It’s Strange. I began to realise in this period of enforced slowdown that I had time for people and they me. I’ve met people at my front gate (with a metre each side) that I’ve never spoken to before. Not using cars, means people are on foot. The exchanges are quality ones because both parties value simply relating to another living being!!
I’ve also had quite a flurry of telephonic and electronic exchanges with old (i.e. pre-coronavirus) friends.
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- I had an email with attachment from a friend in High Wycombe (where we lived until 9 years ago). If Sheds had been invented in UK then, he would have been a Shedder. He built his own house. We reminisced a bit! Alan sent an attachment with Street Art that I think you’ll like.
Artistes de rue JP - Shedder Rob from Whitby Shed sent a catch-up note suitably socially distanced. Letter from West Cliff, WhitbyI hope that you are all well and keeping safe.As some of you know I live near the Whalebones in Whitby and usually commence my morning ‘exercise’ from there.Today is a sunny May afternoon but with a significant difference. Virtually silent, nobody about, no cars, no boats. In the distance a sole explorer confronts the 199 steps. On the beach just one man and one dog and strangest of all – you can’t smell any fish and chips!
I am pleased that Scarborough Council have retained their sense of humour as an employee arrives to distribute some more ‘keep apart 4 seagulls’ stickers. Sadly he also removes a ‘happy seat’ sign. The happy seat sign used to be spotted on some of Whitby’s benches. The sign informed passers by that by sitting there you were happy to have a chat. They were great for those feeling a little isolated and the idea worked well – I have tested it!The Sheds have now been closed for over a month and we are all missing them. Some of us are managing to keep in touch and I am in regular contact with Norm from the Whitby Shed. He has seen Tony (from a distance of 2 metres) whilst walking his dog and I am pleased to report that both are well.I am just looking across to Bagdale and the Eskmouth Scout Hall, the site of the Whitby Shed and wondering how can we continue in the near future and eventually the ‘new normal’ . Ideas on a postcard please!Well there is Zoom which I have been using to keep in contact with my family. Could this be utilised to facilitate a regular virtual shed get together?
It just needs a few Shedders to all be at their devices at the same time.
As better weather approaches perhaps an outdoor project could be considered? I understand that the ‘build a boat’ idea is still buoyant. I do hope this takes of as I have been googling Riva for inspiration!
I do hope that we can all meet up soon and if you have any ideas please contact me at tiptopturner@gmail.com
The story of ‘tiptopturner’
When I first contacted Graham to enquire about the Sheds he responded with a comment regarding my email address. ‘Oh, you are a bit of a woodworker then?’
‘Well no…..I actually used to live in Turner Street and considered that my DIY efforts had now improved a little beyond ‘bodging’.
Fast forward and I am now a wood turner! Not tip top by any means but it’s a start.So it was all meant to be and enhanced of course by the magic of the Sheds.
- Shedder Roger has bursts of poetic exercise some mornings. Here is one from this week.
The father has the wish of the deed (about people of Shedder age!)
Our organs may no longer play
the good tunes;
we continue to busk
for the odd tokens thrown our way.
Unpacked we are pitiful,
unwrapped our allure lost
but we study like teenagers,
seek the comfort of company,
the warmth in the night,
the unconscious care of an arm;
the understanding of years,
the experience learned elsewhere,
their solutions to our conundrums;
our gifts to earn their delight.
Roger J Gould 1.5.20
- Then a video to watch from the future (courtesy of Graham’s brother by forwarding)
What are your feelings?
- Len from Labrador Shed on the Gold Coast stays in regular touch with amusing stories. Here is one about a vet. Following on is the Australian Men’s Shed Association Winter Newsletter. Never that cold there, still weather for shorts in Sheds:-)
A woman brought a very limp duck into a veterinary surgeon. As she laid her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird’s chest. After a moment or two, the vet shook his head and said sadly, “I’m sorry, your duck, Cuddles, has passed away.”
The distressed woman wailed, “Are you sure?” “Yes, I am. Your duck is dead,” replied the vet.
“How can you be so sure?” she protested. “I mean you haven’t done any testing on him or anything. He might just be in a coma or something.”
The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left the room. He returned a few minutes later with a black Labrador Retriever. As the duck’s owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top to bottom. He then looked up at the vet and shook his head.
The vet patted the dog on the head and took it out of the room. A few minutes later he returned with a cat. The cat jumped on the table and delicately sniffed the bird fro top to foot. The cat sat on its haunches, shook its head, meowed softly and strolled out of the room.
The vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman.
The duck’s owner, still in shock, took the bill. “$1,500!” she cried. “$1,500 just to tell my duck is dead!”
The vet shrugged, “I’m sorry. If you had just taken my word for it, the bill would have been $20, but with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan, it’s now $1,500.”
- Here is the link to the AMSA site https://mensshed.org/theshedonline/
- A couple of T-shirts from Len
- I had an email with attachment from a friend in High Wycombe (where we lived until 9 years ago). If Sheds had been invented in UK then, he would have been a Shedder. He built his own house. We reminisced a bit! Alan sent an attachment with Street Art that I think you’ll like.