News - December 2020 (Part 1)

At the Pegrams, we reverted to pre-Christian tradition, lit a yule log in the fire pit and danced round the flames drinking prosecco........

.........well all right, the yule log was a couple of rejects from the workshop and we all smelt like smoked kippers afterwards but anyway, the days are getting longer again, the cavalry are coming (allegedly) and V-Day is just round the corner which means we might be able to get back to some serious tea and cake appreciation down at the shed in the not too distant future.

Speaking of the shed, Ian Hartnell has reiterated his determination to get the lease on the School House sorted so the outlook for 2021 is already starting to look brighter.

Did anyone mention the sunny uplands?

The Sjobergs wood working bench that Highcliffe Parish council purchased for us is currently stored in my home shed waiting for the big day when we can move into our new workshop.

Bob Mackinnon arranged for the National Lottery to provide us with an additional donation of PPE and we also received a mystery £50 donation to our funds.

And don't forget to sign up with the Coop and start contributing to the CMS when when you shop with them.

We have raised a total of £61.43 to date!

We had an email from the Highcliffe HAT team to ask if we could get at least one of the benches which are currently stored under the trees at the back of the School House into the lower hall so that it would start to dry out ready for restoration. Barry has volunteered to organise it.

I hesitate to mention Brexit, but it is good to know everything is under control - CMS received a letter from HMRC asking us to check that we were ready for the new import/export regulations that are coming into force in 2021. Our production and sales team must be doing better than I thought!

The shed acquired a few more tools during lockdown donated by Norman Hack including a box of wooden moulding & beading planes which should keep the restoration guys busy for a while.