Woodturning terms – some help
One of the many challenges facing anyone who wants to start turning is understanding the various terms used by turners – this is doubly complicated if – like me – you are turning in a country where you do not speak the language of that country as well as you would like. When we moved to Portugal we bought a very useful book (which was out of print when we bought it) called Portuguese and English Dictionary - published by Oxford-Duden. It allowed us to be reasonably proficient in understanding various technical terms when renovating our house. I believe it is still out of print, but you can buy it on line – try doing a search – and it costs from about 40 USD for a second-hand copy to about 125 USD for a new copy.
It is also a very useful way of explaining turning to neighbours and suppliers. I find it incredibly useful to be able to use the drawings as a visual aid too. Here for instance is their page on woodturning.
Turning page from Portuguese and English Pictorial Dictionary
The Evolution of Logs to Art Workshop
Plenty to do - always some interesting pieces to play with
My first workshop in Maputo, Mozambique
When I started turning in 2003 we were living in Maputo in Mozambique and our home had a room outside which was perfect as a studio for me at that time – that was six years ago now and in between, we have worked all over the world – mostly with the International Committee of the Red Cross and no time or space for indulging my passion for wood. Not until we moved to Portugal that is. Now finally we had space.
Covas - a little village nestled into the hills of northern Portugal. My workshop is just above the farm in the foreground.
Having said that, we live in a small village in northern Portugal called Covas. It is nestled into the valley with high hills all around and even in the lowest parts of the valley, the land is terraced and the same is true of our garden.
This is where I eventually put the workshop - in the end it was really the only practical space.
Thus, when it came time for finding the best spot to construct a workshop, it was far from straightforward. Eventually, we found the perfect spot with the help of Americo – the owner of the local building company who has done a lot of work for us inside the house.
During the whole construction I was working in Darfur, Sudan and the site supervisor was Hjordis – who by this stage was somewhat of an expert in Portuguese building terms and her colourful language went down well with all concerned! For a long time, they thought she was slightly crazy as whenever they asked her whether she wanted something changed or done a slightly different way, she would tell them that she would ask Sr Robin – and I would get a Skype message or an email with the question and sometimes a photo – which I could then reply to. So, an hour or so later she would go and talk to them and tell them that Sr Robin wants it done this way! They would inevitably give her an odd look – the crazy woman who could talk to her husband in Africa! One day she showed them and of course they were very impressed with this latest technology!
By and large, everything went very smoothly – with the exception of the day when Hjordis asked them where the skylights were going – and there was a certain amount of coughing and spluttering and hands on hips, as they realised they had forgotten to “make the holes”! It worked out in the end though.
Skylights - what skylights - well no one ever told us.
As it was when the builders walked out
A view over the farm below us and to the river and the hills beyond
Now I have a space with a view to inspire – it seems to me that finding a space in ones mind in which to create is almost essential – and nature is certainly an inspriation and always has been for me.
It's a dog's life
And there is no one to disturb and on most days a dog who is content to hang out and relax.
