There was a recent thread on here about the lack of DIY skills amongst
many people.

I assembled a rabbit hutch this morning.

Six pre finished panels, pre drilled & eight screws. Oh and another
nine screws for the hinged lid.

Chap said he had absolutely no idea how to assemble it.

Mustn't grumble though.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

In article , The Medway Handyman
writes
There was a recent thread on here about the lack of DIY skills amongst
many people.

I assembled a rabbit hutch this morning.

Six pre finished panels, pre drilled & eight screws. Oh and another
nine screws for the hinged lid.

Chap said he had absolutely no idea how to assemble it.

Mustn't grumble though.

Scary init.

I know you've said that you do a bit of flat pack assembly for the time
or skill challenged, not the most demanding work but at least it's clean
and straightforward. As you say, not to be sniffed at.

Near Ikeas there's quite a trade in pick, purchase and assemble outfits,
it's quite cut-throat round here and I've used them for an office
outfitting job. I just couldn't have done it for the money or in the
time they did.
--
fred
FIVE TV's superbright logo - not the DOG's, it's ********

On 21/06/2011 22:34, fred wrote:
In article , The Medway Handyman
writes
There was a recent thread on here about the lack of DIY skills amongst
many people.

I assembled a rabbit hutch this morning.

Six pre finished panels, pre drilled & eight screws. Oh and another
nine screws for the hinged lid.

Chap said he had absolutely no idea how to assemble it.

Mustn't grumble though.

Scary init.

I know you've said that you do a bit of flat pack assembly for the time
or skill challenged, not the most demanding work but at least it's clean
and straightforward. As you say, not to be sniffed at.

Indeed, easy work.

Near Ikeas there's quite a trade in pick, purchase and assemble outfits,
it's quite cut-throat round here and I've used them for an office
outfitting job. I just couldn't have done it for the money or in the
time they did.

I've been approached by Flat Pack Amigo's who I think have some kinda
deal with IKEA. They charge £35 first hour & £25 per hour after. They
don't pay their installers anything like that.

I'd charge £45 & £20, so for a full day They are £210 as opposed to my £160.

I need to put my rates up :-)



--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

On Jun 21, 10:34*pm, fred wrote:
In article , The Medway Handyman
writesThere was a recent thread on here about the lack of DIY skills amongst
many people.

I assembled a rabbit hutch this morning.

Six pre finished panels, pre drilled & eight screws. *Oh and another
nine screws for the hinged lid.

Chap said he had absolutely no idea how to assemble it.

Mustn't grumble though.

Scary init.

I know you've said that you do a bit of flat pack assembly for the time
or skill challenged, not the most demanding work but at least it's clean
and straightforward. As you say, not to be sniffed at.

Near Ikeas there's quite a trade in pick, purchase and assemble outfits,
it's quite cut-throat round here and I've used them for an office
outfitting job. I just couldn't have done it for the money or in the
time they did.
--
fred
FIVE TV's superbright logo - not the DOG's, it's ********

I think a lot of this stuff the first one you need the destructions
but after that. perfectly easy.

"fred" wrote in message ...
In article , The Medway Handyman
writes
There was a recent thread on here about the lack of DIY skills amongst
many people.

I assembled a rabbit hutch this morning.

Six pre finished panels, pre drilled & eight screws. Oh and another
nine screws for the hinged lid.

Chap said he had absolutely no idea how to assemble it.

Mustn't grumble though.

Scary init.

I know you've said that you do a bit of flat pack assembly for the time or
skill challenged, not the most demanding work but at least it's clean and
straightforward. As you say, not to be sniffed at.

Near Ikeas there's quite a trade in pick, purchase and assemble outfits,
it's quite cut-throat round here and I've used them for an office
outfitting job. I just couldn't have done it for the money or in the time
they did.

Some Ikea stuff is pretty time-consuming to do.

This one (I think) took me ages to put together:

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/10059165

tim

On Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:19:14 +0100, The Medway Handyman
wrote:

There was a recent thread on here about the lack of DIY skills amongst
many people.

I assembled a rabbit hutch this morning.

Six pre finished panels, pre drilled & eight screws. Oh and another
nine screws for the hinged lid.

Chap said he had absolutely no idea how to assemble it.

Mustn't grumble though.

True!

The real problem is that so few schools nowadays teach woodwork,
metalwork and engineering/technical drawing, added to the fact that
current kids can't learn the relevant skills from their dad (if he's
around!), since even he didn't learn how to design, make or mend
things.

Sad.

--
Frank Erskine

"Frank Erskine" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:19:14 +0100, The Medway Handyman
wrote:

True!

The real problem is that so few schools nowadays teach woodwork,
metalwork and engineering/technical drawing, added to the fact that
current kids can't learn the relevant skills from their dad (if he's
around!), since even he didn't learn how to design, make or mend
things.

As somone who cannot do any of these things, this is one thing that I get
very annoyed about and frustrated about with my own education. Now I do
have an OH who should be able to do it ( and can) but wont. I dont know
why.

O learned to cook and sew though. Most girls cant do that either. I think a
lot of this is the old health and safety in schools and the turn from making
things to technology ( which leaves kids making paper models and computer
pretties( cant call them anything else.) Thats why skills are gone.
Although I have to say , sometimes even when something looks easy,
interpreting the instructions is a nightmare.

On Jun 22, 6:44*am, "sweetheart" hotmail.com wrote:
"Frank Erskine" wrote in message

...

On Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:19:14 +0100, The Medway Handyman
wrote:
True!

The real problem is that so few schools nowadays teach woodwork,
metalwork and engineering/technical drawing, added to the fact that
current kids can't learn the relevant skills from their dad (if he's
around!), since even he didn't learn how to design, make or mend
things.

As somone who cannot do any of these things, this is one thing that I get
very annoyed about and frustrated about with my own education. *Now I do
have an OH who should be able to do it ( and can) but wont. *I dont know
why.

O learned to cook and sew though. Most girls cant do that either. I think a
lot of this is the old health and safety in schools and the turn from making
things to technology ( which leaves kids making paper models and computer
pretties( cant call them anything else.) *Thats why skills *are gone.
Although I have to say , sometimes even when something looks easy,
interpreting the instructions is a nightmare.

Heh Heh The all/no language "comic strips"! And the Chenglish.
Most kids these days seem to think they'll get a job sat in front of a
computer screen.

On Tue, 21 Jun 2011 22:53:20 -0700 (PDT), harry wrote:

Most kids these days seem to think they'll get a job sat in front of a
computer screen.

Sadly most probably will, we don't make much in this country an more.
How ever there will always be a need for plumbers, sparks, brickies
etc though to build and maintain the homes and work places these
people use. But how many plumbers do you need per household? 1 in
500, 1 in 1000?

The really sad thing with people not knowing how to use tools and how
thinks work (even at the very basic level) is that if the support
structure they rely on fails they are up **** creek without a paddle.
They can't do simple things to help themselves to be comfortable when
things get a bit tough.

Look how many news reports there were last winter of people sat
shivering for days with no heating when their (badly) installed
condensing boiler condensate drains froze up and all the plumbers
were rushed off their feet with burst pipes and frozen condensate
drains.

--
Cheers
Dave.

On Jun 22, 8:19*am, "Dave Liquorice"
wrote:
On Tue, 21 Jun 2011 22:53:20 -0700 (PDT), harry wrote:
Most kids these days seem to think they'll get a job sat in front of a
computer screen.

Sadly most probably will, we don't make much in this country an more.
How ever there will always be a need for plumbers, sparks, brickies
etc though to build and maintain the homes and work places these
people use. But how many plumbers do you need per household? 1 in
500, 1 in 1000?

The really sad thing with people not knowing how to use tools and how
thinks work (even at the very basic level) is that if the support
structure they rely on fails they are up **** creek without a paddle.
They can't do simple things to help themselves to be comfortable when
things get a bit tough.

Look how many news reports there were last winter of people sat
shivering for days with no heating when their (badly) installed
condensing boiler condensate drains froze up and all the plumbers
were rushed off their feet with burst pipes and frozen condensate
drains.

--
Cheers
Dave.

Look at the cost too. They can charge what they like.

On 22 Jun 2011 08:19:05 GMT, Huge wrote:

Sadly most probably will, we don't make much in this country an
more.

Wrong. The UK is the world's seventh largest manufacturing nation.

And who is above us?

What positions have we held in the past?

Define "manufacturing". My book doesn't include simply assembly of a
prebuilt units from other countries into finished products so it can
have a "Made in England" stamp and avoid import tariffs.

--
Cheers
Dave.

"Huge" wrote in message
...
On 2011-06-22, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Tue, 21 Jun 2011 22:53:20 -0700 (PDT), harry wrote:

Most kids these days seem to think they'll get a job sat in front of a
computer screen.

Sadly most probably will, we don't make much in this country an more.

Wrong. The UK is the world's seventh largest manufacturing nation.


true but we are still running a massive trade deficit.


"The swing towards a trade deficit in the UK partly reflects the fact that
the British manufacturing sector is in terminal decline. Britain only really
has a foothold in two manufacturing sectors: pharmaceuticals and arms. UK
plc now specialises in financial services, advertising, public relations,
design and management consultancy. Or, as Larry Elliott and Dan Atkinson put
it in their book Fantasy Island, "we count the money and we do the bull****".
It also reflects the fact that UK consumers have been spending massively on
imported goods - a boom fuelled largely by borrowing against soaring house
prices."

On Jun 22, 10:19*am, Huge wrote:
On 2011-06-22, Dave Liquorice wrote:
....

Sadly most probably will, we don't make much in this country an more.

Wrong. The UK is the world's seventh largest manufacturing nation.

How does that factoid automatically make him wrong?

Seventh place isn't the same as producing one seventh.

The top six could produce 16.66% each for all we know.
What does seventh place amount to then?

Tim Streater wrote:
This is not quite true - there was an interesting telly prog Monday
evening (part 1 of 3, so watch it next week) by that Evan Davies about
just that. Successful manufacturing in this country has *adapted* either
by going into niche markets or by innovating.

I think the issue is that while we still are a large manufacturing
country, the stuff we manufacture requires a very high skill set,
there isn't anything left for the no-A-levels walk-straight-into-
the-steelworks-or-pit more, all those jobs are now done in China,
as shown on Evan Davies' programme. What sort of jobs are there
here for the permanantly angry semi-sozzled unskillable people
I see so often at the job centre?

JGH

Frank Erskine wrote:

On Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:19:14 +0100, The Medway Handyman
wrote:

There was a recent thread on here about the lack of DIY skills amongst
many people.

I assembled a rabbit hutch this morning.

Six pre finished panels, pre drilled & eight screws. Oh and another
nine screws for the hinged lid.

Chap said he had absolutely no idea how to assemble it.

Mustn't grumble though.

True!

The real problem is that so few schools nowadays teach woodwork,
metalwork and engineering/technical drawing, added to the fact that
current kids can't learn the relevant skills from their dad (if he's
around!), since even he didn't learn how to design, make or mend
things.

Sad.


I had my daughter applying Loctite to the dome nuts holding her new shelves
togther, yesterday. Small thing - but she knows how nuts work, the benefit
of domed ones and what Loctite is for

She also knows how to do old style woodplugging (too scared to give her the
chisle at her age though!)

--
Tim Watts

"Tim Watts" wrote in message
...


I had my daughter applying Loctite to the dome nuts holding her new
shelves
togther, yesterday. Small thing - but she knows how nuts work, the benefit
of domed ones and what Loctite is for

She also knows how to do old style woodplugging (too scared to give her
the
chisle at her age though!)

If its for cutting the excess wood of the bit sticking up you could give her
the proper tool.. a nice flexible pull saw.
Followed by a sanding block.


They taught my daughter how to use a soldering iron when she was 10.
Shame they didn't tell her not to hold it like a pencil.. she will never
forget that now.

On Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:14:22 +0100, dennis@home wrote:

They taught my daughter how to use a soldering iron when she was 10.
Shame they didn't tell her not to hold it like a pencil.. she will never
forget that now.

He he. Did they also tell her not to try and catch it when she drops
it? I won't do that again...

--
Cheers
Dave.

In article o.uk,
"Dave Liquorice" writes:
On Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:14:22 +0100, dennis@home wrote:

They taught my daughter how to use a soldering iron when she was 10.
Shame they didn't tell her not to hold it like a pencil.. she will never
forget that now.

He he. Did they also tell her not to try and catch it when she drops
it? I won't do that again...

I was into electronics from a very early age, as my dad had boxes of
components left around that he'd used before I was born. I still clearly
recall what originally got me interested in them - they looked pretty
(a bit like sweets, although I never tried eating them), with all the
different coloured markings on them. I started connecting them up to
batteries and bulbs, and basically went from there. I was using my
dad's soldering iron around age 7, although I didn't actually work out
how to make good soldered joints until a couple of years later (I'm
not sure my dad knew how to, so that was something I had to slowly
work out for myself).

It was sometime around this age when I left the soldering iron on
whilst I was out somewhere. Came home to find mum with a large bandage
on her hand, having picked it up by the wrong end. (That's not something
she did again either.) They bought me a soldering gun (which I still
have somewhere) on the basis that you can't leave that on, but actually
they're useless for making good soldered connections, so I didn't use
it for long.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

On 22/06/2011 13:14, dennis@home wrote:


"Tim Watts" wrote in message
...


I had my daughter applying Loctite to the dome nuts holding her new
shelves
togther, yesterday. Small thing - but she knows how nuts work, the
benefit
of domed ones and what Loctite is for

She also knows how to do old style woodplugging (too scared to give
her the
chisle at her age though!)

If its for cutting the excess wood of the bit sticking up you could give
her the proper tool.. a nice flexible pull saw.
Followed by a sanding block.


They taught my daughter how to use a soldering iron when she was 10.
Shame they didn't tell her not to hold it like a pencil.. she will never
forget that now.

Ouch! Certainly not something that she'll forget. In my case there are a
number of things, but the one that stands out is aged about 7 I decided
to help my dad and grandad who had been doing some carbon arc brazing on
a car by straightening the generator's hanging exhaust - large, LARGE,
blisters along all four fingers, my thumb and across the palm

SteveW

Tim Watts wrote:
Frank Erskine wrote:

On Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:19:14 +0100, The Medway Handyman
wrote:

There was a recent thread on here about the lack of DIY skills
amongst many people.

I assembled a rabbit hutch this morning.

Six pre finished panels, pre drilled & eight screws. Oh and another
nine screws for the hinged lid.

Chap said he had absolutely no idea how to assemble it.

Mustn't grumble though.

True!

The real problem is that so few schools nowadays teach woodwork,
metalwork and engineering/technical drawing, added to the fact that
current kids can't learn the relevant skills from their dad (if he's
around!), since even he didn't learn how to design, make or mend
things.

Sad.


I had my daughter applying Loctite to the dome nuts holding her new
shelves togther, yesterday. Small thing - but she knows how nuts
work, the benefit of domed ones and what Loctite is for

She also knows how to do old style woodplugging (too scared to give
her the chisle at her age though!)

Let her have a go with the angle grinder and stop being mean!

--
Adam

On Jun 21, 11:36*pm, Frank Erskine
wrote:
On Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:19:14 +0100, The Medway Handyman

wrote:
There was a recent thread on here about the lack of DIY skills amongst
many people.

I assembled a rabbit hutch this morning.

Six pre finished panels, pre drilled & eight screws. *Oh and another
nine screws for the hinged lid.

Chap said he had absolutely no idea how to assemble it.

Mustn't grumble though.

True!

The real problem is that so few schools nowadays teach woodwork,
metalwork and engineering/technical drawing, added to the fact that
current kids can't learn the relevant skills from their dad (if he's
around!), since even he didn't learn how to design, make or mend
things.


I didnt't learn these things from school. They came partly from my
father (seeing him make and repair things) but mainly, in tiny steps,
from a pleasure I always had at doing something I had never done
before. This last seems to be rather lacking these days - the thought
that "I might be able to do that, let's have a closer look" seems to
have been replaced with "this doesn't work properly, I'll have to pay
someone to fix it".

People don't seem even to be able to describe what is wrong when
asking for help. The most minor investigation beyond "it doesn't
work" seems to be considered too daunting.

Old codger
Cambridge

People don't seem even to be able to describe what is wrong when
asking for help. The most minor investigation beyond "it doesn't
work" seems to be considered too daunting.

Old codger
Cambridge

I was designing and building electronics as a summer student at CERN in
1970, and the most useful phrase I learned, when taking yet another burned
out chip, transformer, or transistor to the Stores (where they spoke only
French) was

"Ce truc est foutue"

"newshound" wrote in message
...

People don't seem even to be able to describe what is wrong when
asking for help. The most minor investigation beyond "it doesn't
work" seems to be considered too daunting.

Old codger
Cambridge

I was designing and building electronics as a summer student at CERN in
1970, and the most useful phrase I learned, when taking yet another burned
out chip, transformer, or transistor to the Stores (where they spoke only
French) was

"Ce truc est foutue"


Aye its a funny old world, it seems the best thing you can have in your
favour is age!

I loved tech drawing/science/woodwork at school, and strangley for a male I
can also knit and do basic sewing using a sowing machine.
DIY around the house are not usually a problem, paint / woodwork etc, I can
strip a motorbike and rebuild it.
I have since progressed onto spreadsheets and done some small business plans
for some retail shops.
I have a lifetime of working in sales FMCG with management positions. I am a
fantastic natural gardener (served an apprenticeship as a youngster)

Can I get a job! can I f...! I think I did the wrong 90% :-)

I am seriously thinking of doing something self employed and keeping below
any tax threshold.

As for previous comments re manufacturing remember things like the
production of whisky which is big maybe included in the figures.

Can I get a job! can I f...! I think I did the wrong 90% :-)



I am seriously thinking of doing something self employed and keeping below
any tax threshold.


Don't think about it or talk about it any more ... JUST DO IT!....


Did that 30 years ago and never looked back)...


As for previous comments re manufacturing remember things like the
production of whisky which is big maybe included in the figures.




--
Tony Sayer

On Jun 22, 8:36*pm, "SS" wrote:
"newshound" wrote in message

...



People don't seem even to be able to describe what is wrong when
asking for help. *The most minor investigation beyond "it doesn't
work" seems to be considered too daunting.

Old codger
Cambridge

I was designing and building electronics as a summer student at CERN in
1970, and the most useful phrase I learned, when taking yet another burned
out chip, transformer, or transistor to the Stores (where they spoke only
French) was

"Ce truc est foutue"

Aye its a funny old world, it seems the best thing you can have in your
favour is age!

I loved tech drawing/science/woodwork at school, and strangley for a male I
can also knit and do basic sewing using a sowing machine.
DIY around the house are not usually a problem, paint / woodwork etc, I can
strip a motorbike and rebuild it.
I have since progressed onto spreadsheets and done some small business plans
for some retail shops.
I have a lifetime of working in sales FMCG with management positions. I am a
fantastic natural gardener (served an apprenticeship as a youngster)

Can I get a job! can I f...! *I think I did the wrong 90% :-)

I am seriously thinking of doing something self employed and keeping below
any tax threshold.

As for previous comments re manufacturing remember things like the
production of whisky which is big maybe included in the figures.

The problem is getting known about. Once established, good number.
There are lots of useless buggers about, can't do a thing.
Astonishing.

On Jun 22, 10:32*am, Tim Streater wrote:
In article ,
*Frank Erskine wrote:









On Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:19:14 +0100, The Medway Handyman
wrote:

There was a recent thread on here about the lack of DIY skills amongst
many people.

I assembled a rabbit hutch this morning.

Six pre finished panels, pre drilled & eight screws. *Oh and another
nine screws for the hinged lid.

Chap said he had absolutely no idea how to assemble it.
The real problem is that so few schools nowadays teach woodwork,
metalwork and engineering/technical drawing, added to the fact that
current kids can't learn the relevant skills from their dad (if he's
around!), since even he didn't learn how to design, make or mend
things.

We did metalwork *and* latin at grammar school. I was crap at both, and
feel that woodwork would have been more useful.

--
Tim

"That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed,
nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted" *-- *Bill of Rights 1689

Latin I have never regretted - it is the basis for much of out
language and is the root of all medical terms and the names for all
items in nature.

And as for metal work v. woodwork, you're missing the point that once
introduced to tools you are introduced to the handling of any other
tool and material thereafter. I've never been taught dress making but
it is just a slightly different form of engineering, and with that
approach in mind any good book will teach you.

Rob

On Jun 22, 10:56*am, robgraham wrote:
On Jun 22, 10:32*am, Tim Streater wrote:





In article ,
*Frank Erskine wrote:

On Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:19:14 +0100, The Medway Handyman
wrote:

There was a recent thread on here about the lack of DIY skills amongst
many people.

I assembled a rabbit hutch this morning.

Six pre finished panels, pre drilled & eight screws. *Oh and another
nine screws for the hinged lid.

Chap said he had absolutely no idea how to assemble it.
The real problem is that so few schools nowadays teach woodwork,
metalwork and engineering/technical drawing, added to the fact that
current kids can't learn the relevant skills from their dad (if he's
around!), since even he didn't learn how to design, make or mend
things.

We did metalwork *and* latin at grammar school. I was crap at both, and
feel that woodwork would have been more useful.

--
Tim

"That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed,
nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted" *-- *Bill of Rights 1689

Latin I have never regretted - it is the basis for much of out
language and is the root of all medical terms and the names for all
items in nature.

And as for metal work v. woodwork, you're missing the point that once
introduced to tools you are introduced to the handling of any other
tool and material thereafter. *I've never been taught dress making but
it is just a slightly different form of engineering, and with that
approach in mind any good book will teach you.

Rob- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

That's right. When you learnto use one tool, the others are then
pretty easy.
I think the ability to get your mind round shapes and geometry helps.

On 6/22/2011 10:56 AM, robgraham wrote:

And as for metal work v. woodwork, you're missing the point that once
introduced to tools you are introduced to the handling of any other
tool and material thereafter. I've never been taught dress making but
it is just a slightly different form of engineering, and with that
approach in mind any good book will teach you.


When I astounded my next-door neighbour, by designing and doing most of
the assembly of the stairs up to the back door, I pointed out that it
was rather like tailoring, only with rigid materials and different
seaming techniques...

S Viemeister wrote:
On 6/22/2011 10:56 AM, robgraham wrote:

And as for metal work v. woodwork, you're missing the point that once
introduced to tools you are introduced to the handling of any other
tool and material thereafter. I've never been taught dress making but
it is just a slightly different form of engineering, and with that
approach in mind any good book will teach you.


When I astounded my next-door neighbour, by designing and doing most of
the assembly of the stairs up to the back door, I pointed out that it
was rather like tailoring, only with rigid materials and different
seaming techniques...

Indeed. And cooking is mostly applied chemistry and chemical engineering.

Imagine my surprise at Hugh Fearnly ********face telling Beeb listeners
that 'a rolling boil is hotter than a simmer'

I've had thermometers n both, and there is **** all temperature
difference.100c plus minus, depending on the chemical composition of the
liquid.

A rolling boil simply does its own stirring - useful to stop pasta from
sticking together and evaporates liquids faster.

What a dick head that man is.

In article ,
The Natural Philosopher writes:
Indeed. And cooking is mostly applied chemistry and chemical engineering.

Imagine my surprise at Hugh Fearnly ********face telling Beeb listeners
that 'a rolling boil is hotter than a simmer'

I've had thermometers n both, and there is **** all temperature
difference.100c plus minus, depending on the chemical composition of the
liquid.

A rolling boil simply does its own stirring - useful to stop pasta from
sticking together and evaporates liquids faster.

What a dick head that man is.

Reminds me of the picture of Antony Worrall Thompson on the back
of a pack of sausages with the caption "Prick with a fork".

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

On Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:32:20 +0100, Tim Streater wrote:

We did metalwork *and* latin at grammar school. I was crap at both, and
feel that woodwork would have been more useful.

No latin but did wood work. I would have really liked to have done
more metal work. I can do reasonable things with wood but metal
bashing is just that, 'it it wiv an 'ammer. Or drill a hole in it.

--
Cheers
Dave.

On Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:36:39 +0000, Huge wrote:

I didn't do Latin, although have picked quite a lot up through doing a
biochemistry degree and a lifelong interest in church music (bit odd for
a lifelong atheist, but there we are), but I did do metalwork (well,
blacksmithing, anyway), woodwork, cookery and needlework. All of them
useful. I learned to ice skate, too.

The ice skating was one of the few useful non-A level things I learned...

--
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org

*lightning protection* - a w_tom conductor

On Jun 22, 2:44*pm, Huge wrote:
On 2011-06-22, Bob Eager wrote:

On Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:36:39 +0000, Huge wrote:

I didn't do Latin, although have picked quite a lot up through doing a
biochemistry degree and a lifelong interest in church music (bit odd for
a lifelong atheist, but there we are), but I did do metalwork (well,
blacksmithing, anyway), woodwork, cookery and needlework. All of them
useful. I learned to ice skate, too.

The ice skating was one of the few useful non-A level things I learned....

Ice skating was in the Sixth Form, when we had a choice of what we could
do on Games afternoon.

Fencing for me, foil & epee, not post & rail, Great fun!

MBQ

On 22/06/2011 14:47, Man at B&Q wrote:
On Jun 22, 2:44 pm, wrote:
On 2011-06-22, Bob wrote:

On Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:36:39 +0000, Huge wrote:

I didn't do Latin, although have picked quite a lot up through doing a
biochemistry degree and a lifelong interest in church music (bit odd for
a lifelong atheist, but there we are), but I did do metalwork (well,
blacksmithing, anyway), woodwork, cookery and needlework. All of them
useful. I learned to ice skate, too.

The ice skating was one of the few useful non-A level things I learned...

Ice skating was in the Sixth Form, when we had a choice of what we could
do on Games afternoon.

Fencing for me, foil& epee, not post& rail, Great fun!

MBQ

We had all the kit and a couple of pupils who went to fencing classes
elsewhere, but we were never allowed to take it up at school. All the PE
teacher was interested in was football, football, football. The school
team were good, so he spent all its time pushing it, even to the extent
that when the weather was bad and the field was frozen solid, the team
practiced in the gym, as it was too dangerous outside and they could get
hurt before the weekend's match - the rest of us were still forced to do
football outside, 'cos we didn't matter! The end result was that I
loathed games lessons and did my best to avoid them.

SteveW

Fencing for me, foil & epee, not post & rail, Great fun!

MBQ

Yes, but wouldn't post and rail have been more useful?

On Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:44:32 +0000, Huge wrote:

On 2011-06-22, Bob Eager wrote:
On Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:36:39 +0000, Huge wrote:

I didn't do Latin, although have picked quite a lot up through doing a
biochemistry degree and a lifelong interest in church music (bit odd
for a lifelong atheist, but there we are), but I did do metalwork
(well, blacksmithing, anyway), woodwork, cookery and needlework. All
of them useful. I learned to ice skate, too.

The ice skating was one of the few useful non-A level things I
learned...

Ice skating was in the Sixth Form, when we had a choice of what we could
do on Games afternoon.

Same here.

--
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org

*lightning protection* - a w_tom conductor

On Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:29:47 +0000, Huge wrote:

On 2011-06-22, Bob Eager wrote:
On Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:44:32 +0000, Huge wrote:

On 2011-06-22, Bob Eager wrote:
On Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:36:39 +0000, Huge wrote:

I didn't do Latin, although have picked quite a lot up through doing
a biochemistry degree and a lifelong interest in church music (bit
odd for a lifelong atheist, but there we are), but I did do
metalwork (well, blacksmithing, anyway), woodwork, cookery and
needlework. All of them useful. I learned to ice skate, too.

The ice skating was one of the few useful non-A level things I
learned...

Ice skating was in the Sixth Form, when we had a choice of what we
could do on Games afternoon.

Same here.

How old are you?

Bus pass - just.



--
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org

*lightning protection* - a w_tom conductor

On Jun 22, 11:36*am, Huge wrote:
On 2011-06-22, Dave Liquorice wrote:

On Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:32:20 +0100, Tim Streater wrote:

We did metalwork *and* latin at grammar school. I was crap at both, and
feel that woodwork would have been more useful.

No latin but did wood work. I would have really liked to have done
more metal work. I can do reasonable things with wood but metal
bashing is just that, 'it it wiv an 'ammer. Or drill a hole in it.

I didn't do Latin, although have picked quite a lot up through doing a
biochemistry degree and a lifelong interest in church music (bit odd
for a lifelong atheist, but there we are), but I did do metalwork (well,
blacksmithing, anyway), woodwork, cookery and needlework. All of them
useful. I learned to ice skate, too.

Mind you, 90% of what they teach you at school is useless crap; unfortunately,
you've no way of knowing which 90% it is.

--
Today is Pungenday, the 27th day of Confusion in the YOLD 3177
* * * * * * * *Sing, for song drives away the wolves.

The reading, riting and rithmetic are the important ones at school.
But all information is good.

On Jun 22, 10:32*am, Tim Streater wrote:
In article ,
*Frank Erskine wrote:









On Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:19:14 +0100, The Medway Handyman
wrote:

There was a recent thread on here about the lack of DIY skills amongst
many people.

I assembled a rabbit hutch this morning.

Six pre finished panels, pre drilled & eight screws. *Oh and another
nine screws for the hinged lid.

Chap said he had absolutely no idea how to assemble it.
The real problem is that so few schools nowadays teach woodwork,
metalwork and engineering/technical drawing, added to the fact that
current kids can't learn the relevant skills from their dad (if he's
around!), since even he didn't learn how to design, make or mend
things.

We did metalwork *and* latin at grammar school. I was crap at both, and
feel that woodwork would have been more useful.

Now (at our local grammer) they do "DT" get to use CNC drills & mills
(or routers), laser cutters and vacuum forming kit, and learn a bit
about PIC programming. What I could have done with that lot at school!

MBQ

On 22/06/2011 12:40, Man at B&Q wrote:
On Jun 22, 10:32 am, Tim wrote:
In ,
Frank wrote:









On Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:19:14 +0100, The Medway Handyman
wrote:

There was a recent thread on here about the lack of DIY skills amongst
many people.

I assembled a rabbit hutch this morning.

Six pre finished panels, pre drilled& eight screws. Oh and another
nine screws for the hinged lid.

Chap said he had absolutely no idea how to assemble it.
The real problem is that so few schools nowadays teach woodwork,
metalwork and engineering/technical drawing, added to the fact that
current kids can't learn the relevant skills from their dad (if he's
around!), since even he didn't learn how to design, make or mend
things.

We did metalwork *and* latin at grammar school. I was crap at both, and
feel that woodwork would have been more useful.

Now (at our local grammer) they do "DT" get to use CNC drills& mills
(or routers), laser cutters and vacuum forming kit, and learn a bit
about PIC programming. What I could have done with that lot at school!

MBQ

I had a mixture at what a Grammar and Technical School. They later
merged it with the Secondary Modern next door and eventually shut it down.

A year and a bit of woodwork, two years of Latin, five years of French.
Nearly four years of metalwork, learning all sorts of skills.

Best subjects at GCE O level were metalwork and French.

What I didn't learn at school I taught myself, as an avid reader of my
dad's Practical Householder and Do-It-Yourself magazines and the
Readers' Digest DIY Manual.

--
Peter