Hello everyone!
What day is it? What time is it? Who am I? What’s just happened?
These are just a few of the questions that Nicola and I ask ourselves after an evening demonstration. Even though we are tired, we also feel elated and very satisfied with what we were able to achieve. Our hosts for the yesterday evening’s demo were the Lincolnshire Wolds Woodturning Association. The gig was an ‘interactive remote demonstration’ (IRD) so we demonstrated out of my workshop here in the Peak District via Zoom. All went well and the audience loved the ‘Viking Harvest’ sycamore decorative platter.
January has certainly been an important month for Nicola and I. A couple of weeks ago we had the very talented Nathan Adams stay with us. Nathan is a student of mine and has cerebral palsy. He is very capable and proficient and produces beautiful pieces. His maturity and focus would have you believe he is much older than 17. It was, incidentally, his first weekend away from home on his own. He kept in touch with his family and relayed his progress at regular intervals. He completed a glorious Viking Sunset bowl. He used a kit to enable him to make this Nick Agar signature bowl. A Christmas gift, it included everything he needed to recreate Nick’s famous design.
The day after Nathan went home, we were up early to prepare for some more ‘Money for Nothing’ filming with the BBC. We filmed the reveal section of an episode in which I turn two pairs of yew candlesticks. This time we had the chance to work with Matt, the show’s Senior Director, and Sarah Moore, the show’s host. It is always strange meeting someone you have heard on the television for years. We are both fans of the show and love being part of the team. My episodes should air this coming Autumn.
A short film made by BBC East Midlands last November also went live a couple of weeks ago. It included footage of me teaching a young man called Ben, who is autistic. The piece had a great response and, as a result, I was invited on to BBC Radio 5Live. It also led to contact from a production company who make short films for an early evening programme. They are submitting a pitch so we are waiting to hear if it is successful. Fingers crossed!
Being busy like this is, of course, physically demanding but I have to say that, mentally, I am feeling really good. I constantly reaffirm the positive benefits of my craft and profession as therapy and for good mental health.
Keeping active allows us to keep dark thoughts at bay. My workshop is a place of happiness and joy. It is a sanctuary where I can be free to create and express myself anyway I feel. I can focus (blind joke!) every part of my being and be at one with my art. It is essential that, as members and staff of UKMSA, we realise the importance of our existence and how special each and every one of us truly is.
Keeping busy with our friends around us is a huge step towards happiness and love and, luckily, UKMSA is around to help support and nurture thousands of people. We all need help from time to time so continue to speak out and open up if you are not doing so well.
We are never too old to turn ourselves around and make a difference to our way of life in a positive and fulfilling way. Always love life and live it.
Stay happy and creative and, of course, keep on turning!
Chris Fisher RPT