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Mastercrafts..
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Message 1.聽
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Wednesday, 3rd February 2010
..麻豆官网首页入口2 12th Feb. Another potentially interesting venture with Monty:
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Message 2
Posted by garrigillgal (U14258845) on Wednesday, 3rd February 2010
I like Monty but, blimey, for someone recovering from a mild stroke he's done a massive amount of work in this past year!!! Still, I'm really looking forward to this Mastercrafts series as well as all the others, just hope he doesn't make himself poorly.
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Message 3
Posted by Yakram (U2443370) on Wednesday, 3rd February 2010
Thanks,David. I'm glad that country crafts are being revived - it would be criminal if such skills faded away.
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Message 4
Posted by Bluedoyenne (U2341157) on Thursday, 4th February 2010
Thanks David - another potentially interesting programme indeed. After the paucity of quality programmes last year, 2010 looks like it's off to a good start. Fingers crossed and ever hopeful
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Message 5
Posted by welshcol (U2301689) on Thursday, 4th February 2010
David. Saw the intro. for this new Monty venture and certainly looks good. I think if nothing else one of Monty's strongest attributes is that he knows when to listen and just keep quiet and let the expert speak or show his skills.
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Message 6
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Thursday, 4th February 2010
Great to hear positive feedback, as these old skills are so important to preserve.
Wouldn't consider myself very skilled, but can claim to be able to repair a dry stone wall and lay a hedge.
Oh, and I still have a milkman! -
Message 7
Posted by greeneddy (U6603838) on Thursday, 4th February 2010
Oh, aye, there's nowt like a bit of hedgelaying on a crisp winter's day.
Are those of us who are in receipt of milk to the doorstep a tiny minority group nowadays? -
Message 8
Posted by GaryB007 (U3895241) on Sunday, 7th February 2010
This programme has its own Facebook page:
776 fans and it hasn't even been shown yet. -
Message 9
Posted by garrigillgal (U14258845) on Monday, 8th February 2010
as these old skills are so important to preserve. 聽 .......I'm really looking forward to this programme but - can I make a heartfelt plea to all those who appreciate the skills demonstrated by these (and all other rural craftspersons) and to those who would be sad to see these traditional trades disappear - to please purchase the goods these people make (including UK made charcoal) so that rural craftworkers can make a living
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Message 10
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Tuesday, 9th February 2010
One for your diary鈥.Monty is being interviewed on 麻豆官网首页入口1 Breakfast TV (6am - 9.15am) tomorrow morning, 10th Feb.
Normally, these things are done after 8am. -
Message 11
Posted by ArtemisH (U14261033) on Thursday, 11th February 2010
Oh, and I still have a milkman!聽
Lucky you!
Around here, I believe they went out with the Ark. -
Message 12
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Thursday, 11th February 2010
I believe they went out with the Ark.聽
My point exactly....these things must not be allowed to die out! -
Message 13
Posted by ArtemisH (U14261033) on Thursday, 11th February 2010
My point exactly....these things must not be allowed to die out!聽
I totally agree. -
Message 14
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Friday, 12th February 2010
Just watched Monty's 'Mastercrafts' and thoroughly enjoyed every moment.
The program gave a very accurate insight into greenwood bodging and Monty himself was much better occupied as an observer & narrator, than his role in farming series. I think this may be due the fact that he is only a hobby farmer himself and probably not business motivated.
Looking forward to the next episode! -
Message 15
Posted by garrigillgal (U14258845) on Friday, 12th February 2010
Monty himself was much better occupied as an observer & narrator, than his role in farming series. 聽
Hi David - I really enjoyed this and I agree with your sentiments - Monty seemed more comfortable with his role in this - looking forward to all the rest. -
Message 16
Posted by Paul N (U6451125) on Friday, 12th February 2010
I couldn't agree with you both more. As a practical sort of person this is exactly the sort of programme I really really enjoy. Unfortunately it had the usual grizzling woman - can they not make programmes without tears from the fair sex? - but I'm glad she made a pretty decent job of her little chair. Monty was excellent as usual - back in his old Land Rover after the rather posh Range Rover - and this programme has the makings of a very good series.
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Message 17
Posted by the cycling gardener (U2350416) on Monday, 15th February 2010
I loved this programme. Compellingly narrated by Monty whose passion for the subject oozed from every sentence, it had me agog. I loved that we were shown the creation of a chair from tree to finished product and all the difficulties the students experienced and the different ways they approached the task.
Unfortunately it had the usual grizzling woman - can they not make programmes without tears from the fair sex?聽
Paul: I rather liked the 鈥済rizzling鈥 woman and take exception that you think there is usually one! I sympathised with her to some extent as I imagine I would be grappling with the techniques in a similar way although I鈥檇 like to think I could rise to the challenge with more spirit, and certainly no tears in front of the tad-too-into-himself garden designer chap. -
Message 18
Posted by Paul N (U6451125) on Monday, 15th February 2010
I mentioned the grizzling woman as every programme seems to have one these days. Whether it's a dancing programme, a cooking programme, a Gordon Ramsay programme, a home makeover programme, there's always a bloomin grizzler in there somewhere.
We used to be a nation of stiff upper lips but now our fair sex blub at the drop of a hat. Oh and Gasgoyne of course. -
Message 19
Posted by the cycling gardener (U2350416) on Tuesday, 16th February 2010
Tears of joy Paul. Tears of joy (although I can't speak for Gasgoyne.....).
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Message 20
Posted by Aspidistra (U11680993) on Tuesday, 16th February 2010
I was rather embarrased by the grizzling woman because it rather feeds the notion that when women can't do something they cry. Not that anyone should be afraid to cry if they feel like it, I just rather cringed that she was the only female represented and appeared to need extra attention. However she did good in the end and perhaps it was unfair to have set her a task originally that was too hard for her.
Its a shame they didn't also have one of those hearty jolly girl-guidey sorts of women doing the project too, that sort would have remained undeterred.
I enjoyed the programme and Monty did seem good in that slightly observational role, as said. I would have liked a tad more detail on the actual craft and a little less of the we-have-to-do-this-in-four-days stuff, it's such an overcooked format.
But overall, pleasant, and I look forward to watching it again this week. -
Message 21
Posted by PenylanSue (U13901201) on Tuesday, 16th February 2010
I still have a milkman and a butcher. We have a greengrocers too. We are 15 miles to the nearest supermarket and try to cut trips there to once a month. Of course, a big freezer helps, but it is also full of surplus garden stuff.
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Message 22
Posted by jo4eyes (U13654107) on Wednesday, 17th February 2010
Monty was on R4 Midweek this morning, albeit briefly, talking about it. Repeated tonight, edited/shorter version, R4 9.30pm. J.
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Message 23
Posted by Rainjustlearning (U12861332) on Wednesday, 17th February 2010
Not to be to harsh, but I personally cant abide useless women, the type that cant even change a plug, light bulb and things like that, in my time I've made a fire place out of scaffolding board's put shelves up, even laid a brick wall and artexed a ceiling, I'll try anything once just to be able to say 'I tried that', did think about when I retire I would like to go to night school and learn joinery/carpentry just for the hell of it.
Rain -
Message 24
Posted by TallyHo (U2364821) on Wednesday, 17th February 2010
I found her very tedious as well. The men all had a go, made mistakes, took it on the chin and tried again 鈥 sparing us the waterworks and drama.
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Message 25
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Wednesday, 17th February 2010
Like you, Rain, I'm handy with tools, can work persistently all day and am determinedly self-sufficient at getting jobs done.
But I do find that so many pieces of equipment are sized for a 6 foot-ish, 12 stone man and are thus ergonomically nightmarish for a 5'4" 9 stone woman - even a strong one. Manoevering a turf-lifter or rotavator into position, starting a chainsaw or carrying a sledgehammer around are enough to make me tired and that's before I start. It doesn't really bother me - I take my time on my own and enlist help when I can.
But on a TV programme, up against a deadline, it must be very disheartening to see two strong blokes able to focus on the technique while you're at first base struggling to lift the piece of wood into position. -
Message 26
Posted by Aspidistra (U11680993) on Friday, 19th February 2010
Thoroughly enjoyed tonight's programme on thatching, none of the sobby stuff, just straightforward people having a go, good for all of them.
Its a bit of a shame this wasn't the first programme shown - perhaps thatching wouldn't have been so much of a draw as greenwooding, but it had a much more upbeat feel about it, I sat there grinning like an idiot as I watched it, cheering them all on and loving the pride in their skills shown by their thatching teachers, who also were such fine characters in their own right.
The bit about thatch coming from China was extraordinary and interesting to know. Altogether I felt I learnt a lot watching this programme and that made it well worthwhile. -
Message 27
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Friday, 19th February 2010
Another superb episode of this most enjoyable series and another five star performance from Monty himself.
In spite of the fact I have a fairly good understanding of some country crafts myself, this insight into thatching was a complete revelation to me. I had no idea in was so complex and involved.
I thought the scoring at the end seemed very fair.
The lady I thought was good, if a little ambitious to plan thatching her own house, whilst the man in third place was over confident and overestimated his own work.
The winner was level headed and deserved his place as the winner.
Roll on next week! -
Message 28
Posted by Paul N (U6451125) on Saturday, 20th February 2010
Yet again, FIRST CLASS TELEVISION. What a joy to watch. More please.
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Message 29
Posted by digitalgrandcanal (U11760543) on Saturday, 20th February 2010
Yeah well, wouldn't be as gung ho as the previous two posts.
At the crucial moment when the woman figured out the technique for twisting the hazel (?) sticks, what do we see?
Her gurning face. Yes, well done indeed.
It's a technique that is used so often in GW too. Footage of the presenter's face while showing a gardening technique. If I want to see a presenter's face, I'll watch the newsreader!
But I'd like to see the thing I'm being shown how to do.
I liked the woman in the first programme, btw. -
Message 30
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Saturday, 20th February 2010
Yeah well, wouldn't be as gung ho as the previous two posts.聽
Sometimes these things need people to use their imagination.
Thatching has an apprenticeship time of 4 years and a further 3 years before they can work unsupervised.
So it's not beyond the realms of possibility that under normal circumstances it could take students more than 6 weeks (the time allotted to these students to complete the whole course) to learn this skill alone.
I thought the fact that this program covered only the basics was made perfectly clear.
Imagine how dull the program would have been if it consisted of was three people spending an hour learning how to twist hazel pegs. -
Message 31
Posted by TallyHo (U2364821) on Saturday, 20th February 2010
Yes, at last, a great series. Thanks Monty.
I thought I'd share my thatching story鈥 we rebuilt our house 8 years ago. When the shingle roof was taken off, we discovered very old musty/mildewy thatch underneath (no wonder my husband had asthma). We decided to replace with thatch, but the waiting list for a thatcher in the area was 3 years 鈥 thankfully we found a gentleman who was in his 60s and his son.
They were removing the thatch over what had been the front door when they discovered a mummified cat in the thatch. They were going to dispose of it, but I said no, it must go back amongst the new thatch so I put it in a box in the garage.
From the time that cat was no longer guarding the house until he/she was restored, just about everything went wrong 鈥 the planners were difficult and picky, the bricklayer had a heart attack, delays with suppliers etc. When we were ready to start thatching I told the thatcher to start with the porch and to put the cat back asap鈥 he thought I was bonkers, but complied and from then on the house build went smoothly and 6 months later we had a lovely house. -
Message 32
Posted by TallyHo (U2364821) on Saturday, 20th February 2010
The bit about thatch coming from China was extraordinary and interesting to know. Altogether I felt I learnt a lot watching this programme and that made it well worthwhile.聽
Our house was thatched with reed (lasts 5鈥10 years longer) from Turkey. The thing I really love about our thatched roof is the way it blends into the countryside 鈥 even in winter from a distance you hardly notice our house through the bare trees, but all the tiled roofs show up like sore thumbs.
Thoroughly agree about the two tutors, so nice to see real men doing really skilled work, not media luvvies on TV for a change! -
Message 33
Posted by nooj (U13729031) on Saturday, 20th February 2010
That's fascinating TH.
Many years ago I went with a friend to look at a derelict chapel, was on the market to possibly be turned into a dwelling.
There was a mummified cat beneath the open and rotting floorboards.
I assumed it had died a natural death, but I wonder what the significance is?
By the way, anyone harm a living cat and I will have your throat out! -
Message 34
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Saturday, 20th February 2010
By the way, anyone harm a living cat and I will have your throat out!聽
Too late!
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Message 35
Posted by TallyHo (U2364821) on Saturday, 20th February 2010
I think cats were put under the thatch or at entrances to ward off witches or evil entering the home鈥 I think this was done right up to the 18th Century.
Our mummified one looked like it was curled up asleep 鈥 i really hope it didn't die a violent death, but it obviously worked a good spell. -
Message 36
Posted by nooj (U13729031) on Saturday, 20th February 2010
David - how do you mean too late?
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Message 37
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Saturday, 20th February 2010
David - how do you mean too late?聽
Just teasing, nooj. Though I don't like cats, or more precise, I don't like their intrusion into my garden.
Rest assured, I wouldn't harm them.
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Message 38
Posted by nooj (U13729031) on Saturday, 20th February 2010
That's good
xxx -
Message 39
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Saturday, 27th February 2010
Last night's episode about Blacksmiths was another enjoyable hours viewing.
I have to say that as the series progresses; I'm beginning to be slightly suspicious about the role of women in the series.
Last night we had a woman who wasn't strong enough to use the required weight of hammer and had to use lighter ones, and the weepy one making a child鈥檚 chair instead of the required full size one....on both occasions they were marked at the top of the class. erm
Although I do appreciate all the hard work that went into all three gates, I don't think I'd care for any one of them adorning the entrance to my property. -
Message 40
Posted by garrigillgal (U14258845) on Saturday, 27th February 2010
Morning David,
I really enjoyed last night's programme as well - but you know, it IS a fact that women are just not as physically strong as men are - much as we might wish to be - and in some of the traditional crafts which are practiced by women today there are different weights of tools available for them to use - also men and women learn differently - that's also true - and the score was not based on pure brute strength but a combination of skills - design, adherence to the brief, the precise copying of the original piece etc.
Also if the group had consisted of 3 men I'm sure someone would have taken the producer to task -
Have to stick up for us girls you know...... -
Message 41
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Saturday, 27th February 2010
Hi, garrigillgal
I take your point, though I do think by dumbing down the task/s to accommodate the ladies detracts from the competitive aspect of the series.
Have to stick up for us girls you know聽
Have no fear I'm a 100% crumpet man myself.
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Message 42
Posted by Joe_the_Gardener (U3478064) on Saturday, 27th February 2010
David,
I'm sure that if blacksmithing is in the next Olympics there will be separate men's and women's events, but they'll be equally good to watch.
Joe -
Message 43
Posted by nooj (U13729031) on Saturday, 27th February 2010
Oh dear David
I'm sure you didn't mean the terms dumming down and crumpet to come across as ir seems? -
Message 44
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Saturday, 27th February 2010
Dunno if you're querying the spelling or the intent, nooj...I meant them both!
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Message 45
Posted by poshHebeJeebie (U9319867) on Saturday, 27th February 2010
I suspect that the problem (if there is one) is that we of a certain generation fought for equality. But physically, that can never be - fact of life, women are not as strong as men.
In physically demanding tasks, men will, perforce, have the upper hand.
Leaving aside the (sexist) notion of where men's brains are it has to be accepted that there are some tasks that women will struggle, simply because they don't have the physical ability to "compete" with men.
At least this programme tries to be inclusive. If we look at the current pink-fixated laddish behaviour, we (females) have to wonder if the Liberation Movement was worth it!
For the record, and I'm not a Monty fan, I have found the series interesting and I look forward to the Stained Glass episode next week. Perhaps that, being -
Message 46
Posted by poshHebeJeebie (U9319867) on Saturday, 27th February 2010
Sorry
pressed wrong button!
Perhaps that, being less physical (as I perceive it) will be more of a level playing field?
PHJ
Three Minutes
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Message 47
Posted by garrigillgal (U14258845) on Saturday, 27th February 2010
Evening David
dumbing down the task/s to accommodate the ladies 聽
...not sure if I would use the term 'dumbing down' - rather scaling down as the same attention to detail and expertise can be shown in a scaled down version of the finished item - think of apprentices chests and the like - but I have enjoyed each programme so far and look forward to stained glass which as another poster has said will make for a more even playing field (there are 2 ladies in this one)..... -
Message 48
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Saturday, 27th February 2010
Hi, garrigillgal....David understands he is living dangerously here and could well pick up a 'chauvinist' tag. I'm NOT, honest!
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Message 49
Posted by poshHebeJeebie (U9319867) on Saturday, 27th February 2010
Now, now garrigillgal - please do not provoke the susceptible male with mentions of "apprentices' chests". Poor David is in enough hot water as it is
PHJ -
Message 50
Posted by Grizelda (U10884918) on Saturday, 27th February 2010
I think this is where we start to feel a certain envy for Charlie Drake
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