there idyllic rural life with us. To be shown in from a dark and stormy Dorset night to a wingback armchair by the fire with a hot cup of tea, fresh milk straight from the goat, eggs from the chickens and freshly baked bread in the morning - Heaven, Thanks guys. Excellent to get away from traffic noise, planes going over and streetlamps, though a few More road signs may have helped?
Hurdle making is hard graft. Respect to Jack for choosing it as his living.
"Twistmaster" Tony soon got to grips with turning Hazel rods into rope/withies at the ends of each weave, while the rest of us struggled and snapped em. I was one of the few that escaped without blisters!
I reckon the Billhook scored a decided win. Axes are good for little (maybe chopping down big stuff) that a the hook is not better at. When it came to felling a small tree, Axe 7 swings, if you include Tony's misses, billhook 4 though this was largely down to Jacks superior technique and experience
- cut with the grain, so cut in at a 45 degree angle. The same technique is applied to "cleaving" (splitting down the middle) the Hazel. Cut in at 45, open up, then using the "bill" of the hook cleave apart, no strength required as you have plenty of leverage and control with the hook. The difficult bit (for us not the Master) was keeping it central, this is achieved by bending the rod as it splits involving strange contortions and braces from us lot. Jack does this with his eyes closed (poser) or while chatting to us nonchalantly.
Blyme -bit of an essay and I don't seem to have covered a fraction of what occurred.
To conclude We all enjoyed ourselves and learnt stuff. If this small meeting was anything to go by than a larger get together will be a great success.
I look forward to it, maybe see you at the Knapp-in ?
Cheers
Rich :-D
Good bit of kit and tough as nails.
