Author Archives: stevetomlin

Arran currach part 2

Posted on April 3, 2012 by stevetomlin

More from Alan Byde on his Aran currach: Michies ‘plans’ for building St Caoman was a dark pitch stained stick about 5 feet long, 3 inch by 1 inch. It had notches on the edge and some lines scratched on … Continue reading →

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Get ready for peening

Posted on March 31, 2012 by stevetomlin

When I decided to set up Peening Day you can imagine I got a few funny looks from friends, even the ones who also mow with a scythe. So when I adjusted the name to International Peening Day it was … Continue reading →

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Aran currach

Posted on March 29, 2012 by stevetomlin

It always amazes me the power of the internet to connect people who share a common interest. After I posted about the launch of our Dunfanaghy curach, 369starchild wrote: August 1969 Inishere, Galway Bay, Michie Conneelly built me a 3 man … Continue reading →

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Curach launched

Posted on March 27, 2012 by stevetomlin

Sunday was a gorgeous blue-skied day and perfect weather to take the curach out for it’s public launch at Bowness in the Lake District. Edward was already there when Ian, Susan and I arrived and we carried the curach down … Continue reading →

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Transylvanian Haymaking on tv

Posted on March 24, 2012 by stevetomlin

I just found this tv programme from last year’s Haymaking Festival in Transylvania. This year’s event is on 19-26 August 2012 in Gyimes, Transylvania. Follow the link to read about last year’s festival. To book a place, contact Barbara Knowles a british biologist and science … Continue reading →

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Curach painting

Posted on March 22, 2012 by stevetomlin

While I’ve been away on holiday in Austria raking a hay meadow Edward and Romola have been busy at Sprint Mill painting the curach with bitumen roofing paint ready for the launch in Windermere on Sunday March 25th. Fingers crossed that … Continue reading →

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Skinning the Curach

Posted on March 21, 2012 by stevetomlin

The day finally arrived last week to skin the curach. To be honest, this is one of the parts we’ve had some trepidation about; the instructions we’re working with get a bit vague at this stage and sewing isn’t a … Continue reading →

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Meadow raking in Austria

Posted on March 19, 2012 by stevetomlin

I’m on holiday this week in Austria and, with spring well on the way over here, Christiane and I spent a few hours together raking the meadow she mows. This is public land by the apartments where Christiane lives and … Continue reading →

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A DIY Peening Bench

Posted on March 15, 2012 by stevetomlin

Only two weeks now until International Peening Day on April 1st so, in preparation, I thought I’d offer some instruction on making a simple and lightweight peening bench. While the best support for a peening anvil or jig is probably … Continue reading →

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Scything with Susan

Posted on March 7, 2012 by stevetomlin

Last summer my friend Susan came on one of my ‘Learn to Mow’ courses. A few days later I went over to her house to help her mow the grass on her own land. This gave me the opportunity to … Continue reading →

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