I had intended to enter regular monthly or bi-monthly postings but my apprehension with the “mechanics” of doing so, together with the intrusion of home and garden maintenance has given me a ready excuse to lapse. Future postings should be as intended but, that said, I do not know if anyone out there in the ether will read them; finding the website without the domain name seems to be a matter of extreme luck. Should anyone actually do so, I would be delighted to hear how they stumbled upon the site, with a brief email.

In the interim, experimenting, wood sourcing and development of technique have gone on unabated. (Obsessively, by my wife`s judgement.)

Timber;- I am gratified that the, so called, exotic timbers are increasingly difficult to source, hopefully the consequence of measures against indiscriminate extraction and exportation having effect. Equally important in reinforcing the vital legislation is our moral responsibility when sourcing wood.

New stock;- I have been fortunate in being able to buy some old “stashes” of timber, mainly from Scottish turners who have retired from their craft. (1) two separate lots of Mexican cocobolo, each held in stock for at least 15 years. I do not expect to find better; the colour is particularly rich. (2) Some excellent 3 inch African blackwood squares; again, old stock and end waxed only, a lucky find. (3) A large slab of old stock laburnum. (4) One 3 inch cylinder of superb Gabon ebony forgotten for a decade.

Other;- A great deal of time has been spent experimenting with, and now making, cabochon “stones” from small silver birch burrs and suitable spalted wood. These will be set in silver on box tops. I am also making similar settings with mother of pearl by fashioning shallow cabochons. Additionally, I have cut and polished two finely banded agate cabochons ; these from a single nodule I dug from a site in the Ochil Hills.