Mallinson Ltd - woodwork courses in Dorset. Perfect short breaks for everyone.

('Tree of the month' and 'In the woods' return in January. Mace and Carolyn are busy moving house as well as demonstrating our courses at various local events.)

I confess to being a little bit worried last week. Two days before the Green Wood Footstool course I was in the woodland workshop, it was raining amazingly heavily, it was dark and cold, the river was nudging the top of the bank and, no, it wasn't very nice. I really did wonder whether anyone was going to be able to enjoy the course. But the Wednesday was reasonable and the river level dropped, and Thursday and Friday saw no rain at all, plenty of sunshine and the kind of enjoyable autumn days that I love. Most importantly, everyone went home on Friday night with their completed footstools - and good time was had by all!

A Final Fling

Last week's Green Wood Footstool course was the last 'proper' course of the year, but on the 2nd December we're having an open day down at the woodland workshop. So, if you've never been along before and would like to see what we get up to, do call in. By the same token, if you've been before but would like to drop by to say hello then please do! We'll be here from 10.00-4.00, and then it's a just a few short weeks before the first bowl carving course of 2008, on the 17th/18th January.

Presents People Want

Our gift certificates have been popular ever since we introduced them - both with the gift-givers and the recipients. Judging by the reactions and testimonials, all the guests who come on a course because they've been given it as a present have really enjoyed themselves. So, if you're stuck for a present this year, a green wood course might be the answer you're looking for.

People enjoy the courses for all sorts of reasons - it's a fun break in a nice place, it's a busy couple of days which means work really does get left behind, it's an introduction to a new hobby, it's a chance to learn new skills and it's a chance to meet new people. For men and women, young and old alike ... giving a gift certificate for one of our courses means you're giving someone a present they'll really appreciate.

You can buy gift certificates via the web site or over the 'phone - 01308 485 111 (Mon-Fri, 9-5.30). If you're nearby on the 2nd December for our open day you can pick one up then too, when we'll also being selling some small items that we'll be making as we demonstrate courses during the day.

Presents People Want - The Sequel

Don't forget that we also sell tools - and not any old ones either. We have a good range of specialist, very high quality tools from just a few pounds upwards. These are all carefully selected and hard to find - not the kind of thing you'll pick up down your local B&Q, but just the kind of thing any green woodworker would appreciate. Full details are on the 'Tools and Equipment' page, but do bear in mind that many of these are imported to order, so please allow two weeks for delivery to be in time for Christmas.

New Year, New Dates, New Course

In response to popular demand, we've now added an 'at a glance' list of all our 2008 course dates to the web site as a pdf download to print out and plan your year around (!) -

»» Course Dates

And if you do download it, the eagle-eyed amongst you will notice another new addition to the calendar - we're very pleased to announce that Veronica Hudson (assisted by me) will be running our new two-day Making And Drawing With Charcoal course in the New Year.

As the name suggests, guests will learn how to make their own willow drawing charcoal, as well as receive some expert tuition in charcoal drawing, all in the woodland workshop. Admittedly, it is only just on the fringes of green woodworking but in my book charcoal burning is very much part of a woodland-dwelling bodgers repertoire - so it's in!

Veronica is an experienced teacher, having run drawing courses for many years in London and abroad. She is also a practicing artist, working from her wonderful studio overlooking the sea. From the feedback so far this looks like it is going to be a popular course so please do book soon. Currently we're planning on running it four times in 2008 ... so if you have a specific date in mind, now's your chance!

Doing It With Friends

The past year has seen growing interest in private group bookings. These are courses that we organise outside of our published schedule, for groups of friends, club-mates or colleagues, on a date of their choosing. For 2008 we already have a group of fathers and sons, coming in February as a team. What's particularly gratifying is that some of the dads have been on a course before - it is always encouraging to see people coming again.

These courses can be one day, two day or longer, as suits you - we're totally flexible. From city brokers de-stressing, school mums on a get-away, club outings or bunches of friends looking for something different, a day or two in the woodland workshop is a great way to spend some time. Someone recently suggested stag or hen parties ... now, there's a novel use for a pole lathe!

Whatever you fancy getting up to - just give us a call to talk it over.

A Twist Of Pole Lathe Turners

Talking of groups, last weekend saw the Dorset Pole Lathe Association meeting here at Mangerton House and workshop for a 'day of hazel'. (Just what do you call a group of pole lathers?) My thanks to Peter Jameson who, as chairman, organised the day. There was plenty of discussion of a very specialist nature and a bit of craft here and there too, in between swapping anecdotes and experience. Hazel bowls were carved and there was quite a bit of experimentation with making nut (hazel of course) crackers out of a steam-bent hinged single piece of hazel.

The results were, well, varied, but with the experience gained I think the next prototype may well be able to actually crack nuts! (Thanks to Kester Westcott for the photograph.)

And there goes another month and, indeed, another year. It's been a year of good, solid, enjoyable progress - all of which has only been possible with your support. Thank you.

Guy and the team