Should I Go Again?

Someone asked if I enjoyed the woodworking show. I answered, "Yes." Mostly because I did. He then asked further, "What did you like the most?" I said, "What do you mean?" and he said, "What did you see that inspired you?" I said, "Oh, I don't know that anything being sold or offered as such was really too inspiring, but the people, now they really inspired me because I loved being with them." I went further, "But, I have grown tired of selling people who know little but pretend a massive lot. " Anyway, I said I didn't think I would go any more, but then I thought well, perhaps I would or maybe should, but not with the the same heart. I always hate giving my very best at shows that might give any kind of assent or endorsement or approval of the other oh-so boring gear sellers. I will have to really think this through. I mean, I have to say, I felt quite sick going through the Axminster booth the one time I did and vowed to myself not to go through there again. So I picked my way through the maze of other booths and planned my course differently so I saw kindred hearts and didn't have to see people with bright yellow shirts on sanding a slab of wood with Mirka sandpaper for a whole day, or a blue-shirted Kreg jig man or Tormek stuff and such like that. I mean, my poor friend Jane had to stand there and listen to the noise of a vacuum for 8 hours three days in a row. On the last day she said, "If he doesn't stop that random orbit sander soon he'll be wearing it." That's a Yorkshire lass. I suppose it's this kind of mindlessness that frustrates me. I mean, men and women looking for answers are going to ask this 'specialist' about their sanding needs thinking he and she knows more than they do! Anyway, after enough shows doing what they did they'll likely develop carpal tunnel syndrome and apply for workers comp and then they'll find another stooge to stand in.

But then I thought about the others there encouraging woodworkers passing through with their skills. Some of the hand work was amazing. My favourites are those who have developed their skills through decades of working. Thankfully we have our woodworkingmasterclasses.com and then our youtube channel too. I like what facebook has done for our work too because we found many people came to the show to see as a result of FB. I never thought I would ever hear myself say such a thing but even eBay is better than what shows have become. In a few minutes  can find my leather for a rocker and shellac flakes for a fresh batch of shellac. I did buy some very nice cherry boards and some quarter sawn oak from British Hardwoods Ltd for a really good price. I think that might be all that I bought aside form some coffee.