So, at last, my teaching days have started.

My talk to the Grennan Mill Craft School on Irish Country Furniture - The Vernacular Furniture of Ireland - Its importance and Influence, which I mentioned in a previous post was due to happen, took place on Tuesday afternoon, 26 January.

It had been scheduled for, first 12 January, then 19 January but had to be postponed on both dates because of the exceptional, icy weather.
Grennan Mill, like my own mill, is a cold, cold spot at the best of times but the conditions that prevailed over Christmas and well into the new year, rendered them no-go areas.

I was suitably apprehensive beforehand but I enjoyed doing it and my hosts and the audience were kind enough to say that they did too.

That evening I gave the first of a series of nine evening classes. An Introduction to Furniture Making.

With my confidence boosted by the seeming success of my efforts in the afternoon, I was less apprehensive about the evening class and I approached it with a degree of eagre anticipation.

But, talk about pride before the fall.

It was somewhat unnerving that more than half of the thirteen attendees had also been at the afternoon talk at Grennan Mill.
I feared repeating myself.
But anyway, I stuck to my plan of starting by introducing myself with a potted boigraphy and then asking each participant to do the same, give me an idea of their skill level and describe what they hoped and expected to get out of the course.

I imagined that this would take-up a good hour of engagement and interaction but I guess it was over in ten minutes!

However it threw up an excellent moment.

The last person to introduce himself, Barry, said words to the effect of: "I'm a cabinet maker and I'm here because I've been hearing about you for years and I want to find out what you are about! "
It was a brilliant ice-breaker of an utterance and drew laughter from all.
I reposted by saying 'that's great Barry - you can take half the class while I deal with the other half'

I then outlined my plan for the nine classes, looked at my watch and found that I had another three quarters of an hour to go!

I blustered on a bit - repeating myself.

Gus Mableson, the Course Director of the Crafts Council of Ireland Pottery Skills Course - also located at Grennan Mill - kindly and helpfully suggested that I show again some of the pictures that I had shown in the afternoon.

This took-up another few minutes - but I was unnerved by now so there was nothing for it but to break-up half an hour early.

I felt foolish and crest-fallen.

And so on to week two, class two.

I wondered if anybody would turn-up - but I got a full-house!!

And, although my remark to Barry about seeking his assistance had been meant as a light-hearted throw-away, what I had suggested is exactly what happened!
He rose to the occasion and initiated the true beginners into basic tool-use while I discussed with the others what they hoped to make!

It worked a treat.

The interaction and engagement that I had envisaged for week one took-off and we were out of time in what seemed like the blink of an eye.

I really enjoyed it and I think they did too.

Can't wait for next week!