ianstaley

Hey Norm, let me tell you from the OLD country, I am now 58, disabled and my working life is at an end, however, I woke up early one morning in pain several years ago now, so I made a cup of English tea, switch on the TV, nothing on to tried a bit of zapping, I came across a program called the NEW YANKEE WORKSHOP it was at 5 o clock in the morning on Discovery channel. FROM that day onwards I never missed a program, I was up every day at 5 AM to watch this amazing carpenter and avidly enjoyed the projects that y6ou did on that program. I was also an avid watcher of this old house; if Norm Abram was on the tube I would watch , I didn't care how early or late, I would watch. I would like to thank you so much to introducing me to the beauty of wood, the love of working it and the pleasure of using what I make, you gave me a reason to continue and believe that maybe my useful life wasn't over after all, I am absolutely certain that you will be missed by millions of viewers. Thanks Norm, for giving me something to do with what remains of my life. May you enjoy yours forever. Ian Staley, from the UK

Hi there from across the water in the so called old world, personally I think that all hand skills should be continually taught, in fact I believe that today they are even more important than ever. As a retired (not through choice) Computer Systems Programmer and still very "eu fait" with technology the need for traditional skills in wood working and metal working will continue to be of value, why, well as more people enter the world and fewer job's become available these fundamental skills will always be needed; as a low income couple I look to my self taught skills as bad as they are to not only give me something to occupy my mind but to provide my wife and I with unique pieces of furniture, my metal working skills help me daily to make and mend and my wood work gets better each time I pick up my tools. So is it worth spending the money on providing hand work skills most defiantly. Teaching shop was fun and helpful to me and I truly believe that it’s continuance will benefit those who do them in the future.

Mr, Bailey what a chest, I have wanted something like this since i began work as a tool makers apprentice, but never finished, why dont you publish this plan as i think it is absolutly fabulose and would look great anywhere.
ian staley