Some days, all things are possible

Thinking that today would be incomplete without shoving a mallet into Shark's hands, a chisel in Tiger's and a saw into Squirrel's, I drive everyone to the back of a village beyond to meet Jeremy Turner, woodcarver.

Jeremy supplies a two hour workshop for Shark, Tiger and Squirrel, and teaches them knowledge that ancient men of the woods might know. Like how to shape and texture wood; how to cut across, round and down; how to feel the grain and see the rough lines marking dry winters and wet summers ; how to smell a curled leaf of wood and tell if it's cedar or lime; and where best to go for tools and how to pollard trees. OK, not that last one, but give it a few sessions and, armed with a little knowledge, all will seem possible.

Anyway, here is Squirrel in the wood workshop, waiting to get her hands on a mallet, preparatory drawing at the ready.


And here is Shark, on the receiving end of some woodcarving advice. And if I were Jeremy, I wouldn't put my fingers there, but I did see he had a packet of band aid ready.


Finally, Tiger, chiseling away. She is possibly in disguise.


Now regarding the gritlets abilities in new pursuits, I aim my ambitions low. That way, I won't be disappointed. Sometimes I aim so low, that simply arriving at a workshop anywhere would be a success. Today, I have thought that holding a mallet and crashing around a studio before being sent home in disgrace, weeping, clutching some splintered wood with bandages on our fingers, would be the pinnacle of our triumph. But I am simply awed at the expert skill with which the little grits are not only led through carving techniques, but then go on, with confidence, to produce the following:




Now if you look at Jeremy's work, you'll see that he paints the finished result, and Squirrel likewise has made a start. But no-one wants to paint further. They like to see the wood. For the moment, so do I.

But you can bet I've been pricing up those tools, and eyeing up those trees.