Open House Update Soars!

After about two years of planning and building and then six months of internal construction and organising, the day came to open the doors to guests, visitors who love woodworking as much as we do. It can be quite a drain getting this point, builders never quite seem to match their presentation but you put up with it and accept the disruption even when most of it is so unnecessary. Yesterday though, it was uniquely special  for me, like inviting special friends over for dinner to celebrate a successful happening. We ate cake, drank coffee and tea and talked about all manner of things related to woodworking and the work they do.

Joseph opened everything up by way of introducing the work we've done from the beginning to date. For me it of course began when he was born, picked up his first spokeshave and began a journey alongside me. His management has been something to watch. It was when each crew member started to share their aspect of the work that I realised they each had taken possession of their own area uniquely adding their voice to the whole. It was like watching them take wings as they introduced what they did to make the videos, keep up with support, make non workable things workable. It was as if suddenly they took wings and were soaring. Then we all did something completely unexpected to our audience, we filmed a short video of setting up a plough plane so that they could see how Phil, Ellie and I actually made the videos. It was as  simple as it gets but I thought that it was interesting all the way through yet not too long to lose interest. After that we had Q&As for the videographers and then Q&As for me. Both interesting  segments for us, seeing just what the questions people had were.

Hannah got to show her new tool chest and visit with other woodworkers to explain her journey to date. Then there was family too, parents, partners, spouses, aunts, uncles, grandkids, siblings and such who came to see how we had all progressed and what we all 'really do for a living.' As I am typing this I'm looking at my tomatoes growing in a simple nurturing frame and remembering how the tiny plants 2" tall were placed there only a few short weeks ago. They are flowering and have tomatoes ripening inside. It was just a question of the right soil, the right warmth, the right moisture levels and then the right amount of protection  and encouragement until they could stand alone amongst their like. You see I like the kind of sport where winning is to see people not so much contending against one another but with and alongside one another. That's my kind of sport. Providing an environment for growth is only the beginning. We are all growing, have all grown and now we are flying! Don't you just love it!!!