News - January 2019
Happy New Year - here we go again!
Greystone's Workshop
The workshop is open again after the holidays and we already welcomed some new faces.
John Smith, John Robinson, Peter Turner, Richard Ansley, Jeff and Ron all dropped by to see what we do.
I was especially pleased to find that Peter Turner shares my interest in hot air engines (search for Stirling or Rider Ericsson engines if you want to know more)
Allen Henna has started work on a steam punk shed-fish while Nick and Jerry continue to make improvements to how our tools and stuff are arranged and stored.
Nick is doing a great job of sorting the screws, nails and miscellaneous fittings - I am worried it is turning into an obsession - and has requested any clear plastic take-away containers members might have available.
Jerry has loaded the shadow boards with tools - just a word on housekeeping here, please put the tools back on the board after use or if you want to borrow anything, please make a note in the book. We just spent 3-weeks searching for the spring bow calipers which re-appeared this morning. Brian Vaughan dropped by to see us around the same time, but I am sure this was just a coincidence....
Bill Davis has repaired a chair he brought over from Australia - nice chair but clearly not designed for anyone heavier than a stick insect to actually sit on!
You might want to ask Bill to recount the saga of the Christmas tree.....
Andy Skarstein is making a dovetail gauge based on the Paul Sellers design from his woodworking blog - very interesting Andy, but when are we going to see some actual dovetails!
Some of our shed arranged to help John Blakeman fit out his workshop.
It is great to see members looking after each other!
The message here is, if you need help, just ask!
Mudeford Club Lunches
17 members attended our first lunch of the year last Friday - not quite a record (stands at 19) but great to see everyone there. I think without members on holiday or down with man-flu we might well have passed the 19 mark. By the way, we are not sponsored by Doom Bar, other drinks are available!
I have agreed the dates for the next 5-months with the Mudeford Club. They are now in the Diary page of this website.
• February Friday 22nd
• March Friday 22nd
• April Friday 26th
• May Friday 24th
• June Friday 21st
Greystone's House General Meetings:
The general meetings at Greystone's House are always on the first Tuesday of the month in Room 1 starting at 2.00 pm - unless Greystone's House is closed on the day, in which case we loose our slot.
Our forthcoming meetings are on the following dates (also in the Diary page):
• February Tuesday 5th
• March Tuesday 5th
• April Tuesday 2nd
• May Tuesday 7th
• June Tuesday 4th
I expect that Les Mercer and Bob Mackinnon will be bringing everyone up to date on developments re the Somerford Shed in February, however if anyone has something they would like to bring along to the meetings to "show and tell" they would be very welcome to do so!
Thanks to Richard Edwards for looking after the website!
Axminster Tools Discount:
Some good news from UK Men's Shed Association - they have negotiated a 5% discount on orders placed by individual Men's Sheds.
We have set up an account with Axminster for Christchurch Men's Shed and can obtain the discount on orders placed by telephone or in store. (not on-line at present)
Note there are some items to which the discount does not apply:
- Power Tool brands including, but not limited to; Bosch, DeWalt, Fein, Festool & Makita
- Products which are already an special offer
Delivery is free on orders over £30
If anyone wants to take advantage of the 5% discount, please let me know and I can get an order placed - clearly it would be nice to group any small orders to get free delivery - or let me know if anyone is planning a visit to one of Axminster's shops. I think the closest is Basingstoke.
There are copies of the Axminster catalogue in the workshop but they only show a fraction of what is available. Check out the Axminster web site at www.axminster.co.uk
Richard Ansley suggested some TV programs us shed people might like:
Chanel 4 are showing Henry Cole's Find it, Fix it, Flog it weekdays at 1.05 pm
Quest have several programs in the evenings starting with How its Made at 6.45 pm
The BBC 2 program, The Victorian House of Arts and Crafts is also well worth a look at 9.00 pm on Fridays
Shed News
If anyone has any news, interesting stuff or wants to put out a general request / comment / whatever, please let me know so that I can include it in future editions of our Shed News
Any finally, its that Poem again!
Just when you thought you had seen the last of that flipping poem, it rears it's ugly head again only this time round it is the much darker Flanders and Swann version!
Starts out just the same though...
January brings the snow
Makes your feet and fingers glow
February's verse doesn't sound much fun, so better get down the shed while you still can!
See you all soon,
John Pegram
Contact Information
Robin Heels (Secretary)
- 07547922246
Find Christchurch Men's Shed
Greystones House, Waterford Road, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 5JL
Additional Information
Located in the Lower Hall of The Old School. The Old School is near Highcliffe Medical Centre and opposite Highcliffe Play Park by the pedestrian light controlled crossing.