What a strange few months…

… the monsoon in May, an invasion of nesting birds in June (see later) and a scorching July possibly contributed to me deciding to move the business in a new direction. Having taken 8 years to organise the place it seems sensible to plod along with the local hardwoods business but I feel the time has come for a change in core business.

More of this later, in the meantime we are still acquiring and stacking timber. We’ve had Richard with his Woodmizer back and Glamorous Gordon and his impressive equipment back for a session. Gordon also recruited a new member of the team, his mate Dave who has a rather sexy collection of Ford Tractors.

Gordon, modelling this autumn’s collection, direct from Paris. Is demonstrating swivelling an Ash log with one finger. Dave is hiding in his cab.

Sorting out the woodsheds…

… actually began in 2003. For the first couple of years after the old boy died I was on a steep learning curve and the cosmetics of the place a low priority. If you tell yourself people are only interested in the wood you can ignore the look on some people’s faces as they try to find something in the badly stacked piles.

Shed one pictured below was the worst one, a leaking roof and a feeling that today could be the day it all falls on your head didn’t help.

The budget for this…

… was small enough to be a budgie. Labour being the most expensive part I recruited a gifted but deaf old carpenter who had transformed my house over 15 years and was willing to give me a days labour for a couple of pheasants.

So on a sunny March day three years ago John barked out orders at the rest of the gang as we demolished the old shack and put up phase one in 8 hours.

Since then it’s been a bit at a time approach, taking 3 years - well what’s the rush. It is very handy having dry, well ventilated space to stack wood and I’ve learned that the stacking and drying is just as important as how and when it’s planked. More pictures of the finished article in next edition... in the meantime get down here and inspect for yourself.

I started losing the plot…

… some time ago. Regular readers will recall, but hopefully not personally recognise a shift in reading from magazines with women’s underwear in, to tool and safety clothing ones. In my defence it has to be said that the SCREWFIX catalogue is designed for a session on the throne. Even better the Charterhouse Richmond catalogue’s forestry equipment section is positively erotic.

It got worse! Much to the family’s endless amusement, I am now hooked on vintage tractor magazines. Without a see through gusset in sight I can be seen in W.H. SMITH furtively buying the latest edition hoping no one will recognise me. I know my secret is safe with you.

I’ve met some stupid birds…

… in my time – mostly in pubs and clubs. Three of the feathered variety brought work to a standstill in June. To be fair to the Wren who nested on our shelf by the saw she didn’t disturb us and appeared unconcerned at our coming and going. However the Robin who laid eggs in the back of the tractor meant Brian wouldn’t let me use it. Work finally stopped when the Blackbird pictured nested over the saw shed doors preventing us form opening them… we got on with other stuff for a while.

Oak is my favourite…

… timber on the grounds that it can used indoors and out and appeals to a wide range of customer. With the bonus that the offcuts go to our restaurants for smoking and there is no waste.

Mark, at the sawmill having given up the idea of importing Oak (see last newsletter) had found a new source not too far away.

Having stretched his budget he was keen to pass a few hundred quids worth to me. It isn’t top grade stuff, so he cut it into big beams for me, I intend to put it away for a year or three and see if goes for barn beams. I can always cut them down further for fence posts.

A busy June saleswise…

… despite the nesting birds brought us into the traditionally very quiet summer months. Workshops are too hot, there are holidays and other distractions so we don’t get many people looking for wood. This rather suits Brian and me as we don’t like overdoing it at the best of times.

It was so hot in July that we did less than usual. It was around this time that with an increase in the smoking woods side of the business I decided that perhaps the future is in this rather than planks and blanks.

There are several…

… reasons for this. If I’m honest… I’ll never make a politician. No seriously, the main reason is money. Yes, I run the business for fun and have taken nothing out of it but you would not believe the waste. If I bought 100 cu ft of wood after cutting I’d be lucky to have 80 cu ft planked and stacked. Of that 80 with warping, cracking and perhaps bit of bark beetle with a bit of discount if I like the look of you I’d be surprised if I got the going rate for half of it.

I have plans…

… to separate the smoking woods part of the business. There is a market for chips and chunks of smokable woods for the home market. More and more people are buying big American BBQs and are finding it hard getting supplies of wood at a sensible price. So stand by for :

Smoking Woods Supplies coming soon. Soon, of course could be some time with my track record. It doesn’t help having the real job which tends to take me away from the woods quite a bit.

September melted…

… into October and time for newsletter to be posted. Gordon , Brian and Dave stacked the timber from the woodmizer, whilst I stood around taking pictures. I must say hard work looks exhausting to me.

By next time there should be developments in the business. I have sad news that is a bit too raw to write about yet but hope we will be back late spring with an update on our corner of Hampshire.

Regards,

Paul Goulden.