I must leave for the UK tomorrow, which means long flights and changeovers in Newark and London Heathrow. Opening new doors is always exciting and though I would love to stay for the snow I have a class to get back for. I have promised to send my new book and DVDs to some of…
I am still highly inspired and encouraged by my visit to Veritas. So much so that the outcome will be far reaching for those who are striving for perfection in their work. At Veritas, in my conversations, they were keen to give results in their work that eliminated unnecessary risk yet still gave freedom to the new…
Bright new sunshiny day all day. Walking past the apple orchard on my way to town I saw raptors carrying off a rodent and though too far to photograph the vivid action is registered indelibly in my mind. It’s been good to connect with the land again these past few days. Travelling has slowed down…
Rows of freshly baked plow planes ready for wrapping, boxing and shipping A key part of my visit to Veritas is undeniably the final stage after manufacturing, which is the final assembly where the planes are meticulously assembled, lubricated so carefully and then checked over one last time before they leave. It’s also the same…
Veritas Tools Canada #2 What would you do if I told you that the design team at Veritas spend time thinking seriously about special tools for people of small stature? How about getting youngsters back in the woodshop? It’s a serious issue for me and for people like Veritas. The staff at Veritas care genuinely…
Working wood for 47 years has left its impression on me. My hands work differently than other people’s hands and my mind wrestles through critical issues others never have to contend with. Had I never worked with my hands I could only present you with one perspective and that would be that power tools replaced…
Canada is beautiful and surprisingly different than the US. As I passed through the interior of Ontario countryside towards Ottawa I tried to imagine what it must have felt like to cross these vast regions of openness, forested lakelands, mountains and deep valleys. Deer tumbling down through the woods in a wildness 90% of the…
My fingers push, the leather resists the sharpness of the needle point, but then the leather yields though I press no harder. The loose thread trails after the eye as it passes through and I catch the eye glistening for just a moment. The tight skin draws up sharply as the thread yanks and yanks…
So good to taste American coffee again and not the coffee the UK sells as American coffee. It’s nice to sit amongst American friends and listen to their different accents. Busy people come and go and here I am eating breakfast and starting my day at 10am. It’s nice to get your cup refilled at…
On my way to work this morning I found myself driving from North Wales to Manchester Airport, boarding a plane and sitting amongst two hundred people headed for the US. I’m on a whirlwind trip again in similar fashion to the AWFS Fair in Las Vegas in July of this year. I never relish travelling….
