Men's Sheds on Beeb site

On today's Beeb site, an article on Men's Sheds in Scotland and the perceived benefits. Just something we've all known about for years?

rgds

Bill

Specially this bit: "We all have CTAS - Compulsive Tool Acquisition Syndrome!"

Bearing in mind the positive effects of owning a shed and all that it contains, I believe that sheds should be available on the NHS.

One can then fill it with expensive machinery, tools, models, and a comfy seat to admire it all when the strains of life are getting too much. On the other hand, a couple of deckchairs and a keg of sherry to share with your best mate might be the way forward. I seem to remember through the fog of time a TV sitcom with Sid James where he did just that in his garden shed.

Either way, a man really should have a shed.......

Gary

Is there a historical equivalent for a man in his shed? It seems to be a very 19-20th century phenomenon otherwise?

The anchorite and hermit seem to have desired the same kind of escapism. 

I like to think personally that Sir Isaac Newton has a shed of his own.

Michael W

Edited By Michael-w on 11/05/2017 13:39:10

I Read this on the BBC News web page. Do you think we can get a prescription for CTAS because I've got it bad, that is all I do is make a tool to make a tool. I have books and plans of things to make but I just keep making tools to make tools. I'm off to lay down in a dark room now.......

Perhaps the one when they had a still going. Beware though, I think it all blew up.

Michael-W

What a splendid thought that Sir I.N. would have his own man cave wherever he is now. It would be a place where tools always remained sharp, parting tools never broke, lathes never crashed, rust just doesn't occur, and everyone else admires their neighbours lathe instead of bitching about it. Yes even Warco and Myford lathes........

Maybe he and Isambard, James Watt, et al chat into the wee small hours......

Clive

A still. Now that is a bloody good idea. Anyone got a decent plan for one....?

Regards

Gary

Oh dear, some of you didn't read the article did you, not even the first paragraph.
"For some men, retirement ...............................................can be a time of loneliness and isolation"

The whole point is that men do retreat into their own shed and therefore do not have social companionship. It is this isolation that causes a psychological and health problem that is addressed by the Men in Sheds movement which is designed to get them out of the small shed into one with other people. Sometimes they don't realise it but it helps build the structure of friendships that they had in their working life which provides support with everyday problems.

Our ME club unwittingly provides this in our monthly meetings. This forum does to some extent too as it doesn't all have to be about bashing out a model as quick as possible. In both ME clubs and this forum it is often a case of feeling relaxed amongst like minded people. Another social meeting point with the same aims are the Men's Breakfasts many CofE churches run.

I am a trustee of a new Men's Shed and spent last Saturday getting our building off the ground, literally.

I and a few mates have a weekly shed night. We rotate around to each others sheds to discuss the world sort each others engineering problems and general things. A few beers also helps OH we all love old motorcycles which is the main link.

Mens Sheds are for those who want to get out of the house, meet other folks and do something interesting, share experience, skills, knowledge and learn from others, I know cos I went to meetings to set up one locally.

Didn't fancy it much with the bunch doing the meetings and fortunately or unfortunately I got another job and will have to wait till retirement sets in to see if it is better now it is up and running.

Yep, they're still with us, and they continue to quietly work under the radar of most peoples imagination, I personally think the work they do is fantastic and definitely a big social circle and support group that many people are denying themselves, people can come together in ways they never imagined through this.

Michael W

Do I detect a model engineer niche for alcohol brewing equipment emerging?

Did you know the first petrol was made in an alcohol still, by collecting the distillate of tar from tar lakes, This "petroleum spirit" was highly favourable because whale oil was too expensive, and this drove the need for petrol. Although I presume the inventor never made another brew for consumption using the same still!.

So one could learn a lot and get a small tipple for your trouble at the end of it? Does anyone need a better incentive than that?

Michael W

Edited By Michael-w on 11/05/2017 22:39:10

LOL, that's what I don't like about our local Mens Shed -- all the other men there. Much prefer the splendid isolation of my own shed where I can get on with the job. They have just bought a nice new milling machine though...

Not for me, I have a Wife!

Saying "I am going to the shed" is usually responded to by the question "how long will you be there"?

There is some confusion over the terms for similar but different operations. Some UK sheds follow the Australian pattern Men's Sheds of being a sort of cooperative arrangement, often by club subscription, to share typically woodworking equipment and space to achieve DIY or community projects.

The Men in Sheds initiative is slightly different in primarily aiming at the social side with low tech facilities (partly for safety, partly minimal cost) for more community projects not personal DIY. They can incorporate both sides of course.

Also it has been discovered that having a wife and family is not a solution but can be part of the problem in acting as a mental straight jacket preventing the diverse interaction with a community group in which humans evolved, before the invention of individual houses.

Edited By Bazyle on 11/05/2017 23:46:55

Michael-w,

Yes, a precedent, 'Dens', potting sheds, music rooms, billiard rooms... Leather armchairs, Hi-Fi equipment, radio transmitter, smoking requisites. Still 20th Century though, with increasing leisure time, prosperity and not living hand to mouth in a rural hovel.

Geoff