Charlie came home for tea today(2nd oldest,18 lives away going to have a baby)real good to see him and that he's looking well.Besides making me a grandad he is busy holding down one job and training to be a fireman,he is actually on call a lot of the time,I am so proud to see him do well.

Anyway he brought me a lovely bottle of tempranillo most of which is now gone.I'm sitting on the chair,nearly there.

Took some photos today of progress,which was a bit slower than usual due to some more tool collapses.My disc sander died today and as its not coming back this time.In the last couple of months I have killed 1 hammer drill 2 jigsaws 3 saws and now my grinder.

I am never going to buy not the one I wanted cos Icant afford it again.I will just go without until I can afford the one thats up to the job,which is pretty tough with some of this old Oak and Elm.

Luckily I love handtools(always look on the bright side ...)although my shoulders and elbows dom not.The slower pace is really what i need right now and the relative quiet is nice.Since the grinder packed in I found my surform rasp does a good enough job at eating away the corners and my cordless drill/screwdriver still works (touch wood )

my only other 2 working elctric tools are my old portable benchsaw (2 inch cut) a biscuit jointer I was kindly given but only used onc e so far and my twin cassette player,which isnt twin anymore as one door fell off.

At least i have loads of stuff to sell,old and new cheap,dear and dearer.hopefully this summer will bring good things (ever the optimist).

M olly has just stuck her head round the door looked at me like i'm madand asked if she can have a cup of tea.From my benchtop oaken perch I answer yesand carry on writing this.

In case you haven't realisedI am halfway through a bottle of wine,on a half made chair,on a bench in a shed in deepest darkest devonshire,listening to the birds and distant tractors,already thinking of the next project.