Some aims, objectives and future projects

Raising craftsmen’s status

You might think that builders and other tradesmen are a pretty rough bunch and you might be right, but I think that we deserve better.

Raising the status or profile of craftsmen and the importance of quality workmanship would be cool. The building trade suffers from an image problem, a poor image unfortunately, which leads to good craftsmen being under appreciated.

Many bright and capable school leaver’s are driven away from a career in ‘the trades’ as it is seen as ‘beneath them’, meaning that the building trade suffers from people who, quite frankly, do not have the required capabilities to achieve good qualification results and go on to produce good quality workmanship.

Contrary to popular beliefs, being able to produce good workmanship and craft buildings that will last for hundreds of years is difficult and creative work which requires great skill and ability. Just ask anyone who has had work attempted by an idiot!

Lime mortar for the masses!

I also want to promote lime based mortar for houses that were originally built using this wonderful and traditional material. Not just the ‘grand’ houses but any ordinary house. Classic British houses are being spoiled with hard cement based mortars, simply because of ignorance about lime mortar. You will find lime mortar easy once you know the basics. Lets strip away the myths and mystique surrounding it and reveal it for the simple and great material that it is.

Admittedly there may be fierce criticism or even controversy from the restoration boys and girls, but enough of the mysterious and over technical specifications surrounding these simple techniques. Free lime mortar from the restraints of a virtually closed trade and rejoice in getting rid of inappropriate cement mortars on our ordinary old housing stock! Lime mortar is not the preserve of the ‘grand’ houses any more!

Africa!

For those that know me, this will probably not come as much of a surprise! Working in Uganda back in the late 1990′s was a life affirming experience and going to Rwanda working with the British Conservative Party in 2007 only served to strengthen love for the region.

Whilst no one would argue that Africa doesn’t have many problems, it is also an amazing place to visit for a while and the more people who experience it first hand, the further down the road to ‘recovery’ Africa will be.

Africa is not all war, famine and corruption although this shapes the people and their lives. They need our assistance with access to education and understanding to pull away from old ways and challenge bad leaders.

People should see another side to Africa, the lively, vibrant and amazing people, literally incredible wildlife, all set in some of the most impressive landscape on the planet. It should not be the preserve of the package safari, all mud huts and performing tribesmen.

The media has concentrated for far too long on the ‘traditional’ Africa for fear of losing the sympathy of donors. Why not show the world the unbelievably busy cities, the real culture and the irrepressible courage and ingenuity of the people.

Instead of donating to Africa, why not INVEST in Africa instead?

Tool reviews

You might be looking for half decent pro tool reviews and I would love to write more highly targeted, in depth reviews of some favorites over the years. Lots of people are coming into the trades all the time and finding factual reviews of tools is difficult, lots of reviews seem to be reviewing the suppliers performance, not the actual tool!

Stay well