Upcoming events

It would be greatly appreciated if you could drop an e-mail to the contact for the particular event to let them know if you will be going as it can be pretty difficult trying to arrange anything if numbers are unknown.

Southern Men's Shed Network Meeting

After Covid The Southern Men's Shed Network is once again trying to arrange wider shed interaction. We have hosted these meetings before and they were always well attended. As a start, instead of the previous quarterly meetings it is intended to hold just two meetings a year, one in the south of the area and one in the north. The format of the meetings is changing to make it more of a social event with the staged presentations being replaced by a far more flexible format.

Tea and biscuits as always, but a light buffet lunch at a cost of £5.00 a head is intended. If enough of us fancy a snack and chat after the initial meeting then it will need to be pre-booked so that food is neither wasted or wanted. Book your food by contacting Chris Nixon.

For those that have been before the new format is likely to take the following shape:

• More social and freeform (more of an event than a meeting)
• Event time from 10:30 to 13:30 (attendees can arrive and leave at any time)
• Tables will be set up for an Advice Panel for attendees to ask questions and for advice. Advance notice of questions would be greatly appreciated (either email or WhatsApp).
• Tables will also be set up as “Shed Show Tables” these are intended for Sheds to be able to show off (projects, skills, information etc.) – advance requests by email or WhatsApp please.
• Short break (approx 15 minutes at about 11am) for general notices and individual shed notices
• Round up (approx 15 minutes at about 1:15pm) including highlights from Advice Panel.

Social Tuesdays

We had so much more socialisation when The Shed was closed and it seems to have tailed off somewhat since we have re-opened. In an attempt to recreate the fantastic atmosphere that was generated then we are opening on Tuesday afternoons purely for socialisation - Cards, dominoes, Scrabble and any other social pastimes that you can think of. Roll up and try it.

Some of us have been trying to teach ourselves the rules of MahJongg, they say it's a bit like playing rummy but it got us stuck. So Richard B has arranged for a lady (am I allowed to say that or should it just be a person, no sexism, no gender profiling but boring and not very descriptive) from U3A to come and attempt to teach us the rudiments of the game on February 27^th. In the meantime for anybody that is interested she has suggested trying playing against robots to get the hang of it.

Woodies Wednesdays

Woodturners live afternoon meetings have begun following successful Zoom meetings during Lockdown. The turning group is currently 7 or 8 members strong and meet every Wednesday afternoon.

The initial session went through training notes on the safety aspects of using our lathes followed by a 'hands-on' demo of spindle turning.

A couple of new members, new to woodturning, had a first lesson and seemed keen to take this up.

Alan P demonstrated use of a Roughing Gouge and Spindle Gouge. Barry G was also on hand to offer hints and tips.

The second session started with tea, biscuits, a YouTube demo on Spindle Turning and was followed by some hands-on practice using both lathes with Alan and Cliff tutoring. One piece started off as a log with the roughing gouge producing a great quantity of bark chippings and the other was a square section piece of timber. Both ended up smooth and round as was the intention!!

Alan demonstrated the use of the skew chisel, feared by many but a very usable tool once mastered!

In addition to Wednesdays, further one-to-one sessions have been offered where interested.

We should have a stock of 'round items' made ready for summer and Christmas fayres!

A successful start to the new year and a new 'start-up' group that hopes to grow and develop its skill base.

Author:
Cliff Jones