By hand

Some days I don't do much except chat to people. It might be colleagues in the office, face to face with clients, or on the 'phone or by email. In fact, usually it's all of those in various combinations.

And if you don't actually have anything else that needs doing, then those are actually rather lovely days, assuming, of course, that you like talking to people.

Today was one of those days and the meeting I had was out at Bowness, which is the town on the edge of Lake Windermere. (Windermere, itself is, confusingly, further inland.) I arrived there early and made a few 'phone calls, the first being to my dad who had a minor eye operation today (which went very well).

With a few minutes left to while away after I'd made my calls, I wandered around the edge of the lake and, in a small workshop just under the office I was going to, I found this. I can't look at the photo now without recalling how gorgeous the varnish smelt.

In these days of mass production and as we slide towards 3D printing, I find myself increasingly mesmerised by the handmade and by craftsmanship. The number of tools arranged around the walls was mindboggling! But perhaps the most amazing thing was the experience and knowledge of that chap doing the work. Sadly, there was no sign of any apprentice.