Welcome to the Machine - Pink Floyd

It was as far back as the 'C word' when I met Andy Hopper at the Dampney Trust 'C' Party and was issued an invitation, by this most pleasant and convivial young man, to visit at my leisure his business premises. This workshop, studio, call it what you will, is no more than a stone throw away in the Farm Yard yet it has taken me all this time to get round to it, but got round to it I did and thank heavens for that!

 The very best of starts to another new day, watching the sun rise above the

Harbins Farm House Garden Pond,

before what was to be completely outside of my comfort zone and the

greatest pleasure had for a very long time.

 It had been established at the party that Andy is a Blacksmith but in that

respect it was quickly found that he is also a past-master at underselling himself.

 TOOLMAKER

by trade, everything you will see via these images has either been 

designed, forged or installed by his own hand or any combination of each!

The Furnace was his own design and crafted to fit a purpose rather than be of a general nature, 

while every tool in the place had been made by himself.

 Save that is for the spheres for punching out 'bowl shapes' which he told 

me would have been a too long a labour of love.

But then came the almost unimaginable good bit as he deftly switched

from the skill of the craftsman to his artistic bent!

This is a sculpture recently commissioned by Mrs Dampney (senior)

and now stands in her garden and made from stainless steel.

If that was not enough, what followed was most certainly the

Knockout Blow!

This, Andy's latest Work of Art, is to be submitted as a contender

for the up coming Annual Summer Exhibition at the

Royal Academy of Arts London.

As some readers will know I was a member at the RA for over 20 years

and during that time only ever missed an exhibition if on my world travels.

Not at all a part of the Ya-Ya Pimms Set or even for that matter very 

knowledgeable about the Arts, but on a massive learning curve and always

an exponent of 'knowing what I liked'.

 To now have met someone so close to the RASE is mind blowing!!

 Another Sculpture in the Making.

 An Award presented to Andy by Lord Tonypandy

 

The Master Himself 
hard at work as a member of the

 WORSHIPFUL COMPANY of BLACKSMITHS

you cannot argue the motto

'By Hammer and Hand All Arts do Stand'

This experience had left me choked up and close to tears of joy and

under such circumstances it is usually the lyrics of a song (so important to me)

that spring to mind. On this occasion it was

'Undertow' from the album 'And Then There Were Three' by Genesis.

Better think awhile
or I may never think again.
If this were the last day of your life, my friend,
Tell me, what do you think you would do then?

Stand up to the blow that fate has struck upon you,
Make the most of all you still have coming to you, [or]
Lay down on the ground and let the tears run from you,
Crying to the grass and trees and heaven finally on your knees

Let me live again, let life come find me wanting.
Spring must strike again against the shield of winter.
Let me feel once more the arms of love surround me,
Telling me the danger's past, I need not fear the icy blast again.

UNDERTOW - LINK

We did get to the Great Outdoors eventually, but today not a lot to be seen.

FROST COVERED SOLAR PANELS

MAMMAL EXCAVATIONS

and

ANT CASTS

under our Herps Covers.

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