We have gotten over many difficulties this year but are still facing a small battle trying to get our internet connection at the new workshop. We’ve a kind neighbour who has allowed us to sneak access now and then, but as the weather turns ever more dreary the prospect of hovering in the hedge trying to get signal becomes less and less desirable.
I wanted to say hi and keep you interested with a few thoughts of what we’re working on. As mentioned a couple of weeks ago, Helen is writing a great article about oil paint which she’s been making for my chair, and I’ve got a post ready on why cross grain planing when prepping is a waste of time (I’m probably playing with a loaded gun with that one!).
Both of these are very photo heavy and we just don’t have the bandwidth, so we’ll leave you waiting a little longer.
Other articles also include ‘ A composting toilet’ (yep you read that right), and ‘Why I smell like horse piss’.
Once that fibre optic reaches us we’ll be starting up a video diary as well, something I’ve been looking forward to for a long time.
We’re still reading all your comments and they’re keeping us going so please keep them coming, and we’ll be in full swing as soon as BT know what a telegraph pole is.
Your comments on the “composting toilet” made me laugh, when we bought our house in France one of the first things I asked was “where is the Fosse Septic ?”, I was told it was out there somewhere in the garden (10 acres), having bought the house, we then found it, it was not “in” the garden, but “on” it! The pipe merely came out of the wall, and dropped onto the grass under the window! Luckily no one had occupied the house for two years and we installed a new Fosse Septic before we moved in. The pleasures of living in the bush!
Mixing your own oil-paint eh? Linseed oil, whiting and pigment. Just the way some of us painters in oils do it; in the hope of saving money! Good on you too. I hope your experiments are a success. Be sure of keeping a record of amounts of ingredients, or mix well enough of a colour to finish the job! Best of Luck with the connection, and come back soon.
regards JC
Looking forward to it. Great hearing from you.
Thanks for the “Be right with you”. Every thing sounds interesting and tantalizing! Especially the video diary. THAT’ll be fun.
I worked with oil-based paints for years and I am very partial to their terrific qualities. Wonderful stuff. Can’t wait to hear what Helen has to say about them. Until then…
You can always try to extend the wifi range with a quick and dirty “cantenna”. These work surprisingly well!
http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html
If you have cellular available, you may be able to use that…. I have gone 10yrs with no wire my home this way. And, for me, much cheaper than any other way in my part of the USA, and generally as fast as my neighbor sees with fibre.
A couple of years ago I had no internet at all for 4 months due to BloodyTerrible (now a very ex customer). Thankfully in my area I could move to an alternative provider. So I sympathise with you. Hope they get their act together soon and you get back online.
I spent a time in Nepal some years back and composting toilets were all there were. Amazing things once you get used to them. Understandable technology and what’s to go wrong – hey even I could sort the ‘plumbing’. Really looking forward to your article.
Looking forward to what you’ve got in the pipeline, especially the post on cross grain-plaining. I often have to do a lot of work prepping stock on my projects so I’m always interested to hear how other people dimension and prep theirs.
Maybe a fellow woodworker can help with your wifi issue:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZKc3PBs67c
I really enjoy your videos and look forward to the next one.
Richard and Helen,
Thanks for the update. I’m so sorry for your technical difficulties and hope that they will soon be resolved. In the meantime keep busy, stay warm and treasure what can be fixed by hand and eye.
Peter
Hope you get your internet problems sorted soon. I’ll be particularly interested in your post about cross-grain planning.
Were you collecting for a historically accurate stain recipe; or, were you just unlucky enough to be standing to close to the business end of the horse?
And amid all those difficulties you’ve found time to provide excellent customer service and provide me with a superb bench, not just once but twice! Here’s to your good health and success!
Ground control to Major Tom. Can you read me Major Tom?
Great website. I understand the difficulties surrounding internet access and look forward to more posts once you get situated.