ben0850 Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 (edited) Morning All, Thought I'd share what I was up to all day yesterday whilst also being curious about how often any of us decide to learn something new as we get older? Living in the Dales we have our fair share of dry stone walls, the father in law has always maintained them but is now getting to that age where he should be taking things a bit easier (although he'd disagree)...so I took the plunge yesterday after doing some reading and got stuck into a fallen section of wall. I struggled a bit with the coursing (quite a lot of cobble) but ended up building it back up inside a day including resetting the foundation stones. I really enjoyed it, chance to empty my head and just work methodically. Whilst my walling skills (term used loosely) won't win any awards I'm hooked on improving. So PW any of you learning something new? Craft? Musical instrument? Edited May 3, 2015 by ben0850 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay_Russell Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 Im contemplating learning how to make hurdles or prehaps hedge laying. Theres a place not for from me that offers traditional craft lessons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 Its great to push yourself right up to the last breath, s###t Im late for my hang gliding (suicide) lesson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay_Russell Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 Oh and good job on that wall! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 Well done, I wonder just how long that wall has been there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 We are going to do an off roading day course to learn how to use the Defender properly. Thinking about going to Land craft in Bala. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 thats no good it will only last 500 years.................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 Well done, its only a short section but it represents a lot of hard work Blackpowder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 Well done with that wall, I did a similar section fifteen years ago and its still standing.Since retiring I have learnt to play ukulele and harmonica now trying a clarinet (badly). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuji Shooter Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 Top job, well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel b3 Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 im no expert , but , i reckon that youve made a brilliant job of that wall , well done mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sha Bu Le Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 Well done Ben, my wife's uncle was a well known dry stoner in the dales. Matlock Bath area. He has a bench seat which had a plaque put on commemorating him for his dry stone work on the Chatsworth House Estate. Perhaps your dad knew him, he passed on quite a while back maybe 10 years however he was a very popular life's gentleman. His name was Jim Boyack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben0850 Posted May 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 Thanks for all the kind comments folks, I have an awful lot to learn with regards to walling but I'm enjoying the change. Sha bu le, we are a bit further north in the Yorkshire Dales, Wensleydale to be exact, one thing I find missing in the modern world are real gentlemen and characters like your wife's uncle. Jay....Harmonica? Hm always longed to learn that, was it hard? I remember a neighbour used to play when we were kids, you could hear him in the village on a summers night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben0850 Posted May 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 Well done, I wonder just how long that wall has been there? A long time lol, think our farm is 1700's but I think most of the walling is early 1800's. Might have been down and back up a few times since then though lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted May 6, 2015 Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 Well done Ben, my wife's uncle was a well known dry stoner in the dales. Matlock Bath area. He has a bench seat which had a plaque put on commemorating him for his dry stone work on the Chatsworth House Estate. Perhaps your dad knew him, he passed on quite a while back maybe 10 years however he was a very popular life's gentleman. His name was Jim Boyack. That'll be the Derbyshire Dales, not the proper ones like ours Brilliant job on the wall, When i start to travel less or retire, walling and hedge laying also appeal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollieollie Posted May 6, 2015 Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 Good job, I pick news skills up quite easilly. I hope I,ll have enough room to do a spot of small holding in the next few years which will be a big challenge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Juicer Posted May 6, 2015 Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 I made a wicker basket last month from a kit I bought. I was well chuffed.. I've made beer, wine and baked a cake. I next want to try cheese, butter. The wall looks well, good effort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted May 6, 2015 Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 We do quite a bit of hedge laying at work, it great winter work and provides a good stock proof barrier when done right, its very rewarding. Years ago I worked as Field Assistant up in the Dales, I did 3 seasons, quite a bit of walling was involved and I always enjoyed it. The guy who taught me is Phil Richards and he still works for the Park,you may even know him, one of the nicest blokes Ive ever had the pleasure to call a friend. I believe he spent 3 years on a walling apprenticeship when he was a lad, he reckoned it drove some of the fellas round the twist.! Walling is like many things, its time on the tools (stone) and getting your eye in, same as hedge laying you sort of get in the zone and it flows better. Its all good work and keeps you honest, well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Croc Posted May 6, 2015 Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 Very good effort on the wall Ben , my original trade was a brickie, I've done stonework, (badly ) keep at it, especially as you enjoy it, a new career awaits I'm trying to learn CAD, they'd probably find it easier to teach a cow to use a musket and going to try the harmonica as well, which should be interesting, cos I think I'm tone deaf, as well as going deaf Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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