News - Sept 2019

Where did September go? Last time I looked it was summertime and now it is most definitely autumn. Before we know it, Christmas will........but enough of that!

Down in the Workshop

The projects team have now made several prototypes of the collection boxes and I also heard talk of bug hotels and bird boxes!

The bench for the second w/w lathe is underway and hopefully will be completed ready to mount the lathe in the next week or so.

We have purchased a chuck and jaws for the blue lathe plus a pen mandrel, a selection of pen kits, a selection of bowl blanks, sanding sealer and friction polish. So, pretty much good to go!

I was sharpening chisels again recently and, just because I was not satisfied with my first two attempts to get one tricky blighter sharp, was informed that I had OCD. And I thought that the quest for perfection was a noble pursuit! At least I did not saw halfway through the B&D Workmate, John MacBean!

Wednesday mornings in the workshop are getting more popular again with 3 or 4 members attending. Can I take this opportunity to remind everyone that we are required to sign in and pay £1 to HCA each time we use the workshop as this month we recorded 67 visits but only received £59 in the money box, including an old £1 coin - hands up the cheapskate!

Also, in the event of a fire (or just a fire drill), someone needs to take the "register" to the muster point to ensure everyone is accounted for.

We now have a bench mounted disc sander donated by Gerald Scanlon. Looks to be in good condition but needs some "peel and stick" abrasive discs.

John King has let us have 10 lengths of weathered pine boards nominally 5.5 inches x 1.0 inches x 6ft long, currently stored under my car port at home but available to anyone who wants them for a shed project. Bird boxes anyone?

Paul Seller's Blog

I know a few of us read Paul Seller's woodworking and lifestyle blog but if you haven't already subscribed, it is worth taking a look at https://paulsellers.com/

Fund Raising

The workshop purchases were made possible by some recent fund raising. As well as the BBQ, John MacB and Jerry raised £50 from a repair job. There was also £5 for repairing a ladies drawers (no grinning at the back please), £2 from the quilters at Greystone's and another £10 from Ron's monthly Mudeford Club raffle.

Members & Membership

Membership remains at 33 however we have had several new enquiries about joining us (from a small notice in the local "Eye" magazines) and I am hopeful that we will see our numbers increase.

Good to see Peter Barnes looking better after recent surgery (hip replacement?) and hoping to get back to the workshop in the near future.

John Blakeman has not been so good recently. Hope you are on the mend, John.

Up & Coming:

October General Meeting - Tuesday 1st , Room 1 Greystone's House, with Guest speaker Ian Bell giving a talk on prostate cancer.Start time is 2.00 pm as usual

Introduction to the Defibrillator - Friday 11th October - a course run by HCA are running ancourse. Start time is 12.00 noon - details and registration at reception.

Christchurch Men's Shed AGM - November 5th (Bonfire Night). Greystone's House, Room 1, at 2.00 pm (sharp). Note that only members will be eligible to vote at the AGM so if you want a say on how the Shed is managed & run, get your membership up to date.

January 2020 Active Highcliffe at the Castle

We have put our name down to have a table at this event to showcase the Men's Shed activities and the benefits to the community. We will need a few examples of our work to display on the day and a few pictures of "men at work" so watch out, I will be bringing my camera to the workshop. More details about this to follow.

And finally its that poem again:

Then October adds a gale,

Wind and slush and rain and hail!

Its better down in the workshop...

See you all soon.

John Pegram

Christchurch Men's Shed